KENORA – Both the Thunder Bay under-13 and U18 Kings are in Kenora this weekend to take part in the Hockey Northwestern Ontario AAA District Championships against the Kenora Thistles at the Moncrief Construction Sports Centre.
Game action in the two best-of-three affairs begins Friday night at 5 p.m. ET with the U13 match-up, followed by the U18 encounter at 8 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s slate feature a 5:30 p.m. ET start in the U13 game, while the U18s go at it again at 7:30 p.m.
If necessary, the third and deciding contests will go Sunday, beginning with a U13 contest at 12:30 p.m. ET, while if required, the U18 finale begins at 4 p.m. ET.
Awaiting the HNO under-13 winner will be a berth in the All-Ontario U13 AAA event, April 9-13, in Sudbury.
Meanwhile, as the Thistles are also hosting the TELUS Cup West Regional, both U18 teams will take part in that four-team event, April 3-6, back in Kenora.
There, they’ll go up against the U18 AAA title holders from Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The Brandon Wheat Kings and Winnipeg Wild are set to vie for the crown in Manitoba.
As for Saskatchewan, perennial power, the Regina Pat Canadians and the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors will face-off for provincial supremacy there.
Of note, with no challenger in U15 HNO playdowns, the Kings will advance directly to the All-Ontario U15 championship, which goes April 9-13, in Markham.
As for Thunder Bay’s under-16 Kings’ squad, they’ll have a Wildcard Game Monday morning at 10 a.m. against the Toronto Marlboros, with the winner there advancing to the OHL Cup that begins later that same day before concluding on March 28.
HNO AAA Districts
@ Kenora
All start times ET
Friday, March 21
U13: Kings vs. Thistles 5 p.m.
U18: Kings vs. Thistles 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 22
U13: Thistles vs. Kings 5:30 p.m.
U18: Thistles vs. Kings 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 23
U13*: Kings vs. Thistles 12:30 p.m.
U18*: Kings vs. Thistles 4 p.m.
*-if necessary
OHL Cup Wildcard Game
Monday, March 24
Scotiabank Pond
U16: Kings vs. Toronto Marlboros 10 a.m.
Winner advances to compete in the OHL Cup
Photo credit: James Mirabelli
