Kings go up 2-0 on Thistles in HNO midget Districts

hunder Bay Kings AAA Hockey

Media Update

Release date: Sunday, March 18, 2018

Kings go up 2-0 on Thistles in HNO midget Districts

THUNDER BAY – A Kyle Swerhun shorthanded goal with 3:38 remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner as Thunder Bay major midget Kings edged the Kenora Thistles 2-1 Sunday afternoon in Game 2 of their Hockey Northwestern Ontario AAA midget District Championship at Fort William First Nation Arena.

Thunder Bay now leads this best-of-five series 2-0 as the action now shifts to the Kenora Recreation Centre for Game 3 Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

If required, Game 4 would go Saturday and a fifth and deciding contest, if necessary, is slated for Sunday. Both games are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET.

In Game 2, the Thistles struck quickly with Aidan Shumka beating Kings’ starter Seth McKay 30 seconds into the contest.

Thunder Bay would draw level early in the middle session as Justin Stewart finished off a Zach Fortin feed at 1:07.

It stayed tied until the latter stages of the match-up when Swerhun supplied the man-down difference maker with assists going to Christian Veneruzzo and Thomas Brassard.

The Kings outshot Kenora 40-18 with McKay picking up the win while Cooper Hatfield suffered the narrow setback.

Regardless of the outcome of the district final, both clubs will compete in the TELUS Cup West Regional, April 5-8, back at FWFNA.

Joining them will be the champions of the Manitoba Midget Hockey League and the Saskatchewan AAA Midget Hockey League with a berth on the line to the TELUS Cup later that month in Sudbury.

HNO AAA Midget District Championship
Thunder Bay Kings vs. Kenora Thistles
Thunder Bay leads best-of-five series 2-0
Game 1: Thunder Bay 7 Kenora 3
Game 2: Thunder Bay 2 Kenora 1
Game 3: Friday, March 23 @ Kenora 8:30 p.m. (Rec. Centre)
Game 4*: Saturday, March 24 @ Kenora 2:30 p.m. (Rec. Centre)
Game 5*: Sunday, March 25 @ Kenora 2:30 p.m. (Rec. Centre)
*-if necessary