Photo credits: Garrett James Photography
Coquitlam Express forward Ryan Tattle, Penticton Vees goaltender Kaeden Lane and Langley Rivermen forward Max Dukovac have been named the BCHL 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Ryan Tattle (F) – Coquitlam Express
Tattle collected a league-high five goals last week, to go along with four assists for nine points in three games.
After the University of Connecticut commit had a pair of assists in a 7-6 shootout loss last Monday night, the highlight of the week, and possibly the season, came on Saturday evening when the team hosted its Score for Cancer night, an initiative started by Tattle to raise funds for cancer research. With his team down 3-1 heading into the third period, Tattle exploded for four goals, including a natural hat trick and the game-winner, and added one assist, all in the final frame, to lead the Express to a dramatic 6-3 comeback win.
The 20-year-old Port Moody, B.C. product finished off his impressive week on Sunday afternoon by scoring his second straight game-winning goal, adding an assist and finishing with two points in Coquitlam’s 3-2 win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Tattle now has 49 points in 42 games, which puts him in the top-20 in league scoring.
2nd Star – Kaeden Lane (G) – Penticton Vees
Lane was perfect for the Vees last week, posting back-to-back shutouts in his two starts.
The second-year BCHLer stopped all 26 shots he faced last Wednesday, which proved to be crucial as the team needed every save in 1-0 defeat of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. He was named the game’s first star. On Sunday, Lane was back in the crease for a road date with the rival Vernon Vipers and was up to the task again, swatting away 19 of 19 shots to lock down a 4-0 win.
The two shutouts should come as no surprise as Lane leads the league with six on the year. With 11 in his BCHL career, he finds himself just one back of the all-time record of 12 set by former Vees and Powell River Kings goalie Michael Garteig.
3rd Star – Max Dukovac (F) – Langley Rivermen
Dukovac tied for the points lead last week with nine in three games on four goals and five assists.
The Aurora, Ill. native kicked off his week with a goal and three assist performance last Monday in a 7-6 shootout win against the Coquitlam Express. He kept it rolling from there with two goals in a 5-3 loss to the Nanaimo Clippers on Friday, getting the team back into the game with a pair of third-period markers. He wrapped up his week on Saturday night with another multi-point effort, this time a goal and two assists in a narrow 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Dukovac is riding a nine-game point streak and has six goals and 13 assists for 19 points over that stretch. He has 49 points in 43 games on the year, which puts him in a tie for 15th in league scoring.
+++
Honourable mentions:
Langley Rivermen F Tyler Schleppe: 3GP – 3G – 5A – 8PTS
Coquitlam Express D Matthew Campbell: 3GP -3G – 3A – 6PTS
Victoria Grizzlies F Kalen Szeto: 2GP – 4G – 1A – 5PTS
Victoria Grizzlies F Matthew Wood: 2GP – 2G -3A – 5PTS
Chilliwack Chiefs F Kienan Draper: 2GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS
Wenatchee Wild F Ean Somoza: 3GP – 3G – 3A – 6PTS
Trail Smoke Eaters F Brady Hunter: 2GP – 5A – 5PTS