Photo credits: Lisa Mazurek (Charko), Vicki Brown – MyLight Photography (Ushio)
Trail Smoke Eaters forward Erik Pastro, Vernon Vipers forward Samuel Charko and Prince George Spruce Kings forward Tai Ushio have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Erik Pastro (F) – Trail Smoke Eaters
Pastro piled up three goals and and an assist over two games last week as the Smoke Eaters extended their season-opening win streak to four games.
After being held off the scoresheet in Friday’s 4-3 road win over the Vernon Vipers, the 2005-born forward registered his first career BCHL hat trick in a 5-3 victory against the Chilliwack Chiefs. Pastro got off to a quick start, scoring twice in the first 5:42 of the opening frame, then completed the milestone with his third of the game on a late power play. He added an assist for a four-point night and was named first star of the game.
The Vernon, B.C. native now has four goals, three assists and seven points through four games this season, just one back of the league lead.
2nd Star – Samuel Charko (F) – Vernon Vipers
Charko finished his week with four points on three goals and an assist, helping the Vipers to their first win of the season in the process.
On Friday night, the Whitecourt, Alta. product scored his first career BCHL goal in the second period of Vernon’s 4-3 loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters. A day later, Charko scored twice and added an assist in his team’s 6-1 home win over the Cranbrook Bucks. He was named first star of the game.
The 18-year-old has four points through his first three games.
3rd Star – Tai Ushio (F) – Prince George Spruce Kings
Ushio totaled three goals and one assist for four points in two Spruce Kings home games over the weekend.
Prince George got their first win of the season on Friday night, a 7-2 triumph over the Surrey Eagles. Ushio opened the scoring with a power-play marker 2:50 into the game, then capped off the first period scoring with his second of the contest to make it 3-1. He added an assist in the middle frame to finish with three points and was named the game’s first star. A night later, he opened the scoring again in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Okotoks Oilers.
Ushio, a native of Hokkaido, Japan, now has five points in three games to start the year.
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Honourable mentions:
Coquitlam Express G Ryan Parker: 2GP – 2W – .953 SV% – 1.50 GAA
Coquitlam Express F Christian Maro: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Coquitlam Express D Cooper Wilson: 2GP – 4A – 4PTS
Blackfalds Bulldogs F Joey Melo: 2GP – 4A – 4PTS
Victoria Grizzlies G Paolo Frasca: 2GP – 1W – 1 SO – 1.000 SV% – 0.00 GAA
Nanaimo Clippers G Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau: 1GP – 1W – 1 SO – 1.000 SV% – 0.00 GAA
West Kelowna Warriors G Angelo Zol: 1GP – 1W – 1 SO – 1.000 SV% – 0.00 GAA
