Bantam Kings mine silver in Sudbury

UDBURY, Ont. – The Thunder Bay bantam Kings are returning home from 39th annual Big Nickel hockey tournament in Sudbury after mining a silver medal in the event.

After knocking off the No. 1 seeded Ontario Hockey Academy 1-0 in a semifinal shootout Saturday night thanks to a Daniel Giardino shutout, Thunder Bay fell 4-1 to the North Bay Trappers Sunday in the title game.

Round robin play saw them go 2-1-1 with 3-2 shootout triumph over the host Nickel City Sons and a 6-3 win vs. the Canadian International Hockey Academy of Rockland, Ont.

They also fell 3-2 to the Gloucester Rangers in extra shots before being clipped 4-1 by OHA to finish the preliminary round.

Pacing the Kings offensively were forwards Keagan Jones and Josh Lehto, who picked up three points apiece.

Next up on the tournament trail for the Thunder Bay bantams will be the Winnipeg Jets Classic, Nov. 22-25, in the Manitoba capital.