The Solway Sharks have enjoyed even more success this season in their junior ranks.
After the senior men’s team won the quadruple and the women’s side won the National Ice Hockey League (WNIHL)
Division 2 title it was the U16s time to shine.
The U16s have had a fantastic season, playing teams the length and breadth of the country as well as a trip over the Irish Sea to Belfast, recording 17 wins and just one defeat, to see them crowned league champions against Lanarkshire Lightening recently.
Owen Rae picked up the Scottish U16s League Winners cup on behalf of his teammates who celebrated this momentous success.
Thoughts then turned to the Scottish Cup semi-final which was being played on Good Friday against rivals North Ayr. The game was a hotly contested affair which saw the young Sharks secure a 5-2 win and book their place in the U16 Scottish Cup final the following weekend.
The Sharks made the long trip up to Aberdeen Lynx arena to face Kirkcaldy, formidable opponents and the only team to have beaten the Sharks this season.
In the scoreless first period both teams demonstrated fantastic offensive skills with Sharks players, Cassie McGregor, Lucas Campion, Taylor Carruth, Bailey Thomson and Tomas Vyorstek all having opportunities on net and Logan Reid holding firm in nets.
The second period continued in the same vein as the first, with players showing grit and determination and the talented Solway defencemen, Ewan Duignan, Sam Stoodley, Samuel Wojick and Owen Rae, continued to thwart the Kirkcaldy offensive play.
With just 15 minutes of regulation time remaining and both teams battling for the puck, it was end-to-end play, fantastic displays of hockey for the neutrals in the crowd.
With seven minutes 36 seconds of the period remaining, defenceman Owen Rae won the puck in his own end before skating through to the Kirkcaldy offensive zone. Rae struck the puck sweetly, seeing it go in off the post, past Cameron Kenny in the Kirkcaldy goal as the Sharks took the lead.
Kirkcaldy took a penalty and the Sharks went on the power play. As the clock ticked down the Kirkcaldy bench pulled their goalie.
As the puck broke it landed at the stick of Bailey Thomson who skated to the net and tapped the puck home, 2-0 the final score.
Bailey Thomson lifted the trophy on behalf of his team to celebrate with them.
U16s head coach Ross Murray said: “It’s been a pleasure to coach this group of players this season.
“Their hard work and dedication is a testament to themselves and the club, it’s been a great achievement. It’s something they should all be proud of. With most of this team moving up to U19s next season, I’m excited to see what’s to come for them. The future is bright.”
Solway Sharks head coach Martin Grubb said: “This year has been an amazing year for this group of players and winning one trophy is nice but winning both the league and cup shows how good they have been.
“The players bought in to the coaches systems from early in the season and as a group they have grown not only a players but young people and that is something to be proud of.
“They all deserve massive credit and it shows how much our player pathway works when the majority have came through our programme. Congratulations to everyone involved in the success and long may it continue.”
The club would like to say a massive thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers, parents and players.
Anyone interested in playing ice hockey should contact Dumfries Ice Bowl 01387 251300 or Solway Sharks Junior Ice Hockey club @ ssjihc.chair@aol.com.
