At the weekend Solway Sharks made a strong statement in a pair of pre-season friendlies against the Edinburgh Capitals of the SNL.
Game 1:
On Saturday night, the Capitals welcomed the Sharks to the Murrayfield Ice Arena. The Capitals were determined to prove themselves against National League-level competition, but it was the Sharks who struck first. John Dunbar capitalised on a rebound from Caly Robertson’s shot, putting the Sharks ahead 1-0 in the first period. Despite consistent pressure from the Sharks, the Capitals managed to keep the scoreline close, ending the period at 1-0.
Just 12 seconds into the second period, Caly Robertson extended the lead with a well-executed goal following a face-off play. The Sharks continued to dominate, with Lewis Young finding the net less than 10 minutes later after a smooth pass from Mason Alderson, pushing the lead to 3-0. However, the Capitals were not ready to concede. Joe Lynch, who is on a two-way contract with both teams, pulled one back for the Capitals, making it 3-1. The Sharks quickly responded with Torran Anderson scoring off a John Dunbar assist, restoring the three-goal cushion. Before the period ended, Joel Gautschi brought the Capitals closer with a goal, setting the score at 4-2 heading into the third period.
The Sharks found their stride in the final period, with Olivier Arseneau and two goals from Nolan Gardiner sealing a 7-2 victory despite a spirited effort from the Capitals.
Game 2:
On Sunday evening, the Sharks hosted the Capitals at the Dumfries Ice Bowl, eager to impress their home crowd. The Sharks wasted no time, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Mason Alderson scored on a beautiful deflection, followed by two sharp shots from Nolan Gardiner. The Sharks outshot the Capitals 14-3, dominating the period.
Early in the second period, Torran Anderson extended the lead to 4-0. The Capitals answered with a quick goal from Adam Robinson, but the Sharks responded quickly. Despite being down a man, Caly Robertson stole the puck from a defender and scored a shorthanded goal, pushing the lead to 5-1.
In the third period, Logan Reid took over goaltending duties for the Sharks. The Capitals capitalised on a slow start by the home side, scoring two quick goals through Chad Smith and Joel Gautschi, narrowing the gap to 5-3. However, Mason Alderson found space to score, and Nolan Gardiner completed his hat trick, putting the game out of reach at 7-3. Chad Smith scored his second goal for the Capitals late in the game, ending the match with a 7-4 scoreline in favour of the Sharks.
Upcoming Matches:
The Sharks return to the Dumfries Ice Bowl this weekend for their final two pre-season games against the Great Britain Under-20s team. The first match is on Friday, September 6th, at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 6:00 pm. The second game is on Saturday, September 7th, at 7:00 pm, with doors opening at 5:30 pm. Peckish Café and Sharky’s Bar will be open all day. Tickets are available now at www.sharksihc.com/tickets or in person at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
