Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
Cowichan Valley Capitals forward Hayden Russell, Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Grayson Badger and Cranbrook Bucks forward Rasmus Svartström have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Hayden Rusell (F) – Cowichan Valley Capitals
Russell averaged over two points per game last week, picking up four goals and three assists for seven points in a trio of contests.
In a back-and-forth road contest on Wednesday morning against the Nanaimo Clippers in their School Day Game, Russell totaled three points in a 6-5 overtime loss. He had a goal and an assist in the first period, then his third period marker with less than four minutes to play forced overtime and earned his team the single point.
The Caps were back home on Friday night to take on the Coquitlam Express where Russell hit the score sheet again with a pair of helpers in a 6-4 win.
The Huntington Beach, Calif. native finished off his week with another multi-point performance on Saturday against the West Kelowna Warriors, scoring two goals in a 5-4 win. Russell opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period, then scored his second of the contest in the middle frame to give the Capitals a three goal advantage.
He now has 19 points in 22 games this year on seven goals and 12 assists.
2nd Star – Grayson Badger (F) – Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Badger scored two goals and added four assists for six points in three games last week.
After being held pointless in the Bulldogs 4-2 home loss to the West Kelowna Warriors on Wednesday, the Northeastern University commit scored the game-winning goal in Friday’s 4-1 road win against the Powell River Kings.
In a rematch in Powell River on Saturday, Badger had a career night, posting a goal and four assists for five points in Alberni Valley’s 8-1 victory. The 20-year-old had a goal and an assist in the first period, then two more helpers in the second before picking up his fourth assist in the third. His goal help up as the game-winner for the second night in a row.
The second-year Bulldog now has 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 21 games this season, putting him in a tie for seventh in league scoring.
3rd Star – Rasmus Svartström (F) – Cranbrook Bucks
Svartström piled up three goals and two assists in two games last week.
With the Bucks tied 2-2 in the third period of their Friday night home game against the Sherwood Park Crusaders, the Finnish-born forward scored a goal and added an assist as Cranbrook scored four straight in the final frame to take it by a 6-2 final. Svartström was named first star of the game.
With the Trail Smoke Eaters in town the following night, the 19-year-old was in on all three of his team’s goals in a 4-3 defeat. Svartström scored twice in the opening frame with goals 4:24 apart to give the Bucks a 2-1 advantage at intermission. With Cranbrook down 4-2 in the third, he picked up an assist to help cut the lead to one, but their comeback fell just short.
He now has goals in five straight games and his total of 15 on the year is the fourth most in the league.
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Honourable mentions:
Spruce Grove Saints F Keifer Miller: 2GP – 2G – 3A – 5P
Spruce Grove Saints F Josh Polak: 2GP – 1G – 4A – 5P
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Brady McIsaac: 3GP – 3G – 2A – 5P
Alberni Valley Bulldogs G Ryder Shea: 2GP – 2W – .964 SV% – 1.00 GAA
Cranbrook Bucks F Jacob Fletcher: 2GP – 2G – 3A – 5P
