THUNDER BAY – Facing a must-win scenario to advance to the semifinals at the all-Ontario AAA bantam championship at the Fort William Gardens Thursday, the Thunder Bay Kings dropped a season-ending 4-0 decision to the York-Simcoe Express.
The Ontario Minor Hockey Association champion Express picked up the lone tally of the opening frame as Ian Lemieux scored on the power play midway through the session.
York-Simcoe extended their lead 6:39 into the second on a Ty Collins effort.
Collins, who also assisted on the first goal, then added another marker in the latter stages of the session to put the Express up by three.
They then added an empty netter from Mathew Aubie in the late going to round out the scoring.
Harrison Fleischaker turned aside all 20 shots fired his way to post the shutout for York-Simcoe while Connor Lemieux faced 22 attempts in defeat for the Kings.
With the result, Thunder Bay finished sixth overall in the seven-team event with a 1-3-2 record.
Player of the game honours went to Collins of the Express and Mackenzie Sedgwick for the Kings.
Semifinal action goes Friday morning at the Gardens while the bronze medal game starts at 5:30 p.m. and the championship contest begins at 8 p.m.
Thunder Bay Kings all-Ontario AAA bantam championship results
Monday, March 27
Kings 1 Ottawa Jr. 67’s (HEO) 1
North Bay Trappers (NOHA) 4 Kings 0
Tuesday, March 28
Kings 2 Cambridge Hawks (Alliance) 2
Wednesday, March 29
Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) 8 Kings 0
Kings 8 Fort Frances Canadians (HNO) 2
Thursday, March 30
York-Simcoe Express (OMHA) 4 Kings 0
