THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – Thunder Bay got skating a lot sooner in Game 9 of the 2019 Telus Cup, maybe not on the shots count, but on the scoreboard where it mattered. They took the lead at the midpoint of the first period on a power-play goal by Nikolas Campbell and carried that 1-0 high to the start of the 2nd period, although discipline remained an issue with 4 penalties awarded to the Kings and only 1 to the Toronto club. Shots on goal were 10-7 in favour of Toronto.
The Thunder Bay lead was erased at the 2-minute mark of the 2nd period as the Kings were just getting back to full strength from a late penalty in the 1st period. Not even 2 minutes later, Trenton Morriseau put the Kings back out in front making the fans believe that they may be able to keep pace with the Young Nationals, if they could just stay out of the penalty box. Both clubs were assessed 2 minors each in the 2nd frame as the Kings would again take a lead into the intermission. Shots on goal were again 10-7 in favour of Toronto.
Start of the period goals hurt the Kings again, as Toronto scored twice in under 10 seconds, just 1 minute into the 3rd period on goals by Ryan Mansfield and Joseph Martino, the latter proving to be the game winner. Kings were penalized 3 times in the 3rd period, with Toronto having to fight off the extra attacker only once. Toronto outplayed the Kings with Jordan Smith making 11 saves on the 13 shots directed at him in the final frame, compared to the 4 shots handled by James Gray at the other end of the rink.
Toronto Young Nationals win 3-2 over the Thunder Bay Kings. Toronto now has a 2-1 record, while Thunder Bay has an unenviable record of 0-3, just past the midway point of the preliminary round.
Photos and Files from Guy Gascoigne GASP.
