Thunder Bay thumps Indy in NAPHL U-18 opener

LAINE, Minn. – Nicholas DeGrazia notched a pair of goals while Christian Veneruzzo had a pair of assists to help lift the Thunder Bay major midget Kings to a 7-1 victory over the Indy Fuel Thursday in opening day action, in the under-18 division, of the North American Prospects Hockey League in Blaine, Minn.

In the triumph over Indy, the Kings opened the scoring 10:49 into the contest when Mason Bazaluk finished off the work of teammates Mackenzie Sedgwick and Nikolas Campbell.

DeGrazia then made it 2-0 Thunder Bay a couple shifts later off an assist from Travis Hensrud.

They then struck twice early in the middle stanza to go up by four by the two-minute mark of the frame as Gareth Aegard and Anthony Biniaris connected 52 seconds apart.

After the Fuel scored on the power play, Thunder Bay tacked on two more in the session with Sedgwick scoring at even strength at 9:07 before Dawson Lampi had one during a man advantage at 11:57.

DeGrazia then rounded out the scoring late in the contest to secure the victory.

Jordan Smith registered the win in net for Thunder Bay.

Next up for the major midget Kings will be a 9 p.m. meeting Friday vs. the Metro Southwest Lakers of Minneapolis.

Thunder Bay’s minor midget side begins their 2018-19 NAPHL U-16 slate tonight at 7 p.m. against the Metro Northwest Giants.