Photo credits: Island Images (Sharma), Garrett James Photography (Hutzinger), Target Photography (White)
Cowichan Valley Capitals goaltender Jaiden Sharma, Cranbrook Bucks forward Konstantin Hutzinger and Sherwood Park Crusaders defenceman Ryan White have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Jaiden Sharma (G) – Cowichan Valley Capitals
With the Capitals down 3-0 in their second round series with the Nanaimo Clippers, Sharma got the nod to start three straight elimination games, winning all three and giving up a goal or less in two of those games. He finishes the week with a league-best .954 save percentage and a 1.63 goals-against average, stopping 125 of 131 shots over four appearances.
After coming on in relief in Game 3 last Tuesday, Sharma stopped 30 of 32 shots in Game 4 in a 5-2 road win. Back at home for Game 5 on Friday, the Vancouver, B.C. native stopped all 29 shots he faced to record his second career playoff shutout in a 5-0 victory. The following night, Sharma made 40 saves on 41 shots in a 2-1 overtime win to force Game 7.
The 2005-born netminder now leads the playoffs with a .955 save percentage and a 1.60 goals-against average.
2nd Star – Konstantin Hutzinger (F) – Cranbrook Bucks
Hutzinger led all players with five goals in four games last week, while his five points were one back of the league lead.
The Austrian forward notched his first hat trick in the BCHL and his second multi-goal game of the playoffs in Cranbrook’s 5-2 win in Game 3 against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Hutzinger scored once in each period, including a power-play marker in the second, and was named first star of the game. A night later, he scored the overtime winner to help even up the series at 2-2. After being held off the score sheet the following game, he found the back of the net yet again at home in Game 6, scoring another with the man advantage in a 3-2 win to extend the series.
Hutzinger’s eight postseason goals are tied for the most in the BCHL and his three power-play tallies are one off the league lead.
3rd Star – Ryan White (D) – Sherwood Park Crusaders
White led all defencemen and tied for the overall league lead in points last week with six in four games, notching two goals and four assists in their Round 2 series with the Brooks Bandits.
The Providence College commit picked up an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss in Game 3, before piling up four points in Game 4 on a goal and three helpers in Sherwood Park’s 5-4 victory, also in overtime. White went pointless in his team’s Game 5 win, but contributed a power-play goal in Game 6.
The 18-year-old is tied for the defencemen lead in postseason goals with five and sits second in points from the back end with 10 in 12 contests.
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Honourable mentions:
Chilliwack Chiefs F Arjun Bawa: 4GP – 2G – 4A – 6PTS
Brooks Bandits F Isaac Johnson: 4GP – 2G – 4A – 6PTS
Cowichan Valley Capitals F Jack McAra: 4GP – 1G – 5A – 6PTS
Cranbrook Bucks G Jason Tremblay: 3GP – 3W – .931 SV% – 2.18 GAA
