The Solway Sharks returned to home ice on Sunday evening, bracing for Swindon’s pushback in the second game of the weekend series. Determined to respond after Saturday’s loss, the Wildcats started with high energy, testing Sharks goaltender Jordan Marr with several tough shots. Marr’s sharp saves kept the game scoreless until the Sharks’ Callum Boyd broke through at 14:25 with a brilliant individual effort. However, a lapse in Solway’s focus in the final minutes allowed Canadian forward Jake Bricknell to equalise just before the first intermission, tying the game at 1-1.

2nd period

The second period saw both teams create power-play opportunities. Solway’s power play generated several high-quality chances, but Renny Marr’s strong goaltending stymied their efforts. Eventually, Swindon’s Aaron Nell exploited a power play, ripping a shot past Jordan Marr to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission.

3rd period

Facing another third-period deficit, the Sharks came out with intensity, determined to beat Renny Marr’s stellar performance. Following a clean faceoff win by Lewis Young, Mason Alderson took control, circling behind the net and firing a pinpoint shot into the top corner to tie the game at 2-2 early in the final frame. Despite the boost from the tying goal, the Sharks found themselves scrambling defensively, ultimately allowing a goal by Glenn Billing to put Swindon ahead 3-2. Solway responded quickly, though, with Scott Henderson capitalising on a strong individual play by Olivier Arseneau to even the score at 3-3.

The back-and-forth action continued, with Aaron Nell seizing another opportunity to restore Swindon’s lead. Undeterred, the Sharks threw everything they had at Swindon in a last-ditch effort to tie the game once more. However, a controversial penalty against Scott Henderson for unsportsmanlike conduct with less than five minutes to go led to a Wildcats power play, where Tomasz Malasinski scored to extend Swindon’s lead to 5-3. Captain Liam Stenton also received a 10-minute misconduct for voicing his disagreement with the call, leaving Solway short-handed in the crucial final moments. Despite pulling Jordan Marr for an extra skater, the Sharks were unable to mount a comeback, falling 5-3.

Olivier Arseneau was awarded Man of the Match for Solway in Sunday’s hard-fought contest while Jake Bricknell picked up the honours for the Wildcats.

Sharks’ Canadian import forward and Head of Hockey Operations, John Dunbar, reflected on the weekend’s games, saying,:

It was fantastic to get the win on Saturday night in front of a packed Shark Tank. Sunday presented a big challenge, and I feel we played well—likely well enough to come out with the win. Unfortunately, some key calls didn’t go our way at critical moments. Both goaltenders put on an outstanding performance, and overall, it was a solid weekend of hockey.”

The Sharks hit the road this weekend for their first matchup of the season against the Bristol Pitbulls. While they won’t be playing at home, the Shark Tank will still be buzzing with excitement as fans gather for a watch party at the Dumfries Ice Bowl to cheer on the team from afar. Doors open at 5:30 pm, with puck drop at 7:00 pm. The event will feature a live stream of the game, a 50/50 draw, a “shirt off the back” raffle, and plenty of other entertainment. The bar and café will be open for food and drinks, so come early and enjoy the game atmosphere with fellow Sharks fans!