U-18 Kings drop U-16 counterparts

THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay under-18 Kings used a well-balanced attack getting goals from seven different skaters Friday as they went on the drop their U-16 counterparts 7-1 in SIJHL exhibition action at the Fort William Gardens.

The Kings, playing in the opener in a series of contests against each other, as well as local SIJHL clubs and the Kenora Thistles AAA side, Thunder Bay’s U-18s set the tone early, skating out to a 2-0 lead before the match-up was six minutes old on tallies from Josh Lehton and Jack Cook, who has the eventual game-winner.

In was more from the U-18 Kings in the second stanza as they tacked on two more markers to go up four thanks to efforts from Jeremy Dunmore and Jett Mintenko.

Moving to the third, the U-16s dashed Keenan Marks shutout bid five minutes into the final frame courtesy of a Connor Larrett effort.

In the back half of the period though the senior Kings’ put the game away with Ryan Doucette, Jack Pineau and Tyler Lewis all finding the back of the net.

Doucette and Max Buffone dished out three assists apiece to boost the club’s offensive cause.

Shots on goal finished up 44-21 in favour of the U-18s with Marks collecting the victory while U-16 starter Nathan Krawchuk was busy in defeat.

The two teams will meet again Saturday at 7:30 p.m. back at the Gardens.

The game can be viewed online via HockeyTV.com.

Photo credit: Gary Moskalyk