THUNDER BAY – Game action for the Thunder Bay under-18 Kings in the Great North U18 Hockey League is set to conclude this weekend with a four-pack of contests against the North Bay Trappers U18 & U16 sides at the Powassan Sportsplex.
In an all U18 affair Friday, Thunder Bay will take on a strong North Bay contingent at 7:30 p.m.
The Kings will then meet the U16 Trappers Saturday morning at 10 a.m. prior to a return match-up versus North Bay’s U18s that evening in a 7:30 p.m. start.
They’ll then finish up with the U16s from North Bay Sunday at 10:30 p.m., back at the Sportsplex in Powassan.
Having come away victorious in 14 consecutive games and sporting an impressive overall record of 32-1-0-0, the U18 Trappers boast a GNU18HL-best winning percentage of .970, heading into a meeting at the Sudbury U18 Wolves Wednesday night, before tangling with the Kings later in the week.
Leading their U18 squad offensively is talented forward Liam Starcevic, who has amassed 67 points in 33 outings for his club, to sit third in league scoring.
After him is teammate Francis Popkie, who has 62 points to his credit, including 35 goals.
Defenceman Jayson Synnott tops all blueliners on the U18 Trappers with 41 points.
Goaltender Carson Ruddy is a solid 16-0-0-0 on the season with a stingy 1.95 goals-against average and four shutouts, which is a share of top spot overall.
His netminding partner, Logan Coates, is 16-1-0-0 while holding down a 2.95 GAA and one shutout.
The North Bay U16s are at the bottom of the standings at 5-28-0-1, with one of their triumphs coming in overtime against Thunder Bay.
Their leading point-getter is Aidan Duchesne. He has collected 34 in 29 games, while Reed Sauve is next with 30 points, featuring a team-high 18 tallies.
After them is Cole Coulter. He has 28 points overall.
Goaltender Antoine Ethier has won four times for the Trappers and Josh Saucier’s lone victory on the year came against the Kings.
As for Thunder Bay, Kellan Ozerkevich continues to lead the Kings offensively, averaging over a point-per-game with 27 in 24 outings, including 11 goals.
Behind him is Nathan Vita, who has 24 in as many contests, followed by Michael Figliomeni with 21 points on 11 tallies and 10 assists.
Nate Girvin tops the club among defencemen with 20 points, as he’s tied with forward Sawyer Smith.
Netminder Kainaan MacGillivray sports a 7-4-1 record with a 2.95 goals-against average.
His three shutouts share second in Great North U18 play, one behind the league leaders.
The Kings’ other goaltender, Nolan Meadows, has a 5-5-0 mark to go with a GAA of 3.84.
Also, this weekend, Thunder Bay’s under-16 squad have a pair of tilts on the docket with the Omaha Mastery 15U team from Nebraska at the Super Rinks in Blaine, Minn.
They’ll meet the Mastery Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET before wrapping up the two-game set Sunday in an 11 a.m. face-off.
Among the coaches in that Omaha program is Thunder Bay product, and Kings’ alumnus, Billy Pugliese.
Pugliese went on to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and is currently an amateur scout with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 27
U18: vs. North Bay Trappers U18 Trappers 7:30 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Saturday, Feb. 28
U18: vs. North Bay U16 Trappers 10 a.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
U16: vs. Omaha Mastery 15U 4:10 p.m. (Blaine Super Rink)
U18: vs. North Bay U18 Trappers 7:30 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Sunday, March 1
U18: vs. North Bay U16 Trappers 10:30 a.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
U16: vs. Omaha Master 15U 11 a.m. (Blaine Super Rink)
Photo credit: James Mirabelli
