Photo credits: Chaisson Creative (Sacco), Garrett James Photography (Suniev, Nadeau)
Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward David Sacco and Penticton Vees forwards Aydar Suniev and Josh Nadeau have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – David Sacco (F) – Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Sacco had by far the most productive weekend of his BCHL career, scoring four goals and chipping in with a pair of assists to finish with six points in two games.
On Saturday night against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, the 21-year-old from Middleton, Mass. notched the first hat trick of his BCHL career, while also adding two assists, to finish with five points in Alberni’s 9-3 win on home ice. Sacco scored twice in the first period to help the Bulldogs build a 3-1 lead, then scored a third-period marker to clinch the hat trick. He was named first star of the game.
The Bulldogs were back at home facing the Caps for the second day in a row on Sunday evening and the Merrimack College commit turned in another clutch performance, this time scoring the overtime game-winning goal under a minute into the extra frame to lead his team to the 2-1 victory.
Since joining the Bulldogs in November, Sacco has seven goals and seven assists in 24 games.
2nd Star – Aydar Suniev (F) – Penticton Vees
Suniev was the BCHL’s top goal-scorer last week, scoring five times in two Vees victories.
The 2023 NHL Draft prospect had the second hat trick of his BCHL career on Friday night in Penticton’s convincing 13-1 road win over the Merritt Centennials. Suniev scored once in the first period, part of a six-goal opening frame for the Vees, then notched another two in the third to finish off his three-goal performance.
A night later, the Vees were in Trail to take on the Smoke Eaters where the 18-year-old kept up the goal-scoring pace, this time scoring twice in a 7-2 triumph.
Suniev is now on a 10-game point streak with 11 goals and eight assists over that stretch. His performance last week puts him into a tie for the BCHL lead in goals scored with 37 and he is the league’s third-leading point-getter with 76 in 43 games.
3rd Star – Josh Nadeau (F) – Penticton Vees
Nadeau tied for the league lead in points last week with six in two games after putting up three goals and three assists.
The University of Maine commit capped off the Vees six-goal first period on Friday night with a tally in the final minute against the Merritt Centennials. He would score again in the third, this time on the power play, and also added an assist to finish with three points in a 13-1 win.
On Saturday against the Trail Smoke Eaters, after going down 2-0 early, Nadeau tied the game at two with another goal with the man advantage. He chipped in with a pair of assists as well to finish with three points for the second game in a row in 1 7-2 win.
The 19-year-old has points in eight straight games, notching 12 goals and 10 assists during that stretch. He also has multiple points in seven straight contests.
Nadeau is the BCHL’s second-leading scorer with 92 points in 47 games and is one back of the league lead in goals with 36.
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Honourable mentions:
Cranbrook Bucks F Blake Cotton: 2GP – 3G – 1A – 4PTS
Cranbrook Bucks F Noah Quinn: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Penticton Vees F Bradly Nadeau: 2GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS
Penticton Vees F Beanie Richter: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Penticton Vees F Billy Norcross: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Matt Kursonis: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Nicholas Beneteau: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Langley Rivermen F Andrej Kovacevic: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Wenatchee Wild F Cade Littler: 1GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
