Photo credits: Liz Wolter (Schwartz), Chris Fowler (Pulver), Island Images (Kursonis)
Surrey Eagles forward Aaron Schwartz, Salmon Arm Silverbacks goaltender Eli Pulver and Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Matt Kursonis have been named the FortisBC 3 Stars of the Month.
1st Star – Aaron Schwartz (F) – Surrey Eagles
Schwartz averaged two points per game in March, leading all BCHL players with 10 goals and 20 points over 10 games during the month and helping the Eagles clinch the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy as the BCHL’s top regular-season team.
The Quinnipiac University commit collected at least a point in nine of 10 games, putting up multiple points on eight separate occasions.
Schwartz collected eight points in the first three games of the month, with his best performance coming March 6 against the Coquitlam Express where he scored twice and added an assist for a three-point effort in a 4-1 road win. The Parkland, Fla. native was deadly at 5-on-5 with nine of his 10 goals coming at even strength.
He finishes the 2023-24 regular season as the BCHL’s second leading scorer with 81 points in 51 games, five back of teammate Caden Cranston for the scoring title. Schwartz also had the second most goals in the league with 34, just one back of the lead.
2nd Star – Eli Pulver (G) – Salmon Arm Silverbacks
Pulver won five of his six starts in March, stopping 186 of 194 shots to earn a .959 save percentage and a 1.27 goals-against average.
The Vancouver, B.C. native allowed one goal or less in four of his starts, including a shutout on March 8 where he went 69:46 without allowing a goal, making 42 saves in a 1-0 Silverbacks win in overtime over the Cranbrook Bucks.
Pulver allowed just three goals over his final four starts, all resulting in Salmon Arm victories.
The Minnesota State University commit closes out the regular season with the second-highest save percentage in the BCHL with a mark of .924, the fourth-best goals-against average at 2.30, the third-most wins with 23 and he tied for fourth with three shutouts.
3rd Star – Matt Kursonis (F) – Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Kursonis posted nine goals, seven assists and 16 points in 10 games during the month.
The 2004-born forward had multiple points in five of 10 games in March, including a career-best performance March 9 against the Powell River Kings. That night, Kursonis notched his first-ever four-goal game in the BCHL, adding an assist for good measure, to finish with five points in his team’s 6-3 win.
He closed out the month and the regular season with a three-point effort, getting in each of his team’s goals, in a 3-2 overtime win against the Langley Rivermen where he notched the winner in extra time.
After not starting his season until December due to injury, Kursonis wraps his regular season with 29 points in 27 games on 15 goals and 14 helpers.
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Honourable mentions:
Surrey Eagles F Caden Cranston: 10GP – 5G – 12A – 17PTS
Surrey Eagles F Micah Berger: 12GP – 4G – 13A – 17PTS
Vernon Vipers F Hank Cleaves: 10GP – 6G – 10A – 16PTS
Vernon Vipers F Luke Buss: 11GP – 9G – 5A – 14PTS
Trail Smoke Eaters G Teagan Kendrick: 5GP – 4W – .944 SV% – 1.77 GAA
