Solway Sharks Juniors had all their teams in action on the weekend, welcoming teams from Kilmarnock to Dumfries Ice Bowl.
The Jardine Motors Under 20s team played their counterparts on Saturday afternoon, in a game that was fairly evenly matched, despite Solway’s recent sparkling form. The first period, despite some concerted effort and plenty of shots from both teams, ended goalless. After some words from the coach in the break the team came out reinvigorated, only for Kilmarnock to break through and score after only 2:35 of play. Solway were roused, and after winning the puck at the face off Charles Leuvennink found himself in possession, and a swift pass to Lewis McEwan saw him send the Puck straight to the back of the net on 2:59 – levelling the score at 1-1, which remained to the end of the period.
The third period saw the Sharks find another gear, and after only 59 seconds Luke Houston walloped the puck in the net, assisted by Evan Chambers and younger brother Lewis Houston. Kilmarnock equalised 4 minutes later, and some fast and physical play ensued. Neither team could break through, despite numerous shots, and the status quo lasted until 6 minutes from the end when Kilmarnock lost a player to a penalty. Quick to capitalise on the powerplay, Liam Stenton found Lewis Houston who found the net to put Solway ahead again. Still on the powerplay, a minute later Luke Houston found the net again, from Struan Duff and Stenton, to put Solway out of reach as victors at 4 goals to 2 with 2 minutes left. Kyle Johnston, in spectacular form in nets with another 95% save rate, was man of the match for Solway.
After the game coach Jamie Thomson said, “We made this difficult and really only turned up to play in the last 20 minutes when our talent finally broke through thanks to Killie taking penalties and letting us in. A win is a win – we need to learn from today and make sure we come ready to complete next week against Belfast or we won’t be as lucky.”
Sunday morning saw more games against Kilmarnock, led by the SK Joinery under 12’s. The wee sharks put in lots of effort, and after 4 minutes took the lead when Ewan Duignan collected the puck from Braiden Howat in Solway nets and skated to the opposition goal to open the scoring and put Solway ahead. Kilmarnock equalised 2 minutes later, before Owen Rae put Solway ahead with a spendid unassisted goal after another 2 minutes. 2 quick goals from Kilmarnock followed, seeing them finish the period with 3 goals to Solway’s 2. Solway were quick off the mark in the second, Cassie McGregor scoring from a neat Finlay Smeaton pass after 36 seconds to draw level once again. Kilmarnock proceeded to dominate the game, and their attacking play meant they managed another 3 before the period break, leading Solway 6-3 at the end of the second. The now-tiring wee Sharks battled hard to defend in the final period, but could not stop the Kilmarnock onslaught, and despite another Cassie McGregor goal, from Tomas Vyrostek this time, Kilmarnock finished the game 10-4 winners.
Ewan Duignan was Solway’s man of the match. Coach Jamie Thomson commented, “We have some really great potential in the team who are improving all the time. Our 12’s team are very young and relatively inexperienced – they are learning to play for each other and as a team, and once they nail that the wins will come.”
Solway’s Oakbank Services under 16s were next, and they too struggled to contain a keen Kilmarnock attack force. Despite their best efforts defensively, Kilmarnock were leading 3 – 0 after the first period, and looked dominant. Kilmarnock scored their fourth after 30 seconds of the second period, before Liam Stenton opened Solway’s account with a grand unassisted goal 30 seconds later, making the score 4-1. It took Kilmarnock 5 minutes to break through and score again, followed swiftly by another. Stenton replied again a minute later, collecting the puck from Joshua Leuvennink in nets before mounting his attack, making it 6-2 to Kilmarnock. Stenton scored his and the team’s third immediately after, assisted by Scott Rae. Another Kilmarnock goal saw the period finish with Kilmarnock 7 goals to 3 ahead.
The third period saw Kilmarnock continue to dominate, and score again after 2 minutes. Solway responded swiftly, Oliver King finding Stenton, who’s shot was saved, before Mitchell McEwan collected the rebound and sent it past the keeper – 8-4 Kilmarnock. Stenton scored again 2 minutes later with another unassisted goal, before Leuvennink made way in nets for Jonathan Spence. Kilmarnock stepped up the pace, managed another 4 before the period ended, and were 12 -5 victors.
Solway’s man of the match was Mitchell McEwan. Afterwards, coach Jamie Kerr said, “Today’s game was a simple case of being picked off by older, physically stronger and more experienced guys. The only thing I’m disappointed with is the spark we showed against teams as good if not better than Kilmarnock wasn’t there today. We really need to keep promoting the habit of keeping the foot on the gas shift in shift out, with and without the puck, and not be intimidated by bigger opponents.
We will learn from this, as any young and inexperienced team should, and hopefully move forward with consistent intensity as a habit.”
