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.