THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay under-18 Kings kicked off their 2025-26 campaign over the weekend with a two-game split against the Kapuskasing Flyers at Fort William First Nation Arena.
In the opener, the Kings fell 4-1 before rebounding with a 6-5 come from behind overtime victory in the finale.
In Game 1, Sawyer Smith notched the lone Thunder Bay tally with help from Nathan Vita.
Nolan Meadows suffered the setback in net.
Game 2 saw the home side rally late to force extra time where Ben Paddington whipped in the game-winner two minutes into the additional session.
Aiden Edwards helped pace the Kings attack with a hat trick, while Smith and Paddington, with the equalizer late in regulation to force OT, also found the back of the net.
Kellen Ozerkevich dished out three assists in the triumph, with Paddington and Vita chipping in with a pair of helpers apiece.
Picking up the win was goaltender Kainaan MacGillivray.
Thunder Bay will begin Great North U18 Hockey League play Sept. 18-21 with a four-game road trip against the New Liskeard Cubs and the North Bay Trappers.
U18 KINGS SCHEDULE/SUMMARIES
Meanwhile, the U14 Kings took part in the CCM Tier 1 Showcase in Moorhead, Minn., going winless versus some formidable opponents from Minnesota.
They lost by scores of 6-4; 9-1; 3-2; 11-5 and 8-2.
Pacing the squad offensively over the five games was Jackson Bradley, who notched four markers and set-up another.
Kaden Clower, Jagger Hautanen and Lucas Ianni each scored two each and had a pair of helpers apiece while Nathan Pugliese and Liam Figliomeni had two points respectively.
Netminders Laird Morden and Corey Cava were peppered with a combined 182 shots-against in a total of 229 minutes of work over the five match-ups.
U14 KINGS SCHEDULE/SUMMARIES
As for the U13 Kings, they took to the ice twice Sunday at Current River Arena, blanking the Thunder Bay Queens U15AA’s 2-0 before being edged 3-2 by the same opponent.
Thunder Bay’s U13; U14, and U15 Kings will take part in the Northern Ontario AAA Hockey League Showcase, Sept. 19-21, at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury.
Photo credit: James Mirabelli
