COACH Slava Koulikov predicted his team would find it tough on opening night at a rejuvenated Solway IHC - and so it proved as they went down 4-3 in Dumfries.

The Scottish club underwent a change of ownership - and with it slightly, their name - in the summer and have come into the 2026-27 campaign determined to make the post-season for the first ever time.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when summer arrival Dante Salituro pounced on the power play.

But Solway were level by the first break through an 18th-minute strike from Alex Johnston and made the most of their power play opportunities in the second when they got 3-1 ahead through goals on the man advantage from Jonathan Yantsis and former Leeds Knights’ forward Matt Haywood - now out of retirement.

DOUBLE OPENING: Dante Salituro scored twice for Sheffield Steeldogs in Solway but it couldn't prevent a 4-3 defeat. Picture: Steeldogs Media.

placeholder image — DOUBLE OPENING: Dante Salituro scored twice for Sheffield Steeldogs in Solway but it couldn't prevent a 4-3 defeat. Picture: Steeldogs Media.

But a Jonathan Phillips strike just 32 seconds before the second intermission ensured there was everything to play for coming out for the third.

It was a third power play goal of the night that saw Solway restore their two-goal lead when Yantsis doubled his tally at 41.57 as Nathan Ripley and Dave Phillips sat in the penalty box on boarding and hooking calls.

Salituro made it a two-goal night on his competitive debut for the Steeldogs when he made it a one-goal game again at 51.26 but that was as close as the visitors could get before heading home to prepare for Sunday’s visit from reigning regular season champions Swindon Wildcats.

Having lost by the same scoreline in regulation at home to Hull Seahawks the previous night, Leeds Knights ensured they took a point from a tough opening weekend when they were beaten 2-1 in overtime at Milton Keynes Lightning.

James Griffin’s long-range blast through traffic put the Lightning ahead at 8.41 but as the Knights came into the game more, they equalised just before the halfway mark through defenceman Sam Dunn.

Netminder Sam Gospel ensured his team took at least a point but was beaten just under two minutes into overtime when Sean Norris squeezed the puck home.