SUDBURY – The Thunder Bay AAA bantam Kings are off to the semifinals at the 38th annual Big Nickel Tournament in Sudbury.
Thunder Bay impressed in round robin play skating to a 3-0-1 record to finish first overall in the eight-team standings.
They will now meet the CIH Academy from Rockland, Ont. in semifinal play Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.
Awaiting the winner there will be either the Oshawa Generals or the Ontario Hockey Academy from Cornwall in the championship game at 1:45 p.m.
The Kings opened up with a 3-0 triumph over the Soo Greyhounds Friday with Gage Stewart posting the shutout.
After a scoreless first period, Noah Broughton notched the eventual game-winner late in the middle stanza.
They then picked up markers from Alex Atwill and Jeremy Dunmore to secure the victory.
Up next Thunder Bay scored four times in the third period to top the North Bay Trappers at 5-1.
North Bay got on the board first in the second stanza before Kings’ captain Jack Cook leveled the proceedings via the power play.
From there it was all Thunder Bay with Jack Michaels picking up a pair on the final session while Shaymus Stevenson and Jacob Sargent supplied singles.
Brayden McKever picked up the win in net.
Saturday play saw the Kings begin with a 2-1 shootout setback against the Nickel City Son of Sudbury before bouncing the Timmins North Stars 8-2.
Michaels had the lone goal in the loss vs. Nickel City while Stewart faced 24 shots to help his side pick-up a point.
Wrapping up round robin play the Bantams rolled over Timmins.
Pacing the decision was Matthew Valiquette who had a trick while Sargent and Broughton tacked on two each.
Dunmore had the other Thunder Bay marker with Sargent dishing out two assists for a four-point game.
Recording the victory in goal was McKever.
