BCD Solway Sharks played their first competitive hockey for almost six weeks on Saturday but they found their form to record a 14-0 win over Sheffield Senators at the Ice Bowl.
They will certainly face a tougher test this coming Saturday as defending champions and league leaders Blackburn Hawks visit Dumfries (7pm face off).
The Sharks welcomed back forward Martin Cingel from long term injury while defenceman James Wallace made his debut after signing from Edinburgh Capitals of the EIHL.
Sheffield Senators are still searching for their first win since gaining promotion last summer but they are a hard working outfit and Sharks took almost ten minutes to break the deadlock. Juraj Senko finally made the breakthrough on the powerplay at 9.41.
Further first period goals from Ross Murray (13.18) and captain Struan Tonnar (16.15) made it 3-0 at the interval – Senko picking up assists on both as he was to finish the night with 3+4 for a seven point game.
Arguably the biggest cheer of the night came with the Sharks’ fourth goal, scored by James Wallace on his return to the IceBowl – the defenceman slotting straight into the Solway lineup and showing the development in his game after two years in the top flight.
Sharks were dominating the possession and the goals continued to flow – it was 8-0 at the end of period two as Duncan Speirs, Stuart Andrews, Aidan Fulton (PP) and Ross Murray found the net for Solway.
That momentum continued into the final frame with Senko adding his second in the first minute of the period. Martin Cingel capped his return to action with the tenth goal (46.08) before Senko, Speirs, Michael Corbett and Cingel
(PP) rounded off the scoring action.
After the game, head coach Martin Grubb said: “It was a frustrating layoff so tonight was good to blow away the cobwebs and get back into game action.
“It was useful to get back into good habits with the puck, and give some confidence to the players finding the net like they did.
“James Wallace did very well – you can see his play has improved and he fits in to the team on and off the ice. Martin Cingel coming back is also a huge boost – he was a little frustrated early on but continued to work hard and got his goals in the third period as a deserved reward.
“While we enjoyed the game and the win, we know that we will have to be even better next week against Blackburn. They are performing consistently week in week out as we used to do – that’s our aim if we want to climb the table and make the post season.”
Saturday’s game against Blackburn Hawks faces off at 7pm at Dumfries Ice Bowl. Tickets go on sale from the Ice Bowl reception from 6pm on the night.
Admission is £8 for adults, £5 concession and a family ticket (2+3) is £16.
