BCD Solway Sharks registered their first NIHL points of the season on Saturday, with a resounding 12-1 win over Sheffield Senators at the Ice Bowl.
After two disappointing performances, Martin Grubb’s side responded in the best possible style to get their campaign off and running.
Forward Martin Cingel led the attack superbly with five goals and two assists, including a short-handed goal, a powerplay goal and three even-handed.
Cingel opened the scoring just four minutes in while Sharks were a man down, collecting Iain Bowie’s pass and shooting past Browne in the Sens net.
Captain Struan Tonnar made it 2-0 with an unassisted marker two minutes later, before Cingel – also unassisted – made it 3-0 at 8.41.
Duncan Speirs bagged the fourth at 11.28 before Cingel completed his personal hattrick at 12.18 with another assist from Bowie. The period was rounded off six seconds from time with another SHG, this from the blade of Juraj Senko.
The Sharks special teams were in full swing and this time with a man advantage early in period two fantastic puck movement set up Cingel for the powerplay goal at 21.21.
Around the midpoint of the game, Steven Balmer netted his first goal in Sharks colours (29.23) before Scott Henderson’s first senior goal just 33 seconds later made it 9-0.
Sheffield finally made it onto the scoreboard at 35.25 through Tom Humphries, but their joy was shortlived as Solway reached double figures just 16 seconds later with an unassisted Cingel strike, his fifth of the night.
Iain Bowie (40.31) and Juraj Senko (43.14) added goals early in period three to complete the scoring for the night and get Solway Sharks off the mark in the NIHL standings.
After the match Martin Grubb said: “We said last week that tonight we just had to win and not worry about how.
“All week in practice we worked hard, and we brought that into the game.
The energy for the first 12-14 minutes was excellent and no disrespect to Sheffield but we blew them away in that opening burst.
“It was important to win, and the convincing win brings confidence which we can take into a tough run of games coming up.
“At the defensive end we improved from last week, I wasn’t happy with the goal we did concede as it was sloppy play, but if you’d said we’d only concede one then we’d have taken that.
“By minimising the goals against and chances against we can go and show the offensive ability we have – tonight our on-ice leader was Martin Cingel. He came out of the blocks flying and showed why he’s here.
“The experience is there, the hunger and desire he shows and composure in front of net was second to none and he lead by actions and others followed.
“From that we had some good line combinations, we know there’s goals in this team – we were able to score some nice goals and get the confidence and get the win to kick start our season.
“After the first games we said we had to improve – we have done that but there’s still work to do and we will continue to work hard but after a big win like this confidence is up and players are happy. It’s easier to teach players when they’re happy.”
Grubb also spoke about events off the ice in recent weeks.
“Last week we had Andy Smith which was tough for everyone. Struan and I attended his funeral on Thursday to represent the club and pay our respects.
Then long time servant and local legend Bobby Carruth began his chemotherapy treatment in Edinburgh – he texted me before and after the game so that win was for him.
“We hope he gets better soon and we move forward and hopefully give him something to cheer about.”
Sharks next home game is Saturday 17 October against Blackburn Hawks. They are away to Telford and Solihull this coming weekend in a road double header.
Photo credit: MARTIN CINGEL showing off the new Sharks strip with #DGWGO logo on the shoulders by Mark Paterson/Skidpix
