Photo credits: Liz Wolter (Kim, Cranston), Chaisson Creative (Tung)
Vernon Vipers forward Owen Kim, Alberni Valley Bulldogs goaltender Callum Tung and Surrey Eagles forward Caden Cranston have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Owen Kim (F) – Vernon Vipers
Kim had the highest-scoring week of any BCHL player this year after he put up nine points on two goals and seven assists over four games.
Starting his week at the BCHL Showcase in Seattle, the third-year veteran notched a goal and two assists in an 8-1 victory over the Coquitlam Express on Monday night. The three-point outing was a season best for him and matched his career high.
On Tuesday, in the Vipers second Showcase game, Kim scored his fourth goal of the season midway through the third period in his team’s 7-3 loss to the Surrey Eagles.
Back in the Okanagan, the North Vancouver product registered a pair of assists in Friday night’s 5-3 road loss to the Penticton Vees, then finished his week with his third multi-point performance in four games, a three-assist afternoon in a 4-1 away victory over the Merritt Centennials.
Kim now has 19 points in 13 games this year to sit fourth in league scoring. His 15 assists are third most in the BCHL.
2nd Star – Callum Tung (G) – Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Tung posted an .983 save percentage over his two starts last week, stopping 58 of the 59 shots he faced, and registered his first-career BCHL shutout.
The 2003-born netminder started the Bulldogs second game at the Showcase and made 31 saves on 32 shots to earn the 5-1 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters. His busiest stretch came in the first period when Alberni Valley was outshot 13-8, but Tung shut the door to preserve the 0-0 score line.
Back at home on Friday night, Tung swatted aside all 27 shots he faced to clinch that first shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Chilliwack Chiefs. He was named first star of the game.
The Port Moody, B.C. product owns a 6-3-0 record on the season and his .940 save percentage is second best in the league. He also has a 2.04 goals-against average, which is fourth best among goaltenders.
3rd Star – Caden Cranston (F) – Surrey Eagles
Cranston put up seven points in four games last week on four goals and three assists, helping the Eagles extend their season-opening winning streak to 12 games.
The 19-year-old notched his first-career BCHL hat trick in his team’s opener at the Showcase on Tuesday night in a 7-3 win over the Vernon Vipers. Cranston scored twice in the first period and completed the milestone with his third of the game late in the third. He was named first star of the game.
In the Showcase finale on Thursday night, he was part of the third-period scoring frenzy that saw both teams exchanging multiple goals in an eventual 3-2 Eagles win. Cranston’s marker 6:34 into the final frame, his 12th of the year, made it 2-0 Surrey before Salmon Arm tied it shortly after, leading to a late Surrey winner.
The Eagles played at home the following night against the Langley Rivermen where the Rochester, N.Y. product had another multi-point outing, this time with a pair of assists in a 5-2 win.
Finally, on Sunday afternoon, he contributed an assist in his team’s 4-2 victory against the Coquitlam Express.
Cranston is the BCHL’s second-leading scorer with 23 points in 12 games, just one back of the league lead. His 16 assists are tied for the most in the BCHL.
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Honourable mentions:
Vernon Vipers D Anthony Cliche: 4GP – 3G – 5A – 8PTS
Surrey Eagles F Aaron Schwartz: 4GP – 2G – 5A – 7PTS
Trail Smoke Eaters F Adam Marshall: 3GP – 4G – 2A – 6PTS
Trail Smoke Eaters F Ridge Dawson: 3GP – 3G – 2A – 5PTS
Nanaimo Clippers F Connor Haynes: 3GP – 4G -1A – 5PTS
Nanaimo Clippers F Willyam Gendron: 3GP – 3G – 2A – 5PTS
Nanaimo Clippers D Andrew Brown: 3GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS
Nanaimo Clippers F Luke Buss: 2GP – 4A – 4PTS
West Kelowna Warriors F Felix Caron: 3GP – 3G – 2A – 5PTS
Cranbrook Bucks D Joseph Blackley: 3GP – 5A – 5PTS
