The Solway Sharks are delighted to announce that top Solway Sharks Junior prospect Kyle Carruth will be part of the senior squad for the 2022-2023 season.

The talented, right-handed forward is a product of the Solway junior development program and is no stranger to the Sharks as he has been part of the prospects program and trained with the team last season as part of the club’s player development pathway.

The 16-year-old, Dumfries born youngster is a player who has vision, skill, and an ability to contribute offensively, and the supporters will be aware of his families long standing connection with the Sharks as his Dad, Gary played for the club in over 100 games, his late Papa Bobby was an integral part of the teams backroom staff for many years and the family have been involved with the club since its inception in 1998.

Kyle is seen as one of Scotland’s top up and coming talents and has represented Scotland in the EIHA Conference tournament at U11 and U13 as well as the U17 team in the showcase tournament in Dumfries. He was also selected as part of the GB U16 team who went to Latvia to play in the Riga Cup this year and he scored 3 goals in 7 games and was voted GBSC Player of the tournament.

Kyle will be part of the Junior Sharks U19 team this season and will continue training and playing with them as well as training full time with the senior team and will be available when called upon. He will be looking to keep developing and working hard to make sure he gets a chance to impress in the NIHL1 North.

Carruth has been one of the top point producers in the SIH junior leagues and done really well when training with the team last season and he is seen as another one of the local young players who has a chance to progress on to big things in the game and club are delighted, he will be part of the squad and we look forward to seeing the Carruth name on a Sharks jersey once again.

On his signing Kyle commented “I am happy to be able to make the step into senior hockey and after training with the players last year and watching them be so successful I know I want to be part of that group. I really enjoyed learning from the senior players, and they all helped me adapt last year and now I am desperate to gain the opportunity to impress and play alongside them. It is great that we have such a good pathway here at the club and there are many more talented players who I hope follow in my footsteps. I am excited to use my skills and abilities and lead by example in the juniors and take my chance when it comes with the seniors and push myself to play at as high a level of hockey as I can. It is a huge moment for me, and my family and I want to make them proud and win trophies as a Shark for many years to come”.

Sharks Head Coach Martin Grubb added “Kyle is young man I have known pretty much all his life and I am excited to finally be able to welcome him to the senior team. I remember playing on the same team as Gary and coaching him, if he has the success the teams we played on had then he will be doing ok. He is a top talent and has so many attributes that can help him and his teams be successful and with the opportunity to keep developing and leading the way at U19 as well as being part of this team he has the best of both worlds. We know he has skill, the ability to make things happen and a good touch around the net and now we want to make sure he gets the education needed to learn the game more, understand tactics and systems and progress to the highest level he can. We are all excited to have Kyle with us and know this is a proud moment for the family and we can’t wait to see how far he can progress his career in the future”.

Kyle will wear the iconic number 10 jersey that has been worn by long serving Captain Mark Gallagher and Glasgow Clan bound Liam Stenton and Kyle respectfully asked both men if he could continue with that number for the upcoming season. Kyle’s jerseys are available to own and loan now. Please email sharkssecretary@aol.com to discuss the owned and loaned packages available.

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