BLAINE, Minn. – Saturday saw the Thunder Bay Kings post a 2-2 overall record on the ice in both Blaine and Duluth, Minn.
Beginning against Esmark Stars, the major midget Kings were outshot 28-11, but Thunder Bay goaltender Jordan Smith stood tall backstopping his side to a narrow 2-1 triumph in North American Prospects Hockey League action in Blaine.
Kyle Swerhun put the Kings in front in the middle stanza before teammate Jacob Anttonen supplied the eventual game-winner at 13:56 of the frame.
Esmark did get one back before the period was complete, however, Smith shut the door the rest of the way to record the win.
Taking on the Sioux Falls Stampede in their second match-up of the day, the cub wasn’t as fortunate as they dropped a 6-0 decision to the South Dakota side.
The Stampede rolled in the first period in this one grabbing a 3-0 lead.
They added one more each in the second and tacked on two more third periods to skate away with the triumph.
Seth McKay suffered the setback in goal for Thunder Bay while Grant Boldt posted the shutout for Sioux Falls.
They will next meet CarShield AAA from suburban St. Louis, Missouri at 1 p.m. Sunday.
As for the minor midgets lone contest on the day in NAPHL under-16 play, they dropped a 3-0 decision to Meier AAA.
The Michigan-based squad scored once in each period en route to the win with goaltender Michael Morelli posting the shutout and Eric Vanska suffering the loss.
Sunday has the U-16 Kings playing twice as they take on the Everett Silvertips of Washington State at 11:30 a.m. before finishing off against the Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m.
Also in Blaine, the bantam Kings dropped their first game at the NAHL Future Prospects tournament falling 3-2 to Omaha AAA.
Omaha started quickly grabbing an early 2-0 lead before Hunter Matyasovszky got one back for Thunder Bay before the first period was complete.
However, Omaha notched the lone tally of the middle frame to go back up by two before Matyasovszky added his second for the Kings in the late going to round out the scoring.
Gage Stewart was credited with making 24 stops in defeat.
The 2-1 bantams return to the ice Sunday afternoon against a yet to be determined opponent.
Meanwhile, at the 41st annual Spirit of Duluth tourney, the peewee Kings improved to 2-1 and have advanced to the consolation final after blanking the Centennial Flames 8-0 Saturday.
E.J. Paddington paced the victory by notching a hat trick while Connor Larrett, Kaden Goodwin, Jonathan Beaucage, Brady Butvin and Owen Loubier supplied singles.
Carter George posted the shutout.
The peewees will now meet the Lakeville Panthers Sunday at 8 a.m. to conclude play there.
