Photo credits: Garrett James Photography (Gill), Matt Piotrowski (Free), Darren Francis (MacIntosh)
Surrey Eagles forward Brandon Gill, Brooks Bandits forward Nathan Free and Chilliwack Chiefs forward Dakota MacIntosh have been named the NAPA Auto Part 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Brandon Gill (F) – Surrey Eagles
Gill led all BCHL players last week with four goals, guiding the Eagles to a pair of wins over the weekend.
On Friday night, the 2005-born forward registered his first multi-point game in the BCHL, scoring two goals in his team’s 3-2 win over the visiting Blackfalds Bulldogs. Gill put the Eagles up 2-0 1:22 into the third period, then after Blackfalds battled back to tie it, he scored the game-winner with under four minutes to play. He was named first star of the game.
Next up was Surrey’s BCHL Showcase opening game on Sunday afternoon against the Sherwood Park Crusaders where Gill matched his effort with a second straight two-goal performance in a 4-2 victory. The Scarborough, Ont. product scored both of his goals in the second period to tie the game, then put the Eagles ahead 2-1 at intermission. He was named Surrey’s Player of the Game.
After his big weekend, Gill now leads his team with six goals on the year and is tied for the lead in points with nine in nine contests.
2nd Star – Nathan Free (F) – Brooks Bandits
Free scored three goals and added an assist in two games last weekend, both coming in Bandits wins, helping them stay undefeated on the year.
The Penn State University commit had two goals on Friday night in a 3-1 road victory over the Spruce Grove Saints. Free opened the scoring with a first-period goal, then potted his second in the middle frame to give Brooks a three-goal advantage.
On Saturday, he notched a goal and a helper in a 6-2 home win against the Prince George Spruce Kings. He capped off a massive opening period for the Bandits, scoring the team’s third of the period to give them a 3-0 edge. He picked up his assist early in the second on his team’s fourth goal of the game.
Through seven games, Free is tied for sixth in league scoring with 11 points. He has at least a point in six of seven contests and has registered multiple points five times already, including in four straight games.
3rd Star – Dakota MacIntosh (F) – Chilliwack Chiefs
MacIntosh averaged two points per game over the weekend, finishing with two goals, two assists and four points.
On Friday night, the 20-year-old scored twice in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Sherwood Park Crusaders on home ice. MacIntosh tied the game at one in the first period, then gave the Chiefs a 3-2 edge early in the third with his second of the game.
The following night, he put up a pair of assists, including one on the power play, in Chilliwack’s 6-3 win over the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
MacIntosh now has a team-high five goals and eight points in eight games this year.
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Honourable mentions:
Surrey Eagles G Jaiden Sharma: 2GP – 2W – .944 SV% – 2.00 GAA
Surrey Eagles F Sihwan Kim: 2GP – 4A – 4PTS
Vernon Vipers F Landon MacDonald: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Victoria Grizzlies F Chase Pirtle: 1GP – 2G -1A – 3PTS
