THUNDER BAY – It was a successful start to the 2026 portion of their season for the Thunder Bay under-14 Kings after winning the championship at the Border Battle Tournament in International Falls, Minn., over the weekend.
Some late-game heroics in their opener Friday saw Liam Figliomeni supply the winner with just 17 seconds remaining in the third period, as part of a 5-4 victory over the Anoka Tornadoes.
Jones Kochan chipped in with a pair of tallies in the triumph, while Nathan Pugliese and Jackson Bradley added singles.
Kings’ goaltender Laird Morden faced 33 shots in the victory.
A tough outing versus the host International Falls Broncos Saturday had Thunder Bay being bounced 6-0, backed by the 23-save shutout of Huxley Herges.
Kings’ starter Corey Cava was peppered with 42 attempts fired his way in the setback.
Rebounding in their second game Saturday, to close out round robin competition, the club held off the Greenway Raiders 5-4 to punch their ticket to Sunday’s final and a return engagement with the Broncos.
Kochan opened the scoring for the Kings vs. the Raiders, before Lucas Ianni banged in two more goals to put them up 3-0 after the first frame.
Greenway got back in it during the middle stanza with three of their own, while Pugliese converted for Thunder Bay in the session to make it 4-3 through two periods.
Pugliese then potted the eventual difference maker with just over six minutes to go in the third, with Morden doing his part between the pipes to finalize the result.
Taking on International Falls for the title Sunday, the Kings answered the earlier defeat by skating away with a 4-3 victory.
After a scoreless first, the Broncos clicked on a power play in the second, before Thunder Bay responded with a trio of markers to go up 3-1 compliments of Kochan, Brysen Beaucage and Liam Desando.
The hosts pulled closer early in the third only to see Ryder Lariviere-Armstrong pump in the eventual game-winner with seven minutes remaining.
A late man advantage marker brought the home side back to within one, but Cava and Kings shut the door the rest of the way to claim the Border Battle crown.
The next tournament action for the U14s will be Oakville Winter Classic, which goes Jan. 16-18.
OFF TO THE SOO: After having their final 2025 portion of Great North U18 Hockey League play in December postponed due to weather, Thunder Bay’s under-18 Kings are scheduled to travel to Sault Ste. Marie this weekend for a resumption of on-ice action at John Rhodes Community Centre.
They’ll take on the Soo Jr. Greyhounds U18s Friday in a 6 p.m. start.
Saturday’s slate has a pair of matchups on the docket as they’ll meet the U16 Jr. Greyhounds at 9 a.m., followed by another encounter with the U18 Hounds at 6 p.m.
The Kings will then finish up Sunday morning at 10 a.m. against the U16 Soo squad.
They currently sit with a record of 9-4-2-1 in the GNU18HL standings, sporting the fourth-best winning percentage in the 10-team loop at .656.
Leading Thunder Bay offensively is forward Kellan Ozerkevich, who has 21 points in 16 outings on 10 tallies and 11 helpers.
Next on the squad is defenceman Nate Girvin. He has contributed 19 points from the back end, including eight goals.
Goaltender Kainaan MacGillivray has a 5-2-1 record with his three shutouts tying him for the league-lead in that department. You also have fellow netminder Nolan Meadows sitting a 4-2-0 mark in GNU18HL play for the club.
U18 Kings GNU18L schedule/results
SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 9
U18: vs. U18 Soo Jr. Greyhounds 6 p.m. (John Rhodes)
Saturday, Jan. 10
U18: vs. U16 Soo Jr. Greyhounds 9 a.m. (John Rhodes)
U18: vs. U18 Soo Jr. Greyhounds 6 p.m. (John Rhodes)
Sunday, Jan. 11
U18: vs. U16 Soo Jr. Greyhounds 10 a.m. (John Rhodes)
Submitted photo
