LANGLEY, B.C. – Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Matt Kursonis, Vernon Vipers forward Owen Kim and Trail Smoke Eaters forward Ridge Dawson have been named the NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week.
1st Star – Matt Kursonis (F) – Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Kursonis led all BCHL players with four goals last week and tied for the league lead with five points in two games.
All of his points came in one game as he notched his first career four-goal game in Saturday’s game against the Powell River Kings.
After Kursonis and the Bulldogs were shutout by the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday, they bounced back the following night in their 6-3 home win over the Kings. The second-year Bulldogs forward scored his team’s first goal of the game 5:28 into the contest, then with Alberni up two in the middle frame, he scored two straight in under two minutes to extend it to a 5-1 advantage. He capped his night with an empty-netter to clinch-the four-goal effort. He also added an assist to finish with the first five-point outing of his career and was named first star of the game.
Since returning from injury in December, Kursonis has 13 goals, seven assists and 20 points in 21 games.
2nd Star – Owen Kim (F) – Vernon Vipers
Kim had three goals and two assists last week to tie for the league lead in points over that stretch.
The North Vancouver, B.C. product earned his first career BCHL hat trick in Friday night’s 5-4 overtime win over the Merritt Centennials. Kim scored twice in the first period as the Vipers built a 3-0 advantage at intermission. The Cents would eventually battle back to force overtime where the College of the Holy Cross commit completed the hat trick with the winner in extra time. He added an assist to finish with four points on the night, only the second time he has accomplished that in the BCHL. He was named the game’s first star.
On Saturday, Kim registered an assist in Vernon’s 6-2 road loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters.
The 19-year-old is Vernon’s leading scorer this season with 45 points in 42 games, while his 30 assists are second on the team.
3rd Star – Ridge Dawson (F) – Trail Smoke Eaters
Dawson picked up a goal and four assists over the weekend in a pair of Smoke Eaters home wins.
The 2004-born forward registered a third-period assist in Friday’s game against the Prince George Spruce Kings, then finished things off with an empty-netter, his 21st goal of the year, to cap a 5-2 win for his team.
The following night against the Vernon Vipers, Dawson had three assists in Trail’s 6-2 victory. With the score tied 1-1 in the second period, the Kelowna, B.C. product assisted on the go-ahead goal, then earned a power-play helper later on in the period to extend the lead. He notched another power play assist early in the third to finish his night.
Dawson is second among Smoke Eaters players in points with 37 in 46 games, as well as goals with 21.
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Honourable mentions:
Vernon Vipers F Hank Cleaves: 2GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS
Trail Smoke Eaters F Mathieu Cobetto-Roy: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
West Kelowna Warriors F Jackson Kyrkostas: 2GP – 4A – 4PTS
Langley Rivermen F Logan Morrell: 2GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS
Langley Rivermen G Mason Beaupit: 2GP – 1W – .962 SV% – 1.15 GAA
Nanaimo Clippers F Luke Buss: 3GP – 3G – 2A – 5PTS
Surrey Eagles F Aaron Schwartz: 3GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS
