Skip to content

Kings let another one slip away

Ryan Mansfield and Joseph Martino score nine seconds apart in the first two minutes of the third to deliver Toronto a 3-2 win over host Thunder Bay.

THUNDER BAY – All it took was nine seconds to derail the Thunder Kings chances at the TELUS Cup.

Leading 2-1 over the Toronto Young Nationals after 40 minutes, a pair of defensive breakdowns led to a pair of rapid-fire opposition goals that turned the tide of the game in Toronto’s favour.

Ryan Mansfield stuffed the puck past the outstretched pad of Thunder Bay goaltender Jordan Smith 90 seconds into the final frame and before the goal was announced Joseph Martino had given the Young Nationals their first lead of the night.

It laid to waste a stellar effort by the still winless Kings (0-3-0) over the opening 40 minutes of the 3-2 contest, played in front of 1,694 fans at Fort William Gardens.

The loss has buried Thunder Bay in the tournament basement, likely needing to win both of their remaining games against Halifax and top-ranked Magog and maybe even get a little tiebreaker help along the way.

“That’s what happens when you play really good teams. You lose your focus for a bit and they become deadly. We got bit by the rattlesnake tonight, and it wasn’t very much fun, I’ll be honest with you,” said Kings coach Darrin Nicholas, his team unable to succeed despite killing all eight man disadvantage situations they faced on the night.

Forward Nikolas Campbell gave Thunder Bay its first lead of the tournament when he slammed the puck through James Gray’s pads, the Kings on the power-play at 9:39 of the first.

They’d take a 2-1 lead at 3:39 of the second, Trenton Morrisau one-timing a quick pass from Anthony Biniaris, the goal coming 1:23 after Thomas Harbour cut to the centre and whipped a wrist shot past Smith.

Campbell said it was unfortunate the Kings couldn’t hang on, an all-too-frequent occurrence at the TELUS Cup this week.

“It was a tough start for the boys. We just tried to keep it simple, but it didn’t go our way. I can’t really say much,” Campbell said.

With his team buried in the standings, the frustration is starting to mount, he added.

But the Kings are not giving up, despite the long odds to move on.

“We’re just going to keep it one shift at a time, keep working our hardest and keep grinding and show the home fans that we’re a good team and that we deserve to be here.”

Martino said after the second the team’s coaching staff drilled into the players the importance of getting the equalizer within the first five minutes of the third.

Clearly the Young Nationals listened.

“We weren’t really playing together. But we started moving the puck well. Everyone chipped in and the bounces went our way. Good teams find a way to win,” Martino said.

Co-coach Aaron Darmanin said they weren’t getting the best bounces in the first two periods, so they tried a new approach.

“We said let’s just get pucks to the net. Let’s do work in their zone and see what could happen. Sure enough we came out and got two quick ones and we were able to hold them off,” he said, admitting he was surprised at just how quickly the game changed.

Martini said it was a good fore-check that led to the game-winning goal.

“It came to me right in the middle and I kind of threw it on the net and it worked out,” he said.

The Kings take on Halifax (1-2) on Thursday night, while Toronto plays first-place Magot at 4 p.m.

FIRST PERIOD
Scoring
: 1. Thunder Bay, Campbell (Biniaris) 9:39 pp. Penalties: Campbell TB (hit to the head) 0:48, Currie TOR (cross checking) 8:28, Aegard TB (hooking) 16:47, Hensrud TB (tripping) 18:21, Aegard TB (unsportsmanlike conduct) 20:00.

SECOND PERIOD
Scoring
:2. Toronto, Harbour (Enero, Eliopulus) 2:06. 3. Thunder Bay, Morriseau 1 (Biniaris, Veneruzzo) 3:39. Penalties: Hensrud TB (slashing) 7:53, Sedgwick TB (hooking) 15:49, Cohen TOR (hit to head) 16:30.

THIRD PERIOD
Scoring
: 4. Toronto, R. Mansfield (Cohen, Stojcevski) 1:30. 5. Toronto, Martino (Torrealba) 1:39. Penalties: Aegard TB (hit to head) 3:56, Belluz TB (check from behind, game misdonduct, served by Aegard) 12:16, Torrealba TOR (boarding) 16:54,

GAME DATASOG – Thunder Bay 10-10-13-33, Toronto 7-7-4-18; Power plays (goals-chances) – Thunder Bay (1-4), Toronto (0-7); Goaltenders – Thunder Bay: Jordan Smith, Toronto: James Gray; A: 2,500 (estimated).

 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
Read more


Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks