Kings edged in West Regional opener

TISDALE, Sask -- A Cade Hayes marker with 7:18 remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner as the hometown Tisdale Trojans went on to defeat the Thunder Bay major midget Kings 3-1 Thursday evening in Day 1 play at the TELUS Cup West Regional in Tisdale, Sask.

A fired-up home side pressed the pace in the opening 20 minutes, outshooting the Kings 13-3 in the session, but Tisdale could not solve Thunder Bay starter Jordan Smith.

After withstanding the early Tisdale pressure, it was the Kings that opened the night’s scoring 3:54 into the second stanza as Mason Bazaluk finished off a Mackenzie Sedgwick feed.

The Trojans answered however a couple minutes later with Jayden Wiens knocking one in to level the proceedings.

It stayed tied until the back half of the third when Hayes stuffed in the difference maker on a goal-mouth scramble to put Tisdale in front.

They then capped off the triumph a late power play goal in the final seconds that was scored Kalen Ukrainetz into an empty net.

In all, Tisdale held a 41-15 edge in shots on the night with Tanner Martin picking up the win while Smith was solid in defeat, finishing with 38 saves overall.

Game action earlier in the day saw the defending West Regional and TELUS Cup champion Notre Dame Hounds double up the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-2.

The Kings take on Brandon Friday at 6 p.m. EDT while the Hounds and Trojans tangle in an all-Saskatchewan affair at 9:30 p.m.