Photo credits: Liz Wolter (Wilson, Murray), Darren Francis (Pirtle)
West Kelowna Warriors forward Trent Wilson, Merritt Centennials forward Jaxson Murray and Victoria Grizzlies forward Chase Pirtle have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Trent Wilson (F) – West Kelowna Warriors
Wilson put up five points in two Warriors wins last week, including two game-winning goals.
On Friday night, West Kelowna hosted the Powell River Kings in their final home game of the regular season where Wilson had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 victory. After registering a power play assist early in the third period, the Robert Morris University commit scored one of his own just 2:32 later, which proved to be a big goal as it stood up as the winner after a late push from the Kings.
The following night, the Warriors were in Penticton to take on the Vees in their regular-season finale. Wilson was all over the score sheet, picking up a shorthanded goal in the first period, a power-play assist in the second and another goal on a third-period man advantage to finish with three points in a 5-1 victory.
The Delta, B.C. native wraps up his most productive regular season in the BCHL with career-highs in all offensive categories, including 20 goals, 15 assists and 35 points in 54 contests.
2nd Star – Jaxson Murray (F) – Merritt Centennials
Murray tied for the league lead last week with three goals and five points, helping the Centennials to back-to-back wins.
The 20-year-old had a career-best four-point outing in Friday’s 8-4 home victory over the Cranbrook Bucks. Murray registered a goal and an assist in the opening frame, then added another marker in the middle frame and a second assist in the third period. He was named first star of the game.
The following night, Murray potted his 20th goal of the year in Merritt’s final regular-season game, a 4-1 win against the Prince George Spruce Kings.
The St. Clements, Ont. product finishes the campaign as the Centennials leading goal scorer and their second-leading point producer with 42 in 40 contests. His 22 assists were also second on the team.
3rd Star – Chase Pirtle (F) – Victoria Grizzlies
Pirtle finished his week with five points on two goals and three assists as the Grizzlies won both of their games last weekend.
On Saturday night, the 2005-born forward had two points in Victoria’s 5-4 road triumph over the Coquitlam Express. Pirtle assisted on the game’s opening goal at the 2:44 mark of the first period, then scored the Grizzlies fourth of the game on a power play early in the middle frame.
Victoria was back in Coquitlam for a rematch on Sunday afternoon where Pirtle had an even bigger day, getting in on three of his team’s four goals in a 4-0 victory. He once again assisted on the game’s opening goal early in the first, then helped Victoria seal the victory with a goal and an assist in the third as the Grizzlies pulled away late.
Pirtle finishes the 2023-24 regular season as his team’s leading scorer with 52 points in 54 games, good enough to tie for 12th overall on the BCHL scoring list. His 25 goals were also most on the Grizzlies and ranked ninth in the league.
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Honourable mentions:
West Kelowna Warriors F Felix Caron: 2GP – 1G – 4A – 5PTS
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Hayden Stavroff: 2GP – 3G – 1A – 4PTS
Alberni Valley Bulldogs F Matt Kursonis: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Chilliwack Chiefs F Matt Argentina: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Trail Smoke Eaters F Josh Schenk: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Vernon Vipers F Luke Bibby: 2GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS
Merritt Centennials F Charles-Thomas Larochelle: 2GP – 3G – 3PTS
