Solway Sharks receive NIHL North 1 Moralee League Trophy in Dumfries

Solway Sharks were presented with the NIHL North 1 Moralee League Trophy at the Ice Bowl on Saturday night.

The title had already been secured by virtue of the team’s enviable performance over the season so far but before the celebrations, it was business first as the Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen Dumfries, took on Sheffield Scimitars.

Ross Murray set the tone for the game with his opening goal at 6.21, on the end of a Lewis Houston pass. Seconds afterwards Scott Henderson got in on the action, assists coming from Peter Gapa and Struan Tonnar.

As the huge crowd lapped up the action Sharks added another just past the half-way point of the period, Kieran Hair on target this time, assisted by Henderson and Gapa. As the period drew to a close there was just time for Houston to add to the tally, scoring in the final 20 seconds courtesy of a pass from Callum Boyd. At the first break Sharks had a comfortable 4-0 lead.

The second period was quieter by comparison, though still plenty of good hockey on display to entertain the crowd, with a spell of more even play early on as Scimitars battled hard to keep the Sharks at bay. In the 15th minute they clawed back a goal, Thomas Palmer taking advantage of a Sharks penalty for a powerplay strike.

In the final minute Henderson restored the gap, the helper coming from Gapa. The second break saw the score at Sharks 5 Scimitars 1.

The final stanza saw Sharks again take control of the game and use their momentum to their advantage, Houston knocking in his second at 42.14, assisted by Murray. This was followed up a minute later when Hair added his second, a powerplay goal assisted by Gapa and Rick Bentham.

Calum Hepburn stepped aside from the Sharks’ goal, making way for Euan