Jonathan Phillips with the Game Winner
The DSM Sheffield Steeldogs produced a remarkable comeback at iceSheffield on Sunday, recovering from 4-1 down to defeat Solway IHC 8-6 in a hugely entertaining NIHL National contest.
Five unanswered Sheffield goals during a breathtaking second-period spell turned the game completely around, with Nathan Ripley, Walker Sommer and Dante Salituro all scoring twice on an afternoon packed with attacking hockey.
Solway threatened another comeback of their own in the final period, but the Steeldogs found the answers when required to secure an important home victory.
Solway Take Control Early
The visitors made the stronger start, with Sheffield forced onto an early penalty kill when Ben Morgan was called for tripping.
The Steeldogs survived that opportunity, but Solway eventually broke the deadlock at 10:19.
Callum Boyd found the net, assisted by Scott Henderson and Torran Anderson, to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.
Solway doubled their advantage at 16:29, Joe Lynch converting from Cole Giannandrea to leave Sheffield with work to do.
Despite the home side searching for a response, there was no breakthrough before the first intermission and the Steeldogs headed into the dressing room trailing 2-0.
Second-Period Goal Explosion
Sheffield needed a response and got exactly that at 23:19.
Nathan Ripley struck unassisted to halve the deficit and give the home crowd something to celebrate.
But Solway responded emphatically.
Alex Johnston restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage at 25:13, before Owen Cole made it 4-1 just 72 seconds later.
Steeldogs head coach Slava Koulikov called his timeout — and what followed transformed the contest.
At 32:42, Nathan Salem finished from Michael Pelech and Ripley to make it 4-2.
Just 55 seconds later it was 4-3.
Walker Sommer found the net from David Phillips and C.J. Garcia as Sheffield suddenly had all the momentum.
Then came the equaliser.
At 35:01, Ripley scored his second of the afternoon, assisted by Garcia and Pelech, completing the comeback from three goals down.
The Steeldogs weren’t finished.
Sommer struck again at 37:44, with Dante Salituro and Jonathan Phillips supplying the assists, to put Sheffield ahead for the first time.
And with just one second remaining in the period, Salituro made it five unanswered goals, converting from David Phillips and Garcia at 39:59.
From 4-1 down, Sheffield had stormed into a 6-4 lead.
Five goals in a little over seven minutes had completely changed the afternoon.
Solway Fight Back Again
Given what had already happened, there was little chance of a quiet final period.
Solway continued to create opportunities and cut the deficit to one at 52:22, Duncan Speirs scoring from Callum McGill and Liam Stenton.
Sheffield responded almost immediately.
At 54:33, Jonathan Phillips restored the two-goal advantage, finishing from Sommer and Salituro to make it 7-5.
Still Solway refused to go away.
The visitors were handed a power-play opportunity and Speirs scored his second at 55:11, assisted by Jonathan Yantsis and Owen Cole.
Suddenly it was 7-6, with almost five minutes remaining.
Once again, though, Sheffield produced the response.
A Solway penalty gave the Steeldogs a power play of their own and Salituro made it count at 56:45.
Garcia and Jonathan Phillips provided the assists as Salituro’s second goal of the afternoon gave Sheffield the breathing room they needed at 8-6.
This time there was no way back for Solway.
Big Contributions Throughout the Line-Up
It was an afternoon of impressive offensive numbers for the Steeldogs.
Nathan Ripley finished with two goals and an assist, while Walker Sommer also scored twice and added an assist.
Dante Salituro recorded two goals and two assists, Jonathan Phillips contributed a goal and two assists, while C.J. Garcia collected four assists.
Nathan Salem completed the Sheffield scoring.
At the other end, Shane Owen made 37 saves as Solway fired 43 shots on the Steeldogs goal.
It was a game full of momentum swings, but the defining spell belonged to Sheffield.
Down 4-1 midway through the second period, the Steeldogs scored five unanswered goals to turn the game on its head before surviving Solway’s late response.
Final Score: DSM Sheffield Steeldogs 8-6 Solway IHC