Photo credits: Chaisson Creative (MacIntosh), Garrett James Photography (Tovell), Island Images Photography (Gundarah)
Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Dakota MacIntosh, Salmon Arm Silverbacks goaltender Matthew Tovell and Langley Rivermen goaltender Ajeet Gundarah have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Dakota McIntosh (F) – Alberni Valley Bulldogs
MacIntosh led the BCHL in goals scored last week with four in two games and also tied for the league lead in points with five.
The 18-year-old scored Alberni’s third goal of the game in their Friday night road contest against the Victoria Grizzlies, in a matchup the Bulldogs would go on to win 5-4 in overtime.
In the second half of the home-and-home set on Saturday night, MacIntosh had his best performance of the season, scoring his second career BCHL hat trick and adding an assist for a four-point night in a 7-3 victory at home, clinching his team’s eighth straight win. His hat trick goal 1:28 into the third period stood as the game-winner and he was named first star.
Since joining the Bulldogs in mid-November, MacIntosh has 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in 18 games.
2nd Star – Matthew Tovell (G) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks
Tovell won both of his starts over the weekend, surrendering just one goal on 60 shots against and recording his fourth shutout of the season.
The Belleville, Ont. native stopped all 30 shots that came his way on Friday night, including 14 in the middle frame alone, as the ‘Backs topped the Merritt Centennials 5-0 on the road. The team was back home on Saturday night to host the West Kelowna Warriors and Tovell got the call again. This time, he made 29 saves on 30 shots to earn the victory in a 4-1 final.
After the weekend, the 21-year-old netminder owns a .924 save percentage, third best in the BCHL, and 2.62 goals-against average, fifth in the league. His four shutouts are just one back of the league lead and rank tied for third among BCHL goalies.
3rd Star – Ajeet Gundarah (G) – Langley Rivermen
Gundarah led all goalies last week with a .984 save percentage after stopping 63 of 64 shots over his two starts.
The second-year BCHL netminder notched his second shutout of the season and the fifth of his career on Thursday night when he blanked the Chilliwack Chiefs 2-0 and was named first star of the game.
Gundarah was also solid on Saturday against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, making 33 saves on 34 attempts in a losing effort as the Rivermen dropped a 1-0 decision. He was named the game’s second star in the loss.
The Richmond, B.C. product has the fourth-best save percentage in the league with a mark of .922 and his 2.90 goals-against average puts him eighth among BCHL goalies.
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Honourable mentions:
Penticton Vees G Luca Di Pasquo: 2GP – 2W – .975 SV% – 0.48 GAA – 1 SO
Cranbrook Bucks G Nathan Airey: 2GP – 1W – .970 SV% – 0.96 GAA
Chilliwack Chiefs G Austin McNicholas: 2GP – 1W – .962 SV% – 1.01 GAA
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Will Elger: 2GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS
Wenatchee Wild F Ean Somoza: 2GP – 3G – 1A – 4PTS
Powell River Kings F Adam Mendelson: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Penticton Vees F Bradly Nadeau: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Salmon Arm Silverbacks F Ethan Ullrick: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
