Solway Sharks vs Bekshire Bees 25.01.25
The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks returned back to the Sharktank on Saturday evening, rebounding from their loss over the Phantoms 6 days prior, to claim a strong 4-1 victory over the Berkshire Bees.
Solway lined up with 16+2 as #21 Torran Anderson, #25 Connor Henderson and #16 Bailey Thomson returned into the lineup to bolster the offence. However, #53 Kian Shevlin, #55 Owen Rae and #17 Joe Lynch were unavailable due to 2-way agreements. Sharks gave #33 Jordan Marr the start after his MVP performance the previous game, backed up by Solway u19 Logan Reid.
Meanwhile, Berkshire travelled with 14+2 as #18 Preston Tombs, #80 Sam Davies and #27 Josh Smith missed out from the previous evening. However, #6 Louis Allen added to the squad in Dumfries. Canadian import #42 Max Wright was given the start between the pipes following the shootout win against the Bristol Pitbulls.
1st period – (1-0)
Sharks won the initial face-off and dominated the puck, firing early shots on Wright but he made the stops to deny Solway’s first line. Berkshire were handed the first penalty of the game at 5:30 as #19 Will Stead was called for hooking #92 Caly Robertson on the breakaway. However, the Bees defence prevented Solway picking up the first goal on the powerplay.
The Sharks continued to fire shots on Wright and after sustained pressure, Berkshire called a 30 second timeout to break momentum at 11:51. Bees switched the run of play and forced Marr to make a series of saves to retain a goal-less scoreline. Sharks were forced on the penalty kill at 14:45 after #25 Connor Henderson sat for tripping.
Solway came close with a SH breakaway through #21 Torran Anderson, but Wright made the stop on the left post to deny the GB u20. The Sharks returned to full strength and quickly capitalised through #43 Nolan Gardiner as he slotted the rebound past Wright after #9 Alderson’s strike to claim his 40th goal of the season at 17:31. Berkshire looked to answer back quickly, but #12 Kell Beattie applied a poke check to deny #33 Ralfs Circenis on the breakaway.
2nd period – (2-1)
Berkshire returned for the middle frame and levelled the score to 1-1 after just 15 seconds through #23 Dominik Gabaj as he intercepted the stretch pass on the blue line, to fire top corner past Marr. However, the firepower of Solway’s first line proved too much for the Bees as #22 John Dunbar fired home on the back door after #43 Nolan Gardiner looked to jam the puck past Wright on the near post at 25:23 to re-claim the lead for Sharks.
Berkshire were determined to equalise once more and forced Marr to make a huge block sliding from post to post, denying #21 Marcel Balaz. Solway continued their offensive threat, which resulted in #16 Bailey Thomson claiming his first goal as a Shark at 28:10 after collecting the puck in the lane to turn and fire, slotting the puck bottom corner past Wright to double the lead to 3-1 for his side.
Thomson’s goal sent a buzz through the Solway squad who maintained possession for the remainder of the 2nd period, although #42 Max Wright matched their efforts to keep his side in fighting contention. Solway were handed another opportunity to add to the score at 36:21 as #24 Dan Rose sat for tripping. However, play was forced 4on4 as Sharks’ #12 Kell Beattie was called for high sticks at 38:04 to complete the period with a 3-1 scoreline in favour to Solway.
3rd period – (1-0)
Solway killed the remainder of Beattie’s penalty off successfully, although he headed back to the box at 43:30 this time for tripping. Berkshire’s #2 Adam Rosbottom came close to reducing the deficit with a wraparound attempt, but Marr made the pad save. Solway’s 3rd line linked up to create chances in the Berkshire zone, but again Wright matched their efforts to give Bees a chance at halving the deficit.
Play paused momentarily as #33 Ralfs Circenis took a knock in the Berkshire zone at 49:08, however he returned back into play shortly after. Solway then added another marker to the scoreline as #68 Callum Boyd flicked the puck over Wright on a rebound attempt at 51:48, assisted by #63 Joe Coulter and Captain #10 Liam Stenton, finished with a Shark celebration towards the bench.
Solway were awarded another opportunity to capitalise on the powerplay at 53:24 as #33 Ralfs Circenis sat for tripping #9 Mason Alderson, yet the Berkshire PK unit soaked up the pressure well. Sharks forward, #88 Kyle Carruth came agonisingly close with a wrist shot from the slot at 58:02, but Wright made the stop to complete the game with a 4-1 win to Solway in Dumfries ice Bowl.
MVPs were awarded to #16 Bailey Thomson for Solway following his first goal in a Sharks jersey. Meanwhile, #42 Max Wright claimed the title for Berkshire after a consistent effort between the pipes.
Hull Seahawks vs Solway Sharks 26.01.25
The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks travelled East to face the Hull Seahawks on Sunday evening, falling short with a 6-1 loss to the home side courtesy of braces from Seahawks’ Captain, #21 Bobby Chamberlain and #74 Lee Bonner. Sharks faced the same problem as their previous road game, lining up with a short bench of 14+2 after #9 Mason Alderson and #21 Torran Anderson stepped out of the squad. Meanwhile, #14 Lewis Young and #15 Kieran Hair remained on the injury list for Solway.
On the other hand, Hull iced a squad of 16+2, missing key players of their own such as #13 Dave Phillips and #11 Owen Bruton through injuries, whilst #12 Tommy Spraggon returned to his 2-way side. Sharks opted for #33 Jordan Marr to start between the pipes, matched up against fellow Scot, #72 Jordan McLaughlin for the Seahawks.
1st period – (3-1)
Seahawks won the initial face-off and immediately tested #33 Jordan Marr through #74 Lee Bonner, but he made the stops to deny Hull an early lead. Sharks were handed the first penalty of the evening at 1:32 as #5 Olivier Arseneau was called for hooking #96 Owen Sobchak, however Solway’s PK held strong to detain the Seahawks’ firepower.
Hull continued their offensive threat and capitalised through #21 Bobby Chamberlain who flicked the puck backhand over Marr after the feed from the blue line by #73 Josh Hodgkinson at 5:38, putting Seahawks ahead. The Sharks defensive unit had to step up as the hosts were relentless in the offensive zone, but Marr soaked up the shots well to keep Solway in with a chance of levelling the score.
However, Sharks were caught on the change which allowed the Seahawks Skipper to claim his 2nd of the evening at 13:15 with a low, hard shot past Marr into the bottom corner to double the lead for his side. The Sharks were eager to halve the deficit quickly, but McLaughlin made the stops for Hull against Gardiner and Dunbar.
Jordan Marr made yet another huge stop for Solway after a scramble in the crease, although just 5 seconds later Seahawks found a way past the Sharks’ netminder. Canadian import, #9 Johnny Corneil fired the puck from an almost impossible angle into the top corner at 18:51, sending Seahawks 3 goals clear. However, Solway answered back through #22 John Dunbar in the closing minute at 19:15 with a golf swing-like finish on the back door to complete the opening period 3-1 in favour to Hull.
2nd period – (1-0)
Solway returned and fired shots on McLaughlin in an attempt to claw back another marker, but he matched their efforts to uphold the lead for Hull. Seahawks were forced to ice the puck multiple times as Sharks continued to search for a way past McLaughlin, however they failed to connect successfully.
Hull handed the visitors a major opportunity at 26:44 as #23 Lee Haywood sat for roughing after taking #63 Joe Coulter down in the Seahawks zone. Despite multiple efforts from the Sharks, Hull returned to full strength without conceding. The Seahawks generated chances through their 3rd line however the Solway D-men blocked the shots to deny the hosts adding a 4th goal.
The Sharks landed themselves on a penalty kill once more at 32:54 as #12 Kell Beattie was called for tripping, which allowed #71 Emil Švec to slot one past Marr after faking the initial shot at 34:34, assisted by his teammates to extend the lead. Solway’s Nolan Gardiner came narrowly close with a one-timer strike from the point after a feed by Coulter, yet McLaughlin made the pad save late in the frame to secure Hull a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
3rd period – (2-0)
Solway’s imports, Gardiner and Dunbar applied the attacking pressure on the Seahawks net, but their efforts were denied once again by #72 McLaughlin who posted a series of saves. Sharks were a player short once more after #5 Olivier Arseneau headed to the box for interference on Švec, but the Solway PK unit performed well to prevent the Seahawks.
Discipline slipped again for the visitors as #12 Kell Beattie sat again for tripping at 46:14 after bringing Edwards down in the Sharks crease, putting strain on the defence but they held strong on the penalty kill. However, Hull claimed their 5th goal of the evening through #74 Lee Bonner with a low strike at 50:32, following a brief 3on1 spell for the Seahawks.
Tensions began to spill over between the 2 sides as words were exchanged, following a tripping call on Hull’s #73 Josh Hodgkinson at 51:21 which forced Hull back on the PK. Solway’s Skipper, #10 Liam Stenton fired a huge chance on McLaughlin but he made the stop through traffic, preventing Sharks from reducing the deficit. The hosts fired the final goal of the evening at 55:10, as #74 Lee Bonner capitalised on a breakaway to claim his 2nd of the evening, posting Seahawks 5 goals clear. Solway were determined to clench a late marker, however McLaughlin once again denied the offensive threat to secure his side a 6-1 home victory at the Hull Ice Arena.
MVPs were awarded to #22 John Dunbar after an exquisite finish for Solway, whilst #74 Lee Bonner claimed the title for Hull following his brace in the final frame.
The Dynamic Property Services-sponsored Solway Sharks are hitting the road for the next two weekends, with their next home game scheduled for Saturday, February 15th, when they’ll take on the Hull Seahawks at the Shark Tank.
While the team is away, fans can still catch all the action at the Dumfries Ice Bowl! Join the excitement at our Watch Parties, where supporters can come together to cheer on the Sharks during their road trip.
For more information about the Watch Parties and to secure tickets for February’s home games, visit sharksihc.com/tickets. Don’t miss out—mark your calendars and show your Shark pride!
