BLAINE, Minn. – The Thunder Bay Kings had a win, a loss and an overtime setback in a trio of North American Prospects Hockey League contests Sunday in Blaine, Minn.
The major midget under-18 Kings started the day with a 5-3 decision over the Wenatchee Wild before suffering a 3-2 defeat vs. the Everett Silvertips while the minor midget side dropped a narrow 1-0 OT decision to the Valley Forge Minutemen.
In the triumph over Wenatchee, Robert Tyska put Thunder Bay in front 42 seconds into the game.
After the Wild tied it, Jacob Anttonen restored the Kings’ lead heading into the second period.
The middle stanza was all Thunder Bay as they tallied three times to go up 5-1 compliments of a Benjamin Pretty natural hat trick.
Wenatchee did get two back in the third, but they would get no closer before time ran out.
Kyle Swerhun dished out three assists to help the Kings’ offensive cause while Zach Fortin and Michael Vecchio had two helpers apiece.
Seth McKay secured the win in net.
Against Everett, Thunder Bay started strong on goals from Anttonen and Pretty, but the Silvertips countered with two of their own to knot the affair at 2-2 after two periods of play.
Everett then picked up the winner 4:25 into the final frame to finish off the comeback.
Jordan Smith started in net for the Kings and he stopped 27 of 30 in a losing cause while McKay made seven saves in nearly 12 minutes of relief.
Awaiting Thunder Bay’s U-18 side will be the California Titans as the two sides square off Monday at noon.
The minor midget match-up saw Ryan Ferry score for Valley Forge with 63 seconds left in OT to notch the lone tally of the contest.
Thunder Bay fired 40 shots on Minutemen netminder Owen Hains, but could not solve him as he posted the impressive shutout.
Eric Vanska faced 15 attempts in the extra time setback as the Kings picked up a point in defeat.
They’ll wrap-up Round 2 of the NAPHL Monday at 10:30 a.m. as they take on the Esmark Stars.
All NAPHL games are streamed online at HockeyTV.com.
