Photo credits: David Stevens (Valliant), Ideal Images (Van Tassel), Sophie Hayward (Vecvanags)
Coquitlam Express forward Chase Valliant, Brooks Bandits forward Makaio Van Tassel and Victoria Grizzlies goaltender Mikus Vecvanags have been named the Lordco Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Chase Valliant (F) – Coquitlam Express
Valliant piled up eight points in just two games to open up the regular season, scoring six goals and adding a pair of helpers.
In Coquitlam’s season opener on Friday night, the 2006-born forward was in on all five of his team’s goals, scoring a hat trick and adding a pair of assists in a 5-3 road win over the Surrey Eagles. On Saturday, Valliant notched his second straight hat track, scoring all three Express goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chilliwack Chiefs.
After his week one efforts, he holds the early lead in goals and points across the BCHL.
2nd Star – Makaio Van Tassel (F) – Brooks Bandits
Van Tassel scored four goals over the Bandits first two games of the season as Brooks started their title defence with a 1-1-0 record.
The 20-year-old forward put up a hat trick in the first game of the season, scoring once at full strength, once on a penalty shot and another on the power play, in a 6-4 road loss to the Blackfalds Bulldogs. A night later at the Brooks home opener, Van Tassel scored on a penalty shot for the second game in a row in his team’s 4-2 victory over the Okotoks Oilers.
His four goals on the season are the second most in the league after opening weekend.
3rd Star – Mikus Vecvanags (G) – Victoria Grizzlies
Vecvanags went 2-0, helping the Grizzlies to a perfect opening weekend, stopping a combined 57 of 59 shots for a .966 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average.
The Montreal Canadiens draft pick stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Grizzlies season opener on Friday in a 3-1 road win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. A night later, Vecvanags made 31 saves, allowing just one goal again, and was named first star in another 3-1 road triumph, this time over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Among goalies with a minimum two games played, the Latvian netminder ranks first in both save percentage and goals-against average after the first weekend of play.
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Honourable mentions:
Salmon Arm Silverbacks F Alexis Beaulieu: 2GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS
Blackfalds Bulldogs F Antoine Gauthier: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Prince George Spruce Kings F Charlie Spencer: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Spruce Grove Saints F Felix Haibock: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Surrey Eagles F Owen Fitzgerald: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Nanaimo Clippers G Hugo Laring: 2GP – 1W – .947 SV% – 2.02 GAA
