The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks travelled East to face the Hull Seahawks on Sunday, taking a single point from the clash, despite forcing the 4th place Seahawks to the first penalty shootout at the Hull Ice Arena following a 5-5 score after 60 minutes of regulation.

Solway travelled with 16+2, with the only change being back-up netminder, #37 Logan Reid for #30 Calum Hepburn. Therefore, all 2-way agreement players and injured forward #15 Kieran Hair remained out of lineup. Meanwhile, the Seahawks iced a squad of 17+2 as #56 Tom Stubley returned into the line-up, yet they still missed key players due to injury and unavailabilities. It was a battle of the Scots in net as #33 Jordan Marr made the start for Solway, whilst #72 Jordan McLaughlin guarded the pipes for Hull.

1st period – (1-0)

The Seahawks got off to the perfect start as #14 James Spurr flicked the puck top shelf past Marr at 36 seconds, assisted by #9 Johnny Corneil and #23 Lee Haywood. Hull continued their strong offensive pressure early, but Jordan Marr prevented them doubling the lead in quick succession. The hosts created a threatening chance after a blue line strike from #94 Dec Balmer, but Marr soaked up the shot to deny a rebound for Hull.

Solway were awarded the first powerplay opportunity of the evening as #74 Lee Bonner was called for tripping at 9:58, but Sharks failed to work a play past McLaughlin on the man advantage. It was an end-to-end battle in the latter half of the period as both sides fired shots on the netminders, but they stood tall for both teams.

Sharks created arguably their best chance late in the period after a thread from Gardiner to Dunbar left him with a solo break on McLaughlin, but he made the stop to retain Hull’s single goal lead after 20 minutes of play.

2nd period – (2-3)

Sharks utilised their PK unit early in the middle frame as Captain #10 Liam Stenton was called for hooking at 21:35. The visitors coped well under the pressure, but seconds before Stenton returned into play, #21 Bobby Chamberlain fired the puck past Marr at 23:21 on the left post to double Hull’s lead.

The Seahawks fired multiple shots on Marr, but he matched their efforts to give Sharks a chance of making their mark on the scoreboard. Solway’s #68 Callum Boyd came close on the break, but after a line change, #43 Nolan Gardiner fired a pinpoint shot past McLaughlin after the thread from #22 John Dunbar at 29:08 to halve the deficit. Moments later, Hull gave Solway a major opportunity to equalise as #6 Calum McGill sat for hooking at 30:30 after taking down #88 Kyle Carruth.

The Sharks punished Hull on the powerplay as #14 Lewis Young fired the puck past McLaughlin on the backdoor, following the link up play between #10 Liam Stenton and #6 Stuart Kerr at 31:36. Momentum swung in Solway’s favour after the equaliser as Hull’s defence struggled to shut down the visitors’ firepower. After #9 Mason Alderson claimed a 2on1 break, the connection to linemate #14 Lewis Young allowed him to once more send the puck across the line at 34:23, giving Solway a 2-3 lead.

Hull’s discipline slipped once again as #94 Dec Balmer was sent to the box for roughing, also at 34:23 but the Seahawks PK unit performed to prevent Solway extending their lead. The hosts were relentless in the dying moments of the period, seeing #71 Emil Svec jam the puck past Marr on the back door at 39:55, assisted by #23 Lee Haywood and #74 Lee Bonner to level the score at 3 a-piece heading into the final frame.

3rd period – (2-2)

Solway came out firing in the third period and created an early chance through Alderson and Boyd, yet McLaughlin stood tall for the Seahawks. Both sides failed to dominate possession, seeing end to end play for a sustained period of time.

Seahawks were left a man short again as #23 Lee Haywood sat for tripping at 47:21, allowing #43 Nolan Gardiner to let one rip to restore Solway’s lead and claim his 2nd goal of the evening at 48:06, assisted by #5 Olivier Arseneau and #92 Caly Robertson. Hull were determined to answer back and claimed a breakaway through #74 Lee Bonner, but he was taken down by #12 Kell Beattie resulting in a penalty shot being awarded for the hosts.

Seahawks opted for #71 Emil Svec to take the penalty shot, which he fired top corner to tie the scores up once more at 49:26. However within the same minute, Solway regained their lead after #92 Caly Robertson flicked the puck top shelf at 49:53, assisted by #22 John Dunbar. The hosts ramped up the pressure which allowed #14 James Spurr to claim his 2nd of the night, after #9 Johnny Corneil won the offensive zone face-off at 52:30 to post the score at 5-5.

A major chance occurred for the Sharks after #73 Josh Hodgkinson lost an edge in a vulnerable position, but #72 Jordan McLaughlin made the huge save between the pipes for Hull to deny #43 Nolan Gardiner. Sharks claimed possession in the final moments but blocks in the lane from the Seahawks defence sent the game into overtime.

Despite multiple efforts, with Solway creating a handful more chances, neither side found a way past either Jordan in net during 3on3 play which forced penalty shots for the first time of the season in the Hull Ice Arena.

A clinical shootout from the Seahawks forwards #9 Johnny Corneil and #74 Lee Bonner, then allowed the NIHL’s top points scorer #96 Owen Sobchak to secure the extra point for the hosts. Meanwhile, #72 Jordan McLaughlin denied the Sharks efforts on each occasion.

The Dynamic Property Services sponsored Solway Sharks return to home ice this Saturday, March 15th, as they host the Sheffield Steeldogs in a crucial matchup. After securing a vital point in a hard-fought shootout loss to the Hull Seahawks, the Sharks continue their push for the final playoff spot. With puck drop at 7:00 PM and doors opening at 5:30 PM, this marks the Sharks’ second-to-last home game of the season. The team will be looking to feed off the energy of their passionate home crowd—so come out, be loud, and show your support! Tickets are available now through the club’s official website: sharksihc.com/tickets or in person at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. Don’t miss out on the action!