North Division 6 South Division 4
Kash Nicklin of the Port Alberni Bombers put in an MVP performance with a goal and two assists as the North Division held on to down the South Division 6-4 in the VIJHL All-Star Game Saturday night at the Thompson Family Arena in Spruce Grove, Alberta.
The North led 2-0 and 5-2 by periods and withstood a press in the third that closed the South to within one before Madden Cruickshank of the Nanaimo Buccaneers scored his second of the game into an empty net to seal the win.
Elliott Turgeon of the Campbell River Storm also had two goals and Kaiden Day of Oceanside Generals added another for the North, who had Ethan Suhr of Oceanside Generals and Aaron Pichette of the Nanaimo Buccaneers share the net with 27 saves altogether.
Scoring for the South were Simon Semancik of the Victoria Cougars, Ethan Lingard of the Peninsula Panthers, Elijah Kim of the Westshore Wolves and Parker Lawrence of the Kerry Park Islanders. Matus Volovar of the Peninsula Panthers and Lane Maarhuis of the Victoria Cougars finished with 28 saves combined in the South net.
All of the All-Stars also participated in a Skills Competition. The winners were all from the North Division: Hardest Shot: Ethan Nordli of the Nanaimo Buccaneers – 84 mph. Fastest Skater:Nate Barclay of the Nanaimo Buccaneers. Shooting Accuracy: Leon Mikhalchuk of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings. Agility/Passing: Dylan Toth of the Campbell River Storm. Goalie Shootout: Ethan Suhr of the Oceanside Generals.
This is the second year that the VIJHL has joined forces with the BCHL in their annual All-Star & Top Prospects event, designed to showcase the top players in both leagues for a host of scouts from across North America.
The South Division won the Top Prospects game 7-5 on Friday.
