Solway Sharks vs Hull Seahawks 15.02.25
The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks returned back to home ice on Saturday evening in their Valentine’s fixture after 5 consecutive road games. Despite a back-and-forth battle, the Seahawks clenched the 2 points in the final minute of the game, sneaking away with a 5-6 victory.
Solway lined up with 16+2, unchanged from their previous game against the Bristol Pitbulls, still missing all 2-way agreement players and injured forward #15 Kieran Hair from the squad. Meanwhile the Seahawks travelled with 15+2, missing several key players, however #5 Rhys Edwards returned to bolster numbers. It was a battle of Scots between the pipes as #33 Jordan Marr started for Solway, matched up against #72 Jordan McLaughlin.
1st period – (2-2)
Sharks dominated the period early and claimed an early breakaway through defenceman, #5 Olivier Arseneau but McLaughlin made the pad save to deny an early lead for the hosts. Solway continued to create plays in the Hull zone, yet McLaughlin matched their efforts to retain a goalless scoreline. However, #89 Scott Henderson claimed the opening goal at 10:41 after breaking into the zone, deking past the defence to eventually fire top corner at 10:41, giving Sharks the lead.
The Seahawks amped up their attacking pressure which then resulted in an equalising goal through #71 Emil Svec on a breakaway at 12:44, assisted by #96 Owen Sobchak and #94 Dec Balmer. Just seconds later, GB u20 forward #11 Owen Bruton flicked the puck over Marr’s pads from close range to give the visitors the upper hand at 13:15.
Although, the visitors’ advantage was brief as fellow GB u20 #88 Kyle Carruth answered back for his side with a lovely strike, after the link-up play with line mate #21 Torran Anderson. Solway searched for a late goal in the period after #22 John Dunbar fired the shots on net straight from the
face-offs, yet #72 Jordan McLaughlin reacted quickly to ensure a level 2-2 score after the opening 20 minutes.
2nd period – (2-2)
The Seahawks returned for the middle frame with clear intent to add to the score, but Solway’s defence coped well with the offensive pressure to maintain a tied game. Sharks were handed the first penalty of the evening as #88 Kyle Carruth sat for interference at 25:12, however the hosts denied the firepower PP unit for Hull.
Solway switched momentum in their favour after returning to full strength, allowing #68 Callum Boyd to fire from close range following the face-off at 28:40, sending McLaughlin’s bottle flying to restore Sharks’ initial lead. However, Hull’s Captain #21 Bobby Chamberlain grid-locked the game once again at 29:50, assisted by linemates #71 Svec and #96 Sobchak.
Sharks were awarded their first powerplay opportunity of the evening at 31:59 as #74 Lee Bonner was called for tripping, but the Sharks failed to punish the Seahawks on the penalty kill. Hull’s top-points scorer, #96 Sobchak soon followed Bonner to the box for roughing at 34:55, after taking down #88 Kyle Carruth in the neutral zone. Hull’s defence soaked up the pressure once more and held possession as the penalty expired.
The visitors shifted the game in their favour as #71 Emil Svec converted yet another breakaway chance at 37:36 after the feed from #21 Bobby Chamberlain, posting the score at 3-4. The Seahawks’ discipline slipped once more as #73 Josh Hodgkinson sat for holding, handing Sharks a major chance late in the period. Inside the final minute, Solway’s #22 John Dunbar slotted the puck past McLaughlin on the back door after a lovely link-up from #92 Caly Robertson and #5 Olivier Arseneau at 39:33 to level the score to 4-4 after 40 minutes.
Words were exchanged between #21 Bobby Chamberlain and #92 Caly Robertson on the buzzer in the Hull zone, which then bubbled over into a brawl between both sides as the benches headed to their respective changing rooms.
3rd period – (1-2)
Both teams started the final period with depleted rosters as Hull’s #5 Rhys Edwards and #90 Dec Jones, plus Solway’s #10 Liam Stenton and #88 Kyle Carruth all received 5+game penalties for fighting. Meanwhile, #21 Bobby Chamberlain 2 minutes for misconduct, putting Solway on a brief powerplay, but they failed to convert.
Solway arguably settled back into the game quicker after the disputes at the end of the middle frame, but McLaughlin stood tall for the visitors, maintaining a 4-4 scoreline. Hull’s #73 Josh Hodgkinson returned back to the box at 46:49 for tripping however Solway failed to capitalise on the man advantage yet again.
The Sharks then returned the favour to Hull as #63 Joey Coulter sat a double minor for tripping and hooking at 51:02. Solway killed the first penalty, however #71 Emil Svec picked up his hat-trick goal at 54:01 to put Hull ahead 4-5 approaching the final 5 minutes of play. The visitors’ discipline landed them with another penalty kill at 57:13 as #94 Dec Balmer was called for roughing, handing Solway a huge chance to equalise.
The hosts maintained possession and cycled the puck around the Hull zone, allowing #5 Olivier Arseneau to fire a rocket past McLaughlin at 57:42, assisted by D-partner #12 Kell Beattie to level the scoreline. However, just seconds later #49 Liam Danskin was handed a tripping penalty, landing the Sharks with a huge challenge to push the game into overtime.
Seahawks’ #17 Jason Hewitt fired the puck low past Marr at 59:09 from the point, to capitalise on the powerplay, putting Seahawks in control of the game with a matter of seconds remaining. Sharks opted to keep #33 Jordan Marr on the bench in favour of an extra forward, throwing everything they had at #72 Jordan McLaughlin, yet Hull held onto their single goal lead to claim the full 2 points in regulation with a 5-6 win.
MVPs were awarded to #5 Olivier Arseneau for Solway after his dominant performance across both ends of the ice. Meanwhile, #71 Emil Svec claimed the title for Hull, following his hat-trick contribution.
Solway Sharks vs. Berkshire Bees 16.02.2025
The Dynamic Property Services-sponsored Solway Sharks travelled to Slough on Sunday to face the Berkshire Bees. Following a narrow defeat to Hull the night before, the Sharks were eager for redemption on the road.
The Sharks started strong, applying early pressure, but it was the Bees who struck first. Ralfs Circenis found the back of the net from the high slot to give the home side the lead. However, the advantage was short-lived as a well-executed passing play between Gardiner, Dunbar, and Robertson led to Caly Robertson redirecting the puck past Bees netminder Max Wright. With under five minutes remaining in the period, a loose puck in front landed on Robertson’s stick, and he made no mistake, slotting it low into the net to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The second period saw the Bees push hard for an equaliser. The Sharks responded well to the pressure and extended their lead just over a minute in when Stuart Kerr and Lewis Young combined to set up Mason Alderson. Alderson displayed excellent skill and composure, deking past Wright and finishing beautifully. With just over five minutes left in the period, the Bees capitalised on a power play as Circenis netted his second of the night, slipping one past Jordan Marr. The period ended with the Sharks holding a narrow 3-2 advantage.
The third period saw an explosion of goals from both teams. The Bees struck first, levelling the score early on another power play goal from Marcel Balaz. However, the Sharks wasted no time responding, regaining the lead just 23 seconds later when Oliver Arseneau and Nolan Gardiner combined to set up Robertson in the slot for his hat-trick goal. The back-and-forth action continued, with Balaz once again finding an answer for the Bees less than two minutes later. The momentum swung in the Bees’ favour as Dominik Gabaj fired past Marr to give the home team their first lead since the opening period. Sensing the shift, Sharks Head Coach Martin Grubb called a timeout to refocus his team.
With under seven minutes to play, Olivier Arseneau fired a short-side shot past Wright to level the game once more. However, the Bees responded yet again, as Balaz broke free in the neutral zone, going in on a half-breakaway and slotting a five-hole shot past Marr to reclaim the lead. The Sharks pulled their netminder for the extra attacker in a desperate push for a late equaliser. Despite several close chances, the Bees held firm to secure a thrilling 6-5 home victory.
The Solway Sharks won’t have time to dwell on the loss, as they return to home ice this Saturday, February 22nd, to take on the Telford Tigers at the Shark Tank. With the Tigers currently occupying the final playoff spot, the Sharks are determined to climb the standings, making this one of the most crucial matchups of the season. Doors open at 5:30 pm for a 7:00 pm face-off. The team will need the full support of the home crowd to propel them forward in this pivotal encounter. Secure your tickets now at https://sharksihc.com/tickets/ or in person at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
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