TROY, Mich. – It was a good start for both the Thunder Bay major and minor midget Kings Friday as they began the fifth round of North American Prospects Hockey League play in Troy, Mich., Friday with a trio of victories.
The major midgets started with a 6-3 victory over the Esmark Stars of Pennsylvania before earning a 1-0 shootout triumph vs. the Washington Little Capitals under-18’s while the minors rolled to a 7-1 triumph over the under-16 Washington Caps side.
In the decision over the Stars, the under-18 Kings grabbed a 3-1 lead after the opening frame with Keon Fox, Jacob Brown and Joel Willan all finding the back of the net.
After Esmark moved to within one in the second, Thunder Bay got goals from Garrett Gammond and Quintin Loon-Stewardson to take a 5-2 cushion into the third.
Gammond added another in the final stanza before the Stars rounded out the scoring with under four minutes to go.
Seth McKay faced 24 shots in the victory for Thunder Bay.
In the club’s second game of the day, the contest was scoreless through regulation and overtime before Fletcher Anderson notched the decider in the shootout to give the Kings the decision.
Ryan Fanti made 24 saves to post the shutout.
Saturday has the major meeting the Madison Capitols U-18’s at 2:15 p.m.
As for the minor midgets, Gareth Aegard put Thunder Bay ahead with the lone tally of the first period against the Washington U-16 side.
Owen Belisle and Anthony Biniaris tacked on man advantage markers early in the second to put the Kings up 3-0.
The Capitals got one back before the middle session was complete, but the minors put the game way with four markers in the final frame to win going away.
Keighan Gerrie tallied twice for Thunder Bay while Zach Fortin and Joseph McCollum added singles.
Belisle also dished out three assists for a four-point game.
The Kings outshot Washington 29-19 with Christian Cicigoi picking up the win.
The minor midgets return to the ice twice Saturday starting with a 10:15 a.m. encounter with the Esmark U-16’s before concluding with a 6 p.m. match-up vs. Madison.
