Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
Wenatchee Wild forward Parker Murray, Vernon Vipers goaltender Ethan David and Nanaimo Clippers goaltender Shane Shelest have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Parker Murray (F) – Wenatchee Wild
Murray was absolutely on fire last week, scoring 10 goals in four postseason games, including back-to-back four-goal games. He also ended up with three game-winners.
In Game 3 against the Cranbrook Bucks on Tuesday night, Murray scored once in the first period, twice in the second and again in overtime to record his first-career four-goal game in Wenatchee’s 5-4 win in extra time, giving them a 2-1 series advantage. The following night, the 19-year-old kept things going, scoring all four Wild goals in their 4-2 victory in Game 4, scoring three of his goals in less than five minutes in the second period. The Manhattan Beach, Calif. native finished his week by scoring once in both Game 5 and 6 as the Wild won the series 4-2 to advance to the second round.
Murray now has 12 playoff goals, which leads the BCHL. His 12 postseason points are also the most in the league. His first-round performance set the Wild franchise record for most goals in a single playoff series.
2nd Star – Ethan David (G) – Vernon Vipers
David won all three of his starts last week, including two shutouts, while stopping 87 of the 89 shots he faced to end the week with a .978 save percentage and a 0.55 goals-against average.
The 2003-born netminder came on in relief in Tuesday’s Game 3 and stopped 15 of 16 shots in just under two periods of action as the Vipers dropped a 5-2 decision to the West Kelowna Warriors. David got the start the following night in Game 4 and earned his first career playoff shutout after making 28 stops in Vernon’s 7-0 win to tie the series 2-2. He was near perfect again in Game 5 on Friday, stopping 30 of 31 shots in his team’s 2-1 win, earning first star honours for the second game in a row. He closed out the week and the series with yet another shutout, this time a 3-0 blanking of the Warriors where he stopped all 14 shots against.
David now owns a .949 save percentage in the playoffs and a 1.29 goals-against average, both second best in the league.
3rd Star – Shane Shelest (G) – Nanaimo Clippers
Shelest posted a .969 save percentage after stopping 78 of the 81 shots he faced last week as he won all three of his starts to backstop the Clippers to a first-round series win over the Langley Rivermen.
The 19-year-old got his first career playoff start on Tuesday in Game 4 and he rewarded his coaches with a 30-save performance in a 5-1 Nanaimo win to tie the series 2-2. Shelest got the start again in Game 5 where he stopped 19 of 21 shots in a 5-2 victory, then stood tall in Game 6, earning his first shutout in the BCHL when he made 29 saves in a tight 1-0 win in Langley to clinch the series.
Shelest’s .969 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average are both tops in the BCHL this postseason.
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Honourable mentions:
Wenatchee Wild F Ean Somoza: 4GP – 1G – 8A – 9PTS
Chilliwack Chiefs F AJ Lacroix: 3GP – 4G – 3A – 7PTS
Salmon Arm Silverbacks G Matthew Tovell: 2GP – 2W – .957 SV% – 1.16 GAA
Nanaimo Clippers F Kai Daniells: 4GP – 4G – 4A – 8PTS
Nanaimo Clippers F Brody Waters: 4GP – 3G – 5A – 8PTS
Surrey Eagles G Michael Sochan: 3GP – 3W – .948 SV% – 1.67 GAA
Surrey Eagles F Ryden Evers: 3GP – 3G – 3A – 6PTS
Surrey Eagles F Jake Bongo: 3GP – 3G – 3A – 6PTS
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Dakota MacIntosh: 2GP – 3G – 1A – 4PTS
