hunder Bay Kings AAA Hockey
Media Update
Release date: Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
U-18 & U-16 Kings both fall Friday at NAPHL Showcase
BLAINE, Minn. – It was a winless day for both the Thunder Bay major and minor midget Kings Friday as each club dropped decisions in Day 2 play of the North American Prospects Hockey League Showcase in Blaine, Minn.
The major under-18 side were edged 2-1 by the Valley Forge Minutemen while the minor under-16 squad were clipped 5-1 by the Minnesota Blades.
In the major midget contest, the Kings and Minutemen were scoreless through the opening frame.
Valley Forge then took a 1-0 lead after the second with 3:39 left in the session.
Thunder Bay drew level just past the three-minute mark of the third thanks to Garrett Gammond’s first in NAPHL play.
The Minutemen however struck late to pull out the win.
Seth McKay had the narrow loss for the Kings facing 14 attempts.
Two more tilts are on the U-18s slate Saturday starting with an 8 a.m. game vs. the St. Louis Selects before they wrap-up the day against the Arizona Bobcats at 6:30 p.m.
As for the minor midgets against Minnesota, the Blades jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first period on a shorthanded marker near the five-minute mark.
The Kings tied it 10:05 into the second stanza on a man advantage effort courtesy of Nicholas Hahkala.
Minnesota came right back however connecting on the power play once again two and a half minutes later and then added one at even strength with 64 seconds left in the stanza.
The Blades then put the game away in the third adding one while down a man and their third power play tally of the day to round out the scoring.
Thunder Bay was oushot 23-14 in the contest with Christian Cicigoi suffering the defeat.
The minor midgets return to the ice Saturday as they take on Team Wisconsin at 10:45 a.m.
All NAPHL games are available online at FASTHockey.com.
