Your Hercules Ice Hockey Apparel sponsored Solway Sharks would like to pay tribute to Slovakian import, Peter Gapa, for his time with the club over the past 4 seasons, as we confirm he will not join the team for the 2023/24 season.
The Slovakian forward joined the club in the 2018/19 season after spending time in both Sweden & Finland. In his maiden season with the Sharks, he scored an impressive 68 points from 36 games, before returning the following season to play in both the NIHL North 1 and SNL campaigns, with the Sharks winning the SNL league before the Covid outbreak cut the season short.
He spent the lockout season playing in Montpellier, France and played 10 games before that season was also cut short due to Covid.
2021/22 saw your Sharks start the season without Gapa, but he was back with the team by late October, where he scored 32 goals and 34 assists as the Sharks completed a league, playoff and National playoff treble. Last season it looked as if he wouldn’t be back, however the club managed to sign him in late November, and amazingly he was never in a losing Sharks team as he amassed an impressive 25 goals and 29 assists from only 19 games along with 2 of his biggest Sharks goals as the team completed the Grand Slam in Coventry to create history.
Martin Grubb, Head Coach of the Solway Sharks, commented;
“I remember bringing Peter in to the club and it took him a little bit to settle and adjust to a new country but we helped him do that and it was one of the best decisions we’ve made in recent years. He is someone who bought into not only the club, but to this town and hockey community, and he was adored by the community. He knew the expectations of him and he embraced that… but also was always a great team mate.
“He went through a difficult time post Covid as the world changed, but he was part of our family and we always had his back as a team and club and the past 2 seasons he has rewarded us by playing a massive part in the unbelievable success we’ve had. I know I speak for everyone when I say he will be missed both on and off the ice but I also know he will be part of our sharks family forever and will always be welcome here as his 2nd home.
“When we won in Coventry he felt his work was done but the step up has also excited him and nobody knows what may happen in the future but for now we say thank you to a player, team mate and more importantly a friend and Gaps, you leave here a legend. Good luck in whatever the future hols and we look forward to seeing you back here soon.
Peter Gapa has been a huge part of the clubs recent success and he will always be a part of the Sharks family. The new ownership group, along with all the fans & sponsors, look forward to welcoming him back as a fan, to the #SharkTank in the near future.
