WINNIPEG, Man. – The Thunder Bay Bantam Kings came out on the wrong end of a 6-1 decision Friday in Winnipeg, Man., in the first of a three-game weekend set vs. the Rink Academy Nationals prep school side.
Rink Academy started strong grabbing a 3-0 lead after one period of play.
Thunder Bay got one back 90 seconds into the middle stanza as Nolan Desjardins set-up Hunter Matyasovszky, but the Nationals came back with three more markers in the frame to regain control.
Neither side would connect in a scoreless third period.
Rink Academy outshot the Kings 30-16 with Brayden McKever suffering the setback in net in 40 minutes of action.
Gage Stewart handled all six attempts he faced in third-period relief.
The two clubs will meet twice more this weekend going at 1:30 p.m. Saturday before wrapping things up Sunday morning at 10:45 a.m.