HUNDER BAY, Ont. – Making their second-ever appearance at the then Air Canada Cup Canadian National Midget Hockey Championship in 1995, the Thunder Bay Kings made the most of their opportunity as this powerful contingent of local selects went on to be crowned the top AAA midget team in the country.
The Kings claimed their first national crown that year, winning it all in Sherbrooke, Que.
After sweeping rival Kenora to claim the northwestern Ontario title, Thunder Bay headed to Saskatchewan for the West Regional where they were once again solid, highlighted by a 9-0 drubbing of the Tisdale Trojans in the championship game.
Earning their way to Quebec, the Kings, coached by David Bragnalo and Kelly Sundell along with manager, the late Cliff O’Brien, goaltender coach Paul Mackett and trainer Richard Bosch, the club continued their stellar play going unbeaten in the round robin.
They started with a tie with Red Deer from Alberta, who they would meet again in the final, before going on to drop the Magog Cantonniers (2-1); Wexford Raiders (5-3); Dartmouth Subways (3-1) and the host Ste-Foy Gouverneurs (3-1) to finish first overall in the standings.
Taking on Wexford in semfinal play, Thunder Bay skated to a convincing 5-1 victory.
Meeting Red Deer once more in the gold medal contest, the Kings fell behind 2-0 early, but sMARLed back behind the solid goaltending of Colin Zulianello to earn a 4-3 decision over the Chiefs to hoist their initial Air Canada Cup trophy.
Forward Jesse Heerema was the top point-getter among all skaters in Sherbrooke.
Members of the national championship squad that boasted an impressive overall win-loss-tie record of 57-8-3 were:
PLAYERS: Steve Bailot; Marty Bannon; Jesse Black; Jim Buie; Peter Cava; Bryan Duce; Jesse Heerema; Chris Heino; Jamie Kelso; Corey Lafreniere; Joe Lombardo; Jeff Pradal; Joe Ritson; Kevin Schutte; Ian Sgambelluri; Mike Simeoni; Scott Sutton (Goaltender); John Vaillant; Colin Zulianello (Goaltender).
STAFF: Cliff O’Brien (Manager); David Bragnalo (Head Coach); Kelly Sundell (Assistant Coach); Paul Mackett (Goaltender Coach); Richard Bosch (Trainer).
This team will be among seven Thunder Bay sides that will be honoured during the course of the 2019 TELUS Cup Canadian National Midget Hockey Championship, April 22-28, at the Fort William Gardens.
The Kings, in conjunction, with Hockey Canada, Hockey Northwestern Ontario and the Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Association, will host the seven-day championship that will feature the respective regional midget title holders from across the country taking part in the Tisdale Trojans (West); Calgary Buffaloes (Pacific); Toronto Young Nationals (Central); Magog Cantonniers (Quebec) and Halifax McDonald’s (Atlantic).
TELUS Cup ticket packages remain on sale at HockeyCanada.ca/tickets.
TELUS Cup Canadian National Midget Hockey Championship
April 22-28
Thunder Bay, Ont.
All games at the Fort William Gardens
Competing teams
Thunder Bay Kings (Host)
Halifax McDonald’s (Atlantic)
Magog Cantonniers (Quebec)
Toronto Young Nationals (Central)
Tisdale Trojans (West)
Calgary Buffaloes (Pacific)
Monday, April 22
Toronto Young Nationals vs. Halifax McDonald’s 12 p.m.
Magog Cantonniers vs. Tisdale Trojans 4 p.m.
Thunder Bay Kings vs. Calgary Buffaloes 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 23
Magog Cantonniers vs. Halifax McDonald’s 12 p.m.
Toronto Young Nationals vs. Calgary Buffaloes 4 p.m.
Tisdale Trojans vs. Thunder Bay Kings 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 24
Calgary Buffaloes vs. Magog Cantonniers 12 p.m.
Halifax McDonald’s vs. Tisdale Trojans 4 p.m.
Thunder Bay Kings vs. Toronto Young Nationals 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 25
Tisdale Trojans vs. Calgary Buffaloes 12 p.m.
Toronto Young Nationals vs. Magog Cantonniers 4 p.m.
Halifax McDonald’s vs. Thunder Bay Kings 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 26
Toronto Young Nationals vs. Tisdale Trojans 11 a.m.
Halifax McDonald’s vs. Calgary Buffaloes 3 p.m.
Thunder Bay Kings vs. Magog Cantonniers 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 27
Semifinal No. 1: 2 p.m.
Semifinal No. 2: 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 28
Bronze medal game: 1 p.m.
Gold/Silver medal game: 6:30 p.m.
