The Solway Sharks travelled to Leeds on Sunday, following a rare day off on Saturday, to face the defending league champions.
As anticipated, the Knights came out strong on their home ice, applying early pressure. The Sharks managed to withstand this initial surge, and at 13:33 in the first period, Lewis Young and Liam Stenton set up Torran Anderson, who skilfully slid the puck past goalie Gospel to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. However, the advantage was short-lived, as Canadian import Matthew Barron capitalised on a net-front scramble, tying the game at 1-1. Later in the period, a spirited fight between Callum Boyd of the Sharks and Jordan Griffin of the Knights sparked energy for both teams. The score remained tied at 1-1 as the first intermission approached.
The second period continued the fast-paced action, with both teams finding their rhythm. The Knights struck first, with Innes Gallacher capitalising on a rebound to put the home side ahead 2-1. Undeterred, the Sharks responded when Joe Lynch, receiving a breakaway pass from Kell Beattie, fired a low shot past Gospel to tie the game at 2-2. Just 12 seconds later, Arseneau sent the puck up to Caly Robertson, who assisted John Dunbar. Dunbar’s shot from the right side slipped through Gospel’s five-hole, giving the Sharks a 3-2 lead. The Knights quickly equalised with a goal from Oli Endicott, and at the end of the second period, the score was locked at 3-3.
The third period saw more exhilarating end-to-end action. The Sharks took the lead again when Nolan Gardiner deftly deflected a point shot from Olivier Arseneau into the net at 42:59, making it 4-3. Yet, the Knights fought back, with Matthew Haywood scoring to level the game with just under six minutes remaining. Soon after, the Sharks found themselves shorthanded, desperately trying to fend off a Knights power play. Despite their efforts, Haywood received a perfect pass from Matt Bissonette and tapped it into an empty net, putting the Knights ahead 5-4. In a final push, the Sharks pulled goalie Jordan Marr with 90 seconds left, launching a relentless offensive. However, they couldn’t find the equaliser, falling to the Knights 5-4 in a thrilling contest.
Olivier Arseneau was named Man of the Match for the Sharks, while Matthew Haywood received the honour for the Knights.
The Sharks return to home ice on Sunday, October 13th, to face the Sheffield Steeldogs in their first meeting of the season. Doors open at 3:30 PM with puck drop at 5:00 PM. The bar and cafe will be open all day, and live sports will be televised. Tickets are available on the club’s website, sharksihc.com/tickets, or in person at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. Don’t miss out on this exciting matchup!
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