KENORA – The Thunder Bay U18 Kings wrapped up their 2024-25 campaign with grit and heart, but the TELUS Cup West Regional in Kenora proved to be the end of the road. The Kings went 1-2 on the weekend, showcasing moments of brilliance before being eliminated in a field topped by a juggernaut Regina Pat Canadians squad.
One Win, Two Hard-Fought Losses
The Kings opened with a hard-nosed 2-1 win over the host Kenora Thistles, with special teams taking centre stage. Nathan Allan netted a shorthanded snipe, while Aiden Edwards buried the power-play winner in the third. Between the pipes, Nick Webb stood tall with 31 saves, and Kayo Lake shut the door late to seal the win.
But the momentum didn’t carry over.
Thunder Bay roared out of the gates against the Winnipeg Wild, grabbing an early 2-0 lead courtesy of Landen and Layton Hanson. After falling behind 3-2, the Kings clawed back—goals by Allan and Layton Hanson flipped the script. But Winnipeg surged late with three unanswered, including an empty-netter, to clinch a 6-4 decision. Lake was heroic under siege, turning aside 60 shots in a tough-luck loss.
Pat Canadians Too Powerful
In their final tilt, the Kings ran into a powerhouse Regina squad firing on all cylinders. Regina, led by 15-year-old phenom Maddox Schultz, cruised to an 8-0 win, going 5-for-6 on the man advantage. Lake stood tall despite the barrage, facing a whopping 64 shots.
Schultz, a name to remember, finished the tournament with 10 points, including a hat trick in the final against Winnipeg. He racked up 115 points in 54 games this season, leading Regina to the Saskatchewan U18 AAA crown. They now move on to the national TELUS Cup, April 21-27 in Chilliwack, B.C.
Bright Spots for Thunder Bay
Despite the early exit, there were positives to build on. Kayo Lake was recognized with the Most Dedicated Athlete award at the tournament banquet—a fitting tribute to his endurance and effort. And a tip of the cap to former Kings goalie Brady Cates, who earned top goaltender honours with the Thistles.
The U18 Kings leave Kenora with heads held high, knowing they battled some of the best in the country and left everything on the ice.
