Kings off to NAPHL Dixon Cup U-18 final

ROY, Mich. – The Thunder Bay major midget Kings are off to the championship game in the North American Prospects Hockey League’s Dixon Cup under-18 division in Troy, Mich.

Thunder Bay earned the opportunity to play for the U-18 title after defeating Colorado’s Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 3-1 in semifinal action Sunday.

They now take on Meier AAA from Western Michigan in the NAPHL U-18 final tonight at 8 p.m.

Another solid start sent the Kings on their way vs. Rocky Mountain as they skated out to a 2-0 lead after one period of play on markers from Nikolas Campbell and Christian Veneruzzo.

Trenton Morriseau added to the lead with the lone tally of the middle stanza as Thunder Bay carried a three-goal cushion into the final frame.

In the third, the RoughRiders got one back with under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but the Kings tightened up defensively from there to secure the victory.

Kings goaltender Jordan Smith picked up the win in a game that they outshot their opponents 34-20.

The NAPHL U-18 championship game will be streamed live online via HockeyTV.com.

Meanwhile, the minor midget Kings wrapped up their NAPHL campaign with a 4-1 triumph over the Colorado Springs Tigers earlier in the day.

In that contest, Jeffrey Seed scored twice, including the game-winner, while Alex Atwill and Colton Crysler supplied singles.

Atwill also dished out two assists and netminder Gage Stewart made 21 stops to record the win.