RISCO, Texas. – The Thunder Bay Happy Time Tours major midget and the Sportop minor midget Kings are heading home after finishing up the latest round of North American Prospects Hockey League play in suburban Dallas.
Topping the NAPHL’s Elite under-18 division, the major midget Kings posted a 3-1 record in Texas while the minor midget side had a 1-3 mark.
In U-18 play, Thunder Bay produced victories over Florida Alliance (5-2), the Arizona Bobcats (5-4) and Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres (2-1) while dropping their lone game to the second place Colorado Springs Tigers (3-1).
Now through a dozen league contests, Mason Bazaluk and Cole MacKenzie share the Kings’ scoring lead with 10 points apiece while Travis Hensrud and Trenton Morriseau are right behind them with nine each.
Netminders Eric Vanska (1.98) and Connor Lemieux (1.87) both boast goals-against averages under 2.00 in backstopping their side to a divisional-leading 9-3 record.
As for the minor midget Kings, they dropped their first three match-ups in Texas to the three top teams in their division, Carshield AAA of St. Louis (6-2), Florida Alliance (7-3) and the Everett Silvertips (4-3) before finishing up with a 3-0 triumph over the Arizona Bobcats supported by a Keenan Marks shutout.
Leading the team offensively in the NAPHL is Josh Lehto who has eight points, in as many games, while Jett Mintenko is next with seven, followed by Kai Vanska and Zach Biniaris with six points each.
In the divisional play, Thunder Bay is fourth overall among eight clubs with a 4-3-1 record with goalkeepers Marks and Paradis both having two wins apiece.
Next up for the U-18 Kings will be more NAPHL play that goes mid-December in Blaine, Minn., while the minors are off to Whitby, Ont., for the annual Silver Stick tournament Nov. 28 – Dec. 1.
