Photo credits: Garrett James Photography (Somoza, Hejduk), Island Images Photography (Campbell)
Wenatchee Wild forward Ean Somoza, Nanaimo Clippers goaltender Aidan Campbell and Wild defenceman David Hejduk have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Ean Somoza (F) – Wenatchee Wild
Somoza had by far the most points of any player last week, registering an eye-popping nine points in just two games on four goals and five assists.
On Friday night, the 19-year-old from Thousand Oaks, Calif. collected four points, including three in the second period alone, to pace the Wild in a convincing 6-0 victory over the visiting Victoria Grizzlies. His one goal and three assists led to him being named first star of the game.
The following night against the West Kelowna Warriors, Somoza notched the first hat trick of his BCHL career, while also adding a pair of helpers to finish with five points in a 7-4 win. His two goals late in the second period tied the game and then gave Wenatchee the lead heading into intermission and they never looked back, pouring on three more in the third, including Somoza’s hat trick goal. He again earned first star of the game honours.
His monster weekend vaulted him into a tie for sixth in league scoring with 21 points in 16 games and also set the Wild franchise record for points in a two-game stretch.
2nd Star – Aidan Campbell (G) – Nanaimo Clippers
Campbell won all three of his starts last week, stopping 119 of the 123 shots he faced to earn a .967 save percentage and a 1.30 goals-against average.
After getting the night off on Monday, Campbell started Wednesday’s contest at home against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Cranberry, Penn. native made 33 stops on 34 shots to earn the victory in a 3-1 final.
On Friday, in the first of a home-and-home with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Campbell was a brick will, letting just one goal by him on 43 shots and earning first star of the game in the Clippers 4-1 victory at home.
He got the start yet again in the second half of the set, this time in Port Alberni, and stopped 44 of the 46 shots he faced as Nanaimo went the distance to win 3-2 in a shootout.
Campbell now has a .927 save percentage on the season, tied for third best in the BCHL, as well as a 2.53 goals-against average, which is sixth best in the league.
3rd Star – David Hejduk (D) – Wenatchee Wild
Hejduk led all defencemen in scoring last week with six points in two games after scoring two goals and adding four assists.
The Harvard University commit assisted on Wenatchee’s first goal of the game on Friday night, a power-play marker in the first period, then again on their fifth goal, again with the man advantage in the third frame, to finish with two points in a 6-0 home win against the Victoria Grizzlies.
On Saturday against the West Kelowna Warriors, he had a career night, notching two goals and two assists for his first four-point outing in the BCHL. Hejduk scored the Wild’s first goal of the game in the first period, added a power-play assist in the second, then added another goal and a helper in the third in his team’s 7-4 victory.
Hejduk now has five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 16 games this season, the most points by a defenceman on his team and tied for 10th among all BCHL blueliners. His five goals are also tied for sixth most among defencemen in the league.
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Honourable mentions:
Cowichan Valley Capitals F Massimo Lombardi: 3GP – 2G – 4A – 6PTS
Merritt Centennials G Johnny Hicks: 2GP – 1W – .948 SV% – 1.97 GAA
Cranbrook Bucks D Rhys Bentham: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Cranbrook Bucks F Noah Quinn: 1GP – 3G – 3PTS
Chilliwack Chiefs D Abram Wiebe: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Salmon Arm Silverbacks F Ethan Ullrick: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Powell River Kings F Maxim Potvin: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
