Photo credits: Garrett James Photography (Kyrkostas, Loranger), Island Images (Nikitin)
West Kelowna Warriors forward Jackson Kyrkostas, Sherwood Park Crusaders forward Jeremy Loranger and Nanaimo Clippers goaltender Vladimir Nikitin have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Jackson Kyrkostas (F) – West Kelowna Warriors
Kyrkostas led all BCHL players with nine points in just two games last week, piling up a pair of goals to go along with a league-best seven assists, helping West Kelowna clinch a playoff spot during their 2-0-0 weekend.
On Friday, the 2004-born forward registered a career-best five points, getting in on all of his team’s goals, in a 5-2 victory over the Okotoks Oilers. Kyrkostas assisted on a trio of goals in the first period, then picked up another helper on the power play in the second. He sealed the game with an empty-net goal in the final frame and was named first star. A night later, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute commit totaled a goal and three assists in a 7-2 victory over the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Kyrkostas is riding a four-game point streak and has multiple points in three straight. He leads the Warriors with 56 points in 52 games, while his 43 assists are tied for fourth overall in the league.
2nd Star – Jeremy Loranger (F) – Sherwood Park Crusaders
The BCHL’s leading scorer had another productive week, putting up two goals and four assists for six points in two games.
Loranger contributed two assists on Friday night in Sherwood Park’s 5-3 road loss to the Brooks Bandits. Then on Saturday, he notched two goals and two assists in his team’s 7-2 home victory over the Vernon Vipers. The 17-year-old NHL Draft prospect opened the scoring in the first period before chipping in another goal and two helpers in the second. He was named first star of the game.
Loranger stretched his BCHL point lead and eclipsed the 100-point plateau, raising his total to 101 points in 52 contests. His 39 goals are second most in the BCHL, as are his 62 assists.
3rd Star – Vladimir Nikitin (G) – Nanaimo Clippers
Nikitin won both of his starts over the weekend, stopping 67 of 70 combined shots for a .957 save percentage, a 1.49 goals-against average and his second shutout of the season.
After making 30 saves in Nanaimo’s 4-3 overtime win over the Surrey Eagles on Friday, the 2023 Ottawa Senators draft pick shut the door in the Clippers matchup with the Coquitlam Express the following night. He stopped all 37 shots he faced, including 16 in the second period alone, to earn the shutout and first star honours. Nanaimo needed every one of those saves as the game was tied 0-0 until midway through the third period and ended up a 3-0 win after a pair of empty-netters.
Since joining the Clippers in January, Nikitin owns a 10-2-0 record in 12 appearances with a .918 save percentage and a 2.48 goals-against average.
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Honourable mentions:
Penticton Vees F Ryden Evers: 2GP – 2G – 4A – 6PTS
Penticton Vees G Will Ingemann: 2GP – 2W – .938 SV% – 1.00 GAA – 1 SO
Penticton Vees F Simon Meier: 2GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS
Chilliwack Chiefs F Mateo Mrsic: 3GP – 2G – 4A – 6PTS
Prince George Spruce Kings G Charles-Edward Gravel: 3GP – 2W – .943 SV% – 1.89 GAA
Sherwood Park Crusaders F Kale Dach: 2GP – 5A – 5PTS
