Solway Sharks vs. Swindon Wildcats: Game Recap
The Dynamic Property Services-sponsored Solway Sharks hosted the Swindon Wildcats at the Shark Tank on Saturday night, kicking off a high-stakes doubleheader weekend. With crucial points on the line, both teams approached the game cautiously at first, using the initial minutes to feel each other out. Early on, a heated exchange set the tone, culminating in a spirited fight between the Sharks’ Kell Beattie and the Wildcats’ Jake Bricknell.
At 10:42 of the first period, the Sharks broke the stalemate. Following a clean faceoff win, Liam Danskin expertly controlled the puck, finding Scott Henderson in the corner. Henderson then fed it out front to Mason Alderson, who skilfully found the top corner over goaltender Renny Marr’s shoulder, putting Solway up 1-0. Although Swindon pushed back, Sharks netminder Jordan Marr anchored his team with solid saves, preserving the Sharks’ 1-0 lead through the first intermission.
In the second period, the Wildcats came out strong. Just over a minute in, Chris Jones capitalised on a precise passing sequence from Balint Pakozdi and Ed Bradley, tying the game. The teams continued to trade chances, with the Marr brothers showcasing exceptional goaltending on both ends. However, Swindon soon took advantage of a Sharks’ miscue, as Aaron Nell set up Jones on a 2-on-1, allowing him to bury his second goal of the night and give Swindon a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission.
Entering the final period down by a goal, the Sharks displayed resilience, relentlessly pressing for the equaliser. Swindon’s Renny Marr stood tall amid mounting Sharks pressure, but Solway’s persistence eventually paid off. In a brilliant end-to-end effort, Mason Alderson slid home his second goal, tying the game 2-2 with under seven minutes remaining. Energised by the equaliser, the Sharks pressed on. With only 31 seconds left in regulation, Torran Anderson set up a play that saw Nolan Gardiner’s shot deflect into the air. John Dunbar was in perfect position to bat it out of mid-air and into the net, securing the Sharks’ 3-2 victory. The Sharks held off a last-minute Wildcats surge, clinching a hard-fought home win.
Man of the Match honours went to Mason Alderson for the Sharks, while Chris Jones took the accolade for Swindon.
Solway Sharks vs. Swindon Wildcats: Sunday Showdown
The Solway Sharks returned to home ice on Sunday evening, bracing for Swindon’s pushback in the second game of the weekend series. Determined to respond after Saturday’s loss, the Wildcats started with high energy, testing Sharks goaltender Jordan Marr with several tough shots. Marr’s sharp saves kept the game scoreless until the Sharks’ Callum Boyd broke through at 14:25 with a brilliant individual effort. However, a lapse in Solway’s focus in the final minutes allowed Canadian forward Jake Bricknell to equalise just before the first intermission, tying the game at 1-1.
The second period saw both teams create power-play opportunities. Solway’s power play generated several high-quality chances, but Renny Marr’s strong goaltending stymied their efforts. Eventually, Swindon’s Aaron Nell exploited a power play, ripping a shot past Jordan Marr to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission.
Facing another third-period deficit, the Sharks came out with intensity, determined to beat Renny Marr’s stellar performance. Following a clean faceoff win by Lewis Young, Mason Alderson took control, circling behind the net and firing a pinpoint shot into the top corner to tie the game at 2-2 early in the final frame. Despite the boost from the tying goal, the Sharks found themselves scrambling defensively, ultimately allowing a goal by Glenn Billing to put Swindon ahead 3-2. Solway responded quickly, though, with Scott Henderson capitalising on a strong individual play by Olivier Arseneau to even the score at 3-3.
The back-and-forth action continued, with Aaron Nell seizing another opportunity to restore Swindon’s lead. Undeterred, the Sharks threw everything they had at Swindon in a last-ditch effort to tie the game once more. However, a controversial penalty against Scott Henderson for unsportsmanlike conduct with less than five minutes to go led to a Wildcats power play, where Tomasz Malasinski scored to extend Swindon’s lead to 5-3. Captain Liam Stenton also received a 10-minute misconduct for voicing his disagreement with the call, leaving Solway short-handed in the crucial final moments. Despite pulling Jordan Marr for an extra skater, the Sharks were unable to mount a comeback, falling 5-3.
Olivier Arseneau was awarded Man of the Match for Solway in Sunday’s hard-fought contest while Jake Bricknell picked up the honours for the Wildcats.
Sharks’ Canadian import forward and Head of Hockey Operations, John Dunbar, reflected on the weekend’s games, saying, “It was fantastic to get the win on Saturday night in front of a packed Shark Tank. Sunday presented a big challenge, and I feel we played well—likely well enough to come out with the win. Unfortunately, some key calls didn’t go our way at critical moments. Both goaltenders put on an outstanding performance, and overall, it was a solid weekend of hockey.”
The Sharks hit the road this weekend for their first matchup of the season against the Bristol Pitbulls. While they won’t be playing at home, the Shark Tank will still be buzzing with excitement as fans gather for a watch party at the Dumfries Ice Bowl to cheer on the team from afar. Doors open at 5:30 pm, with puck drop at 7:00 pm. The event will feature a live stream of the game, a 50/50 draw, a “shirt off the back” raffle, and plenty of other entertainment. The bar and café will be open for food and drinks, so come early and enjoy the game atmosphere with fellow Sharks fans!
