ROY, Mich. – The Thunder Bay major and minor midget Kings both had a win and loss Friday in Round 5 play in the North American Prospects Hockey League taking place in Troy, Mich.
In the majors opening game of the day, they rolled to a 6-1 triumph over Pursuit of Excellence of Kelowna, B.C.
There Travis Hensrud paced the Thunder Bay attack with a power play goal and an assist, while Nikolas Campbell, Peter Hannula, Christian Veneruzzo, Dawson Lampi and Cole MacKenzie supplied singles.
Trenton Morriseau also chipped in by assisting on two of the tallys.
Kings netminder Jordan Smith turned aside 20 of the 21 shots he faced to record the win.
In the U-18’s night cap they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Wenatchee Wolves from Washington State.
Nikolas Campbell connected on the power play at 13:22 of the first period to take the early lead.
However, the Wolves picked up the lone marker of the middle stanza to knot the affair at 1-1 after two.
In the final frame, Wenatchee struck shorthanded to take the lead then added one at even strength to go up by a pair with just under six minutes to go.
Attempting to battle back, Anthony Biniaris got one back for the Kings, but that’s as close as they would get before time expired.
Eric Vanska suffered the setback in goal seeing 31 shots fired his way against the Wolves, who sit in first place in the NAPHL’s U-18 Elite Division.
Up next for the major midgets will be a 1:15 p.m. meeting Saturday vs. Meier AAA of St. Louis.
As for Thunder Bay’s minor midget under-16 side, they began Round 5 of the NAPHL with a narrow 1-0 setback against the Colorado Springs Tigers.
That contest was scoreless until five and a half minutes into the final frame when Marc Fletemayer notched the lone marker of the match-up.
Colorado Springs goalkeeper Nicholas Junkin handled all 28 shots he faced to post the shutout while the Kings’ Gage Stewart stopped 32 of 33 in defeat.
Rebounding in their second game of the day, Thunder Bay went on to edge the Arizona Bobcats 3-2.
Colton Crysler broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third period as his power play effort was the difference maker.
Shaymus Stevenson, during a man advantage, and Crysler once more had the other goals for the Kings in the win.
Julien Lefebvre finished with 23 saves in the Thunder Bay net in earning the victory.
The next game for the U-16 Kings goes Saturday at 9:15 a.m. as they take on the Everett Silvertips from Washington State.
All NAPHL games are streamed online and on demand via HockeyTV.com.
