Kings split in final day of Round 1 of NAPHL action

LAINE, Minn. – The Thunder Bay Kings were on both ends of a pair of shutouts Sunday afternoon in the final day of competition in Round 1 of the North American Prospects Hockey League in Blaine, Minn.

In under-16 action, Thunder Bay’s minor midgets blanked the Minnesota Magicians 5-0 while the Kings major midget squad fell 1-0 to the Minnesota Blizzard.

In the victory over the Magicians, Jack Michaelis paced the Thunder Bay attack with a four-point day, including a pair of goals.

Jeremy Dunmore also tallied twice in the triumph for the Kings while Matthew Valiquette added a single.

Shots on goal in the contest favoured the winners by a 32-15 count with Parker Ball posting the shutout.

As for the major midget match-up, it was scoreless well into the third period when the Blizzard capitalized on a two-man advantage with seven and a half minutes remaining in regulation to get the eventual game-winner in what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Eric Vanska suffered the narrow defeat in goal for Thunder Bay in a game were the Blizzard went 1-10 with the man advantage while the Kings were 0-3 on the power play.

In all both Kings’ clubs went 3-1 over the course of the weekend.

Round 2 of NAPHL play goes Oct. 20-22 back in Blaine.