Leafs defenceman earns KIJHL star honours
By Emanuel Sequeira KIJHL Director of Communications
Nelson Leafs defenceman Bryce Sookro earned one of the three stars following play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
The Nelson native had a goal and four points in two games for his hometown team.
The other stars were forward Anmol Garcha of the Princeton Posse and goalie Colton Phillips-Watts of the Kamloops Storm
Sookro registered three assists to lead the Green and White in a Friday 5-3 loss to Kimberley Dynamiters.
The next night, the Nelson Minor Hockey grad scored an insurance goal in a 5-1 victory over the Castlegar Rebels.
Sookro now has four goals and 16 points in 18 games to lead the Leafs in scoring. Those totals also have him fourth overall among rookies.
Nelson, 10-7-0-1 on the season, hosts Murdoch leading Beaver Valley Tuesday at the NDCC Arena. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
Anmol Garcha – Top Forward
The rookie from Sherwood Park, Alberta racked up seven assists in two games, and was in on all of Princeton’s goals over the weekend helping them earn important wins over North Okanagan and 100 Mile House. Of Garcha’s seven assists, five are primary.
With that weekend performance, Garcha now has five goals and 23 points in 19 games and he has only been held off the scoresheet four times and is currently on a three-game point streak. He had a nine-game streak from Oct. 16 to Nov. 12 putting up 10 points. Garcha is fifth in the KIJHL in points and second among rookies.
Colton Phillips-Watts – Top Goalie
The Quesnel native won two of his three games for the Storm last week, posting back-to-back shutouts for a .958 save percentage and 1.31 goals against average. Phillips-Watts stopped 56 shots combined against Kelowna and Sicamous for his second and third shutouts of the season.
He surrendered four goals on 40 shots in an overtime loss to the Revelstoke Grizzlies. In 10 games, he has 10 wins, which leads the league, a .923 save percentage (eighth) and a 2.13 goals against average (fifth).
