The Building Craftsmen Dumfries Solway Sharks welcomed Kilmarnock Thunder to Dumfries Ice Bowl on Sunday, in on of their last three game in the Scottish National League. With closest rivals Murrayfield Racers close at their heels, Sharks sat top of the league, needing 3 points from their last 3 games to secure the title.
Coaches Martin Grubb and Jamie Thomson had their team primed and ready to play, and Sharks took to the ice with intent, and captain Struan Tonnar opening their account after only 2 minutes of play, from Marcus Murdoch. Thunder worked hard to contain the Sharks, but Murdoch followed up with a goal of his own at 9:29 from Scott Henderson. Tonnar added another just after 13 minutes, assists coming from Ewan Anderson and Peter Gapa. As the clock ran towards the end of the first a Kilmarnock penalty saw the Sharks take full advantage, Henderson netting from Mikey Thomson and Viktor Nestrasil at 18:27, followed up by another powerplay goal from Scott Crane assisted by Gordon Horne in the final minute. The first break saw the Sharks with a commanding 5 goal lead.
Sharks hit the ice hard on the second period, giving no respite to the under-fire Kilmarnock netminder Malcolm Anderson, and it was Gary Russell who struck first, scoring from Anderson after 29 seconds. Henderson soon added another from Nestrasil and Liam Stenton, before netting his hattrick at the half way point, assists going to Murdoch and Nestrasil. Horne weighed in next with assists coming from Crane and Ruairi Lockerbie. In the last minute of the period Sharks again found themselves on the powerplay, and Ewan Anderson took advantage with an unassisted goal – bringing the score at the end of the second to 10-0.
With Thunder pinned in their own zone at the start of the third Nestrasil made his mark, scoring not just his first goal in a Sharks shirt but three in a row – netting a hattrick in just under 2 minutes, the first unassisted, and then aided by Murdoch and Henderson. Thunder changed netminder, Thomas Mangan taking over from beleaguered Anderson. He was soon under fire, Stenton adding to the Sharks tally next from Crane. 16-year-old newbie Scott Rae was next with his first senior goal, Stenton assisting. Anderson added a couple more at the halfway point of the period, helpers coming from Russell and Gapa, before Murdoch added another from Henderson. With Thunder reeling Nestrasil added another for good measure at 52:52 from Murdoch and Henderson, before Lockerbie scored what would be the final goal of the game at 52:52, Crane and Horne assisting. The final buzzer sounded on dominant Sharks performance, and the score sat at 20 gaols to 0.
Gary Russell, with a goal and 2 assists to his credit, was man of the match for Sharks, while Thunder stopper Anderson was their man of the match, having turned away 57 shots in his time in nets.
Afterwards Sharks coach Martin Grubb reflected, “With the league title within touching distance it was important to treat this game properly as Kilmarnock have had some good results of late. We talked about moving the puck, rolling all four lines and entertaining the supporters and I think we did a good job with that.
We wanted to give everyone a chance to play in all situations and create competition for places as we approach the playoffs as we know we need everyone ready to play and it was good to see our young players playing at this level. I thought they did well and we were all delighted to see Scott Rae score his first senior goal. Overall we did our job and scored some nice goals and we now look forward to next weekend as we look to wrap up the SNL league.”
Needing a solitary point to take the Scottish League title Sharks are away to Aberdeen on Saturday, before facing third-placed Dundee Tigers at Dumfries Ice Bowl on Sunday at 5.30pm their last regular SNL game of the season.
