The opening period proved challenging for the Steeldogs, with Solway striking twice to take early control. Jordan Buesa opened the scoring at 8:32 before adding a power-play goal at 12:54, giving the hosts a 2-0 advantage. Sheffield also saw early disruption in net as they were forced into a goaltender change midway through the period.
The Steeldogs responded impressively in the second period, swinging momentum firmly in their favour. Jacob Brammer got Sheffield on the board at 28:30, finishing a move set up by Joseph Matthewman and Tim Smith. Just over a minute later, Nathan Ripley levelled the game, converting at 29:52 with assists from Jonathan Philips and Bair Gendunov.
Sheffield carried that momentum into the third period and took the lead at 45:26 when Walker Sommer found the net, assisted by Liam Steele and Jonathan Kirk. From that point on, the Steeldogs controlled the game, defending well and limiting Solway’s chances.
As the Sharks pushed for an equaliser late on and repeatedly pulled their netminder, Sheffield made them pay. Sommer added his second of the night with an empty-net goal at 58:35, before Joonas Larinmaa sealed the win moments later with another empty-netter, assisted by Gendunov and CJ Garcia.
Final score: Solway Sharks 2-5 Sheffield Steeldogs