THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Kings took three of four games against the Madison Capitols Saturday at the CCM AAA midget Christmas Showcase at Fort William First Nation Arena.
Thunder Bay’s minor midget squad took both meetings with the Capitols under-16 side by 3-1 and 2-1 scores while the major midget Kings split a pair of match-ups against the Madison U-18s, winning 3-2 in a shootout before being edged 2-1 in the nightcap.
Minor midget action saw the first period of the opening contest go scoreless before Madison got on the board 13:19 into the second stanza on a Jack Fuss effort.
However, the Kings countered with the equalizer on the next shift thanks to Mackenzie Sedgwick.
Thunder Bay kept coming and picked up the eventual game-winner 42 seconds later from Michael Stubbs.
Nikolas Campbell then iced it with a late empty-netter in the third to round out the scoring.
Eric Vanska made 27 saves to record the win.
In Game 2 of the day, the Capitols scored first once more only to see the Kings rally in the third on tallies from Stubbs and Travis Hensrud, while his side was shorthanded, to finish off the comeback.
Shots on goal were 21 apiece with Stephan Bourgeois registering the victory in net for Thunder Bay.
Major midget play saw the Kings win 3-2 in a shootout over Madison before the Capitols rebounded for a 2-1 decision to take the three-game series by the same count.
Jacob Cummings and Matthew Jones gave the visitors a two-goal lead after one before Robert Tyska connected on the power play for Thunder Bay at 12:30 of the middle stanza with assists going to Jacob Anttonen and Jonathon Kilby.
However, Madison buckled down from there and held on for the triumph.
Jordan Smith faced 18 shots in the narrow setback for the Kings.
The CCM AAA midget Showcase concludes Sunday as the minor midgets meet the Capitols once more at 9 a.m. while the Thunder Bay midget AA Queens tangle with the Gentry Academy Galaxy at 11 a.m.
