Photo credits: Garrett James Photography (Auyeung-Ashton, Pakulak), Tami Quan (Kyrkostas)
Victoria Grizzlies goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton, Vernon Vipers forward Luke Pakulak and West Kelowna Warriors forward Jackson Kyrkostas have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Oliver Auyeung-Ashton (G) – Victoria Grizzlies
Auyeung-Ashton won both of his starts last week, stopping 61 of the 63 shots he faced to end up with a .968 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average, as well as his first shutout of the season.
The 2023 BCHL Rookie of the Year started the Grizzlies Friday night contest on the road against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and stopped 11 shots in the first period to keep the score tied at zero, setting the stage for his team to go up 2-0 in the middle frame. He made another 11 saves in the third to finish with 25 on the night and earn the sixth shutout of his junior career.
Auyeung-Ashton was back in the crease on Sunday afternoon, this time at home against the Langley Rivermen. Victoria was outshot 38-20 in the contest, but the 18-year-old made 36 stops to secure a 3-2 win and help his team complete a perfect 3-0 weekend.
He now has a 5-2 record in seven starts on the year with a .903 save percentage and a 2.98 goals-against average.
2nd Star – Luke Pakulak (F) – Vernon Vipers
Pakulak piled up five points in two Vernon wins last week, scoring twice and adding a trio of helpers.
After going the first five games of the season without a point, the fourth-year Viper got back on track starting Friday night at home against he Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Pakulak’s goal early in the second period tied the game 1-1 and he would eventually score again late in the third, this time into an empty net, which proved to be the game-winner after the Silverbacks scored in the final seconds. He was named first star of the game.
The following night on the road against the Cranbrook Bucks, the Surrey product had three assists, all coming in the second period as he helped lead a Vernon attack that scored four goals in the middle frame en route to a 6-3 win. Pakulak earned first-star honours for the second straight night.
3rd Star – Jackson Kyrkostas (F) – West Kelowna Warriors
After being held off the scoresheet in his team’s Friday night overtime win over the Prince George Spruce Kings, Kyrkostas had his breakout game in the BCHL on Saturday on the road against the Merritt Centennials.
With the score tied 1-1 late in the opening stanza, the Rensselaer Polytechnic University commit scored his second goal of the season with just 17 seconds to play to give the Warriors their first lead of the game. He wouldn’t be stopped after that, assisting on Frédéric Deschênes’ point-shot goal 1:20 into the second, then potting another of his own late in the frame to make it 4-3 West Kelowna. Kyrkostas completed the hat trick early in the third on a goal that would prove to be the game-winner in a 6-4 victory. He finished with four points and was named first star of the game.
The 19-year-old now has four goals, three assists and seven point in eight games this season.
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Honourable mentions:
Vernon Vipers F Hank Cleaves: 2GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS
Penticton Vees F James Fisher: 3GP – 4G – 4PTS
Penticton Vees F Ryan MacPherson: 3GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS
West Kelowna Warriors F Jack Pridham: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
West Kelowna Warriors F Johannes Løkkeberg: 2GP – 4A – 4PTS
Nanaimo Clippers F Mike Murtagh: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Powell River Kings F Noah Eyre: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Powell River Kings F Anthony Yu: 2GP – 4A – 4PTS
Surrey Eagles F Cade Cranston: 1GP – 1G – 2A – 3PTS
