Hot In The KI 3 Stars of the Week

This week’s (Dec. 16-22) Hot In The KI 3 Stars are Columbia Valley Rockies goalie Bretton Park, Beaver Valley Nitehawks forward Bradley Ross and Nelson Leafs forward Joe Davidson.

Park, a Red Deer native, earns the first star following a 50-save performance in a 4-4 tie against the Fernie Ghostriders during Dec. 17 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League action. His efforts earned him a game-star.

“The game was fun to play in when you have that many shots. Your focus is to make the next save and help your team win the game,” says Park. “That was one of three games that I have played in where I have had 50+ saves. Those games you remember because they are exciting.”

On Dec. 18, Park turned aside 31 of 32 shots in a 5-1 win against Golden Rockets.

“I like how I am playing right now. I am tracking the puck really well and I think my overall game is improving every time I am on the ice. The results are turning into wins and our team is playing well in front of me,” says Park, 18.

He’s won four of his last five starts. His record is 9-7-1 with a 2.94 goals against average and .911 save percentage.

The Rockies enter the Christmas break in fourth place in the Eddie Mountain Division, one point back of Creston Valley Thunder Cats, with a 14 win, 10 loss, one tie and four overtime loss record.

The Fernie Ghostriders (17-9-1-3), with a game in hand, are five points ahead of the Rockies, while the Kimberley Dynamiters remain the cream of the crop in the KIJHL, Kootenay Conference and Eddie with a smoking 27-3-0-1 record.

Ross, a Trail native, earns the second star following a five-point performance in two games against the Castlegar Rebels. Ross was named game star both times as he potted the game-winning goals in 3-2 and 4-2 decisions.

“I felt I had two good games this weekend and our team as a whole played really well,” says Ross, 19. “It’s always fun scoring goals and it’s even better when they are game-winners.”

Ross is second in league scoring with 25 goals and 49 points in 29 games.

Davidson, a Nelson native, led the Leafs to victory over the Castlegar Rebels, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-2 overtime win. Cole Wyatt set him up for the winner with 2:12 remaining.

“It’s a great feeling, pucks were coming my way and everyone else was working hard to get them to me,” says Davidson on his first KIJHL hat-trick. “I felt like things were clicking and we had good energy going into each period. I definitely could have played tighter in the D-zone for sure, but overall, it was a good game.”

The 16-year-old has 11 goals and 19 points in 29 games as a rookie.

Lead image: Columbia Valley Rockies goalie Bretton Park. KIJHL photo

e-KNOW/KIJHL

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