Solway Sharks Leeds Knights 28.12.24
The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks faced the reigning league champions, Leeds Knights in the Sharktank following a brief festive break and took a 3-5 loss, despite a valiant effort throughout the 60 minutes by the hosts on Saturday night.
Solway lined up with a squad of 17+2, as both #16 Bailey Thomson and #55 Owen Rae returned back into the line-up. However, #25 Connor Henderson missed out through injury, whilst #68 Callum Boyd sat his game ban following last week’s altercation in Telford. Meanwhile, the Knights travelled with 19+2 as #41 Oli Endicott made his return back into the squad. Solway opted for #33 Jordan Marr between the pipes, matched up against #31 Sam Gospel for the Knights.
1st period –
The first period opened with high intensity as both sides searched for an early opener. Both sides created chances through offensive pressure but the netminders matched the forwards’ efforts to maintain a goal-less scoreline. Sharks were handed the first penalty at 7:28 as #43 Nolan Gardiner sat for cross-checking but a strong PK unit for Solway denied the Leeds firepower.
Caly Robertson came close for Solway at 12:40 but #8 Bow Neely applied a sliding block to prevent a 2on1 chance for the hosts. Similarly, Marr made a huge block down the opposite end after #95 Mac Howlett claimed a breakaway following a face-off win in the defensive zone for Sharks. Both teams maintained a fast-paced period but failed to claim the first marker on the scoreboard during the opening 20 minutes of play.
2nd period –
The Knights eventually worked the opening goal through Captain #12 Kieran Brown who slotted the puck past Marr at 23:03, assisted by linemates #37 Matt Barron and #9 Jordan Buesa. Just 36 seconds later, the Skipper fired the 2nd past Marr for Leeds to double the lead after the feed from #37 Matt Barron. The Sharks quickly looked to answer back but Gospel stood strong for the Knights to retain their lead.
The visitors clenched a 3rd at 29:10 after #44 Jordan Griffin tucked away the rebound off Marr on the back post via #12 Kieran Brown to extend the lead. Sharks were handed their first powerplay opportunity of the evening as #18 Krisjanis Fugalis sat for holding at 32:04. Solway capitalised on the advantage at 33 minutes after #43 Nolan Gardiner flicked the puck backhand into the top corner of Gospel’s net from the crease posting the score 1-3 and reducing the deficit.
The hosts continued to create chances in the Leeds zone but quick reactions from Gospel denied the Sharks forwards from adding to the scoreline. Leeds restored their 3-goal lead at 37:24 after #19 Innes Gallacher cleaned up the loose change following the rebound off Endicott’s initial strike from point seeing the visitors take a healthy clearance into the final period.
3rd period –
Sharks were given an opportunity again on the powerplay early in the final frame as #11 Matt Haywood was called for holding. Just as the Knights returned to full strength, #10 Liam Stenton fired the puck top shelf on the back door at 43:39, following the feed from #9 Mason Alderson who deked through the defence to reduce the deficit.
Leeds were credited with a penalty shot after #12 Kell Beattie took down #19 Innes Gallacher on the breakaway at 46:36. Captain #12 Kieran Brown stepped up for his side and fired the puck wide of Marr’s blocker to post the score 2-5 in favour of the Knights and claim his hat-trick simultaneously. Tensions between the defensive units began to rise, seeing both #49 Liam Danskin and #18 Krisjanis Fugalis sit for roughing at 49:44 maintaining 5on5 play.
Leeds defenseman, #44 Jordan Griffin dropped the gloves on #89 Scott Henderson at 53:55 resulting in a 3minute powerplay for Solway after Henderson sat 2minutes for tripping whilst Griffin sat the extra minutes for fighting. However, #5 Olivier Arseneau was called for hooking at 54:02 forcing 3on4 play momentarily.
Leeds returned back to the penalty kill at 56:55 as #95 Mac Howlett was handed a hooking call after #5 Arseneau attempted to go through 4 Knights in the offensive zone. The Sharks were clinical on the powerplay once more as #10 Liam Stenton claimed his 2nd of the evening with a low strike from the blue line to put the Sharks back into fighting contention at 57:56. Solway opted to pull #33 Jordan Marr at 59:01 but failed to find a way past Gospel despite the extra attacker finishing the 60 minutes with a 3-5 score in favour to Leeds.
MVPs were awarded to both number 12s for their respective sides, Kell Beattie and Kieran Brown after their strong performances across both ends of the ice.
STATS –
Solway Sharks: Liam Stenton 2+0, Nolan Gardiner 1+0, John Dunbar 0+1, Kell Beattie 0+1, Mason Alderson 0+1, Lewis Young 0+1
Leeds Knights: Kieran Brown 3+1, Jordan Griffin 1+0, Innes Gallacher 1+0, Matt Barron 0+2, Jordan Buesa 0+1
Leeds Knights vs Solway Sharks 29.12.24
The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks travelled to Leeds to face the Knights in their final fixture of 2024, taking a 5-1 loss in the Castle despite a goal-less 3rd period to restrain the reigning League Champions.
Solway travelled with a squad of 18+2 as #68 Callum Boyd returned back into the lineup after serving his game ban, whilst #25 Connor Henderson and #15 Kieran Hair both missed out through injury plus #17 Joe Lynch iced for his 2-way side, Edinburgh Capitals. Meanwhile, Leeds lined up with 19+2 retaining a replicated squad from the previous evening in Dumfries and opted for regular starter #31 Sam Gospel, similarly to Solway who gave #33 Jordan Marr the nod.
1st period –
The high intensity play carried over from the previous night in Dumfries from the initial puck drop as both sides searched for an early opener. Sharks were the ones to capitalise as #22 John Dunbar fired the rebound past Gospel following the strike from 43 Nolan Gardiner at 2:21 much to the travelling fans’ excitement. The Knights quickly looked for a way to answer back but the Solway defence held well to retain their lead.
However, #37 Matt Barron worked a strike past Marr at 6:04 to level the score, assisted by #12 Kieran Brown against the run of play. The Sharks first line fired multiple shots on Gospel, but he matched their efforts to maintain the level scoreline. Solway landed the first penalty of the evening at 16:38 as #63 Joe Coulter was called for hooking, but a strong PK performance prevented the hosts claiming the lead. Several superb stops in the latter half of the period from #33 Jordan Marr ensured the score remained 1-1 after 20 minutes.
2nd period –
The Knights were found short-handed within the opening minute of the middle frame after #41 Oli Endicott was called for holding. However, #12 Kieran Brown intercepted a pass on the blueline by Solway to breakaway and slot the puck 5-hole on Marr, putting Leeds ahead despite being a player short at 22:29. Moments later, Knights returned to the penalty kill as #73 Bissonnette sat for tripping, but Gospel coped well with the offensive pressure from the Sharks.
Leeds’ Captain, #12 Kieran Brown fired his 2nd of the evening across the line after the feed from #9 Jordan Buesa to double the lead for the hosts at 28:29. Solway’s #63 Joe Coulter returned to the penalty box just seconds later at 28:42, which allowed #33 Finn Bradon to fire a one-timer from the slot at 29:44 stretching the lead to 4-1 for Leeds.
The Knights certainly unleashed their firepower, seeing #12 Kieran Brown claim his 2nd consecutive hat-trick with a tip from the strike by #54 Noah McMullin at 32:21, forcing Sharks Head Coach Martin Grubb to call a timeout. The break in play swung in Solway’s favour as they kept the hosts’ offence at bay for the remainder of the period whilst creating chances of their own. Leeds were forced to ice their PK unit once more as #24 Dylan Hehir was called for holding Dunbar’s stick in the crease at 38:43 but Sharks failed to reduce the deficit before the end of the 2nd period.
3rd period –
Leeds successfully killed the remainder of Hehir’s penalty and looked to add to the scoreline but a perfectly timed poke check from #5 Arseneau was enough to deny Buesa and Brown. Marr continued to be put under pressure from the Knights forwards, but he held well to ensure the Sharks had a fighting contention in the final frame.
Both 3rd lines for either side created chances in their respective attacking zones but failed to find a way past the netminders who posted solid performances between the pipes. After a high intensity game, tensions spilled at 53:38 as #53 Kian Shevlin and #41 Oli Endicott exchanged words in the Solway zone, which resulted in Sharks claiming a powerplay as the Leeds forward sat an additional penalty for holding. Once more, a strong defensive display from the Knights denied Solway from earning a marker onto the scoreline.
Stenton fired multiple shots in the final minutes from the blue line in an attempt to replicate the previous evening, but Gospel made the stops to ensure the Knights signed off their final home game of 2024 with a 5-1 win in the Castle.
MVPs were awarded to both Captains for their respective sides, #10 Liam Stenton for the Sharks after an impressive performance whilst #12 Kieran Brown claimed the title for Leeds with his 2nd consecutive hat-trick of the weekend.
STATS –
Solway Sharks: John Dunbar 1+0, Nolan Gardiner 0+1, Mason Alderson 0+1
Leeds Knights: Kieran Brown 3+1, Matt Barron 1+0, Finn Bradon 1+0, Jordan Buesa 0+2, Matt Bissonnette 0+1, Matt Haywood 0+1, Noah McMullin 0+1
The Dynamic Property Services sponsored Solway Sharks are back on home ice this Saturday, January 4th, kicking off 2025 in the Shark Tank with a thrilling matchup against the Sheffield Steeldogs. After a challenging weekend against the Leeds Knights, the Sharks are determined to get back to winning ways and deliver an exciting game for their loyal fans.
The evening promises plenty of entertainment for everyone. Fans can look forward to the ever-popular “Shirt Off The Back” raffle, a 50/50 draw, the fun-filled “Chuck-A-Puck” contest, Finn’s intermission shootout, and post-game player interviews. It’s set to be a fantastic night of family-friendly fun and hockey action.
Doors open at 5:30 PM, and the game starts at 7:00 PM at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. Tickets are available now on the Sharks website at sharksihc.com/tickets or can be purchased in person at the venue.
Don’t miss the chance to cheer on the Sharks as they make their first splash of the new year. We can’t wait to see you there!
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