An horrific injury to club captain Alan Crane overshadowed a nine goal thriller at the Ice Bowl last Saturday, where Solway Sharks went down 5-4 to Billingham Stars after overtime and penalty shots.
The Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen Dumfries, went into the NIHL Cup game with just 11 skaters because of injury and unavailability and lost defenceman Crane late in the second period as he took a puck to the face trying to block a shot. After receiving medical treatment on the ice, Crane was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with fractured cheekbone and suspected concussion. He was discharged from hospital late on Saturday night.
On the ice, a see-saw game began with Billingham scoring early to lead 2-0 after just four minutes. Chris Sykes (1.13) and Michael Bowman (4.06) on target for the Teessiders.
Solway responded and a quick double of their own meant the honours were even at the first interval. First Juraj Senko finished off a neat move at 16.46 to open Sharks’ account, before turning provider at 18.26 for Michael Corbett to level the scores at 2-2.
On the first attack of the second period, Sharks edged ahead for the first time – Steven Moore and Ross Murray setting up Senko for his second just 22 seconds into the session. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued and Billingham struck twice in 70 seconds to swing the balance in their favour. Jack Davies made it 3-3 at 28.36 before Stars’ player-coach Michael Bowman successfully went one on one with Kieran Hobbins just over a minute later to put Billingham ahead 4-3 at the second interval.
The only goal of the final frame was from the stick of Solway’s Iain Bowie (48.05), lifting the puck into the roof of the net from the edge of the crease and setting up a grandstand finish at 4-4. Neither side was able to take the win in regulation time so under Cup rules the tie went to a sudden-death overtime period.
The five minute extra period saw the sides generate 12 shots on goal as the hockey was fast and free-flowing, but still the scores remained tied. It was off to a penalty shootout. Sharks shooting first saw efforts from Juraj Senko and Duncan Speirs saved, while Billingham scored through Chris Sykes and Dennis Bostrom to secure the extra point in the Cup standings.
After the game, coach Martin Grubb said: “Although we didn’t get the two points I was proud of the way our very short bench battled and I thought we deserved to win that game.
“The boys showed character and determination to recover from a poor start and then the loss of Alan Crane with a serious injury and we ended up with 10 skaters but we were the team pushing to win the game.
“We created several good chances and again I would like us to take more of them to give us the best possible chance to put teams away but I cannot be critical of the team after that performance.”
This Saturday it’s a return to League action for the Sharks with Telford Tigers visiting the Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday (7pm). Tigers are flying high in the NIHL North Division 1, sitting third in the table after their promotion from Division 2 last season. The Tigers edged a decision earlier in the season in Shropshire so Solway will be looking to redress the balance.
Saturday’s game at Dumfries Ice Bowl faces off at 7pm. Individual tickets are on sale from the Ice Bowl reception from 6pm on the night. Tickets are priced at £8 adults, £5 concession and a family ticket (2+3) is £16.
