SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Michael Stubbs goal 9:09 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Thunder Bay minor midget Kings edged the Soo Thunderbirds 2-1 Friday in their opening game at the Northern Ontario Cup in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
After a scoreless first period, Mason Bazulak put Thunder Bay in front seven minutes into the middle stanza.
The Thunderbirds would tie it late in the session on a Ty Zachary power play marker to knot the affair at 1-1 after two.
Bazulak would then set-up Stubbs for the difference maker in the final frame to pull out the victory.
Stephan Bourgeois registered the win in net for Thunder Bay.
Two more tilts await the Kings Saturday beginning with a 12 p.m. encounter vs. the North Bay Trappers followed by a 7 p.m. meeting against the Sudbury Wolves.
Meanwhile, at the Ontario Winter Games in Orillia, the Thunder Bay peewee Kings dropped their first two games at the eight-team event as they were shutout 6-0 by the Sun County Panthers before falling 5-2 to the Ottawa 67’s.
The peewees will finish up play at the OWG Saturday at noon as they take on the 0-2 Nickel City Sons of Sudbury.