Solway Sharks vs Peterborough Phantoms 19.10.24
The Dynamic property services sponsored Solway Sharks returned to winning ways, claiming a dominant 7-2 victory over the Peterborough Phantoms in the Shark Tank on Saturday evening, courtesy of a Nolan Gardiner hat-trick, following a disappointing previous weekend.
The Sharks lined up with the addition of #16 Bailey Thomson who made his first official league debut, however both #55 Owen Rae and #15 Kieran Hair remained on the injury list. Solway opted for #33 Jordan Marr between the pipes once again, who was set to face his former team for the first time, backed up by #30 Calum Hepburn. Meanwhile Canadian import #30 Hayden Lavigne was given the start for Peterborough, accompanied by #50 Luke Clark on the bench.
1st period –
The Sharks got off to a flying start and immediately applied offensive pressure on Lavigne through the first line of Robertson, Dunbar and Gardiner. Solway maintained puck possession, allowing #9 Mason Alderson to open the scoring at 7:23 after firing from point, assisted by #14 Lewis Young. The Phantoms defence then put in a strong shift to keep the Sharks at bay, who had controlled the pace of play for the majority of the period.
Despite efforts from Bowering and Mitchell-King for the visitors, Solway overturned the puck and doubled their lead through #63 Joe Coulter who claimed his first goal since returning North, assisted by #88 Kyle Carruth and #21 Torran Anderson at 17:49. The Sharks upheld their momentum, seeing #43 Nolan Gardiner fire over Lavigne’s shoulder at 18:37 after the feed from #22 John Dunbar, securing a 3-0 lead to the hosts after the opening 20 minutes.
2nd period –
Marr was put to work early in the middle frame, but he made the stops to prevent the Phantoms forwards. Solway captain #10 Liam Stenton was handed the first penalty of the game at 26:53 for hooking, which saw #24 Austin Mitchell-King capitalise on the advantage to reduce the deficit at 27:40. Peterborough then returned the favour at 30:33 as #96 Jarvis Hunt sat for roughing, however the Sharks failed to answer.
Peterborough clenched back another marker at 35:22 through #26 Tom Palmer, via #8 Louie Kynaston and #2 Tom Norton despite a sliding block by Solway Skipper #10 Stenton. Moments later, #92 Caly Robertson picked up a slashing penalty at 35:53, giving the visitors a chance to equalise but they returned to full strength still ahead. After a strong passage of play, #14 Lewis Young flicked the puck backhand through #30 Lavigne’s 5-hole assisted by #9 Alderson and #5 Arseneau at 39:50 posting the score at 4-2 heading into the final frame.
3rd period –
Sharks were eager to re-claim their initial 3 goal lead and were hungry for the puck, resulting in #22 John Dunbar claiming possession behind the Phantoms goal to slot the puck past #30 Lavigne at 44:10. Solway’s first line proved the most threatening and added another to the Sharks tally at 46:51 as #43 Nolan Gardiner grabbed his 2nd of the game, flicking the puck top-shelf on the backhand. Phantoms then opted to switch out #30 Hayden Lavigne for #50 Luke Clark following a 6th goal for the hosts.
Solway’s #21 Torran Anderson was brought down in the neutral zone at 48:40, resulting in #88 Kyle Carruth stepping up for his linemate. Both #88 Carruth and #29 Hough sat for fighting, whilst Kyle picked up an added 5minutes for instigation. The break in play posed no threat for #43 Nolan Gardiner who claimed his hat-trick at 48:17 extending the lead to 5 goals for Solway.
The Sharks controlled play and cycled the puck around the zone, firing several shots on Clark in the closing 10 minutes of the game, however he made the stops to allow Phantoms a chance offensively. Peterborough worked multiple chances through Captain #19 Luke Ferrara, yet Marr denied his former teammate, securing a dominant 7-2 victory for his new side, Solway Sharks.
MVPs were awarded to Solway’s hat-trick hero, #43 Nolan Gardiner for the hosts following his continuous pressure on the Phantoms net. Meanwhile, #24 Austin Mitchell-king claimed the title for the Peterborough Phantoms after opening the scoring for his side.
STATS –
Solway Sharks: Nolan Gardiner 3+1, John Dunbar 1+3, Mason Alderson 1+1, Joe Coulter 1+0, Lewis Young 1+1, Olivier Arseneau 0+2, Kyle Carruth 0+1, Torran Anderson 0+1, Caly Robertson 0+1, Liam Stenton 0+1
Peterborough Phantoms: Austin Mitchell-King 1+0, Tom Palmer 1+0, Louie Kynaston 0+1, Tom Norton 0+1
Sheffield Steeldogs vs Solway Sharks 20.10.24
The Dynamic property services sponsored Solway Sharks travelled South on Sunday afternoon to take on the Sheffield Steeldogs, looking for revenge after a 1-6 victory in the Shark Tank just 7 days prior. Despite opening the scoring, the Sharks faced a 5-2 loss to the hosts after 60 minutes.
The Sharks travelled with 15+2, missing forwards #25 Connor Henderson and #16 Bailey Thomson from the previous evening, whilst both #55 Owen Rae and #15 Kieran Hair remained on the injury list. Solway opted for regular starter #33 Jordan Marr, backed up by #30 Calum Hepburn. Meanwhile, #30 Ben Norton started between the pipes for Sheffield whilst #34 Curtis Warburton sat on the bench.
1st period –
The Sharks won the opening face-off and immediately tested Norton through #43 Gardiner who reacted quickly with a catcher save. However, Solway were forced on the defensive shift after #88 Kyle Carruth was handed a tripping penalty at 3:03. The Steeldogs came close as #20 Jonathan Phillips pinged the pipes, but Marr denied any further opportunities before the Sharks returned to full strength.
Solway claimed the first goal of the afternoon at 7:44 as #63 Joe Coulter clenched his 2nd strike in as many games, after firing a one-timer past Norton after the feed from #6 Stuart Kerr and #88 Kyle Carruth. The Sharks controlled the puck in the first frame as the Steeldogs gained a feel for the tempo of the game having played the previous 2 evenings. The visitor’s 3rd line of Coulter, Carruth and Anderson proved the most threatening, but Norton matched their efforts to reduce the Sharks to a single goal lead after 20 minutes.
2nd period –
Solway maintained the offensive pressure early in the middle frame, but once again Norton covered to deny an extension to the scoreline for the Sharks. Tensions rose between #12 Beattie and #37 Hällfors seeing them both sit 2 minutes for roughing at 23:54. Steeldogs then equalised after both sides returned to full strength courtesy of a one-timer by #18 Sam Tremblay at 27:25, assisted by #37 Elmeri Hällfors and #29 Nathan Ripley.
The Steeldogs capitalised moments later at 28:37 after #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo tucked away a breakaway opportunity for the hosts, giving them the lead for the first time. Sharks landed themselves a player short at 32:37 as #53 Kian Shevlin was called for boarding in the Solway zone, but after a strong defensive display, the visitors remained only a single goal behind.
Solway were eager to level the score, which resulted in #12 Kell Beattie sitting for holding at 39:13. With just 2 seconds left on the clock, #18 Sam Tremblay clenched his 2nd strike firing over Marr’s shoulder assisted by #72 Ivan Björkly-Nordström to give Sheffield a 2-goal lead heading into the final frame.
3rd period –
The Sharks were hungry to claw a goal back early in the 3rd period as #5 Olivier Arseneau fired a series of snipes in the Sheffield crease, but they were all covered by Norton. Meanwhile, Sheffield created opportunities of their own, yet Marr guarded the pipes successfully for the visitors. Solway D-man #6 Stuart Kerr reduced the deficit after a top-corner strike through #88 Kyle Carruth and #21 Torran Anderson.
Solway set up multiple chances but failed to send the puck across the line and earn the equalising goal as the game approached the final 5 minutes of play. After winning a face-off to the right of Marr, #37 Elmeri Hällfors restored the 2-goal lead for Sheffield slotting the puck bottom corner on the backhand at 56:30. Although, Sharks were given a chance to answer back just 12 seconds later as #20 Jonathan Phillips headed to the box for tripping.
Despite being a player short, #37 Elmeri Hällfors scored the final goal of the game exactly 60 seconds after his initial marker at 57:30 to post the score at 5-2 to the Steeldogs. Both #88 Carruth and #21 Anderson generated offensive pressure in the final moments, but their efforts were swallowed by Norton to secure a victory for Sheffield.
MVPs were awarded to Solway’s netminder #33 Jordan Marr after posting some huge saves against the Sheffield offence. Meanwhile, #37 Elmeri Hällfors picked up the title for Sheffield following his involvement in 4 Sheffield goals.
The Sharks will look to return to winning ways as they are set to take on the Romford Raiders for the first time in the 24/25 season campaign on Saturday evening in the Shark Tank. Doors open at 5:30pm for a 7:00pm face-off at the Dumfries Ice Bowl – tickets are available now from the official Solway Sharks IHC website.
STATS –
Solway Sharks: Stuart Kerr 1+1, Joe Coulter 1+0, Kyle Carruth 0+2, Torran Anderson 0+1
Sheffield Steeldogs: Elmeri Hällfors 2+2, Sam Tremblay 2+2, Morgan Clarke-Pizzo 1+0, Nathan Ripley 0+3, Tim Smith 0+1, Ivan Björkly-Nordström 0+1
The Sharks will look to return to winning ways as they are set to take on the Romford Raiders for the first time in the 24/25 season campaign on Saturday evening in the Shark Tank. Doors open at 5:30pm for a 7:00pm face-off at the Dumfries Ice Bowl – tickets are available now from the official Solway Sharks IHC website, https://sharksihc.com/tickets/, or in person at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
