THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay under-16 Kings competed in the 14-team Gold Puck AAA tournament in Waterloo, Ont., over the weekend, finishing with two wins and a pair of defeats.
Opening up against the Whitby Wildcats, Thunder Bay skated to a 3-2 victory.
Michael Figliomeni paced the club offensively with a goal and two assists.
Reece Pires also scored for the club, as did Kellan Ozerkevich, who banged in the game-winner with 36 seconds remaining in regulation.
Eleazar Andrusco was in net for the triumph.
Next came a couple of setbacks to eventual event semi finalists, the Chatham Kent Cyclones (4-2) and the host Waterloo Wolves (4-0).
Dominic Lombardo and Ozerkevich tallied for the Kings versus the Cyclones.
Finishing up, Thunder Bay rode the shutout goaltending of Brody Schooler to blank the Greater Kingston Jr. Gaels 2-0.
Ozerkevich and Pires notched the markers in the win, while Benny Paddington dished out two assists.
Meanwhile, in Greater Toronto Hockey League play, the under-15 and U18 Kings had a tough run, finishing 1-7 overall.
The U15s dropped results to the Vaughan Kings (6-1), Mississauga Rebels (3-2), Toronto Titans (5-1) and the Reps Hockey Club (6-2).
Scoring for Thunder Bay in the combined four match-ups were Ethan Williamson, who had two tallies, Gavin Godick, Ethan Williamson, Jack Koski, Cooper Disher, Owen Trevisanutto and Charlie Crane.
Godick also helped set-up four other markers and Felix Sapay chipped in with a couple of helpers.
As for the U18s, they dropped their first three match-ups, falling to the Vaughan Kings (5-2); Mississauga Rebels (5-0) and Toronto Young Nationals (4-1), before rebounding to defeat the Don Mills Flyers (3-2).
Of note, Vaughan (.789) and the Young Nats (.714) boast the best and third-highest winning percentages, respectively, in the 13-team U18 AAA division.
Both the U15 and U18 Kings resume GTHL competition January 3-5, back in Toronto.
Photo credit: James Mirabelli
