BCHL All-Star Weekend smashing success in Penticton

Photo: BCHL

It was an incredible, long-awaited BCHL 60th Anniversary All-Star Weekend event in Penticton, B.C.

The event, which had been put on hiatus during the pandemic, involved a Top Prospects game at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Friday and an outdoor skills competition, Alumni & Friends game and All-Star tournament on an outdoor rink on Saturday.

“This weekend was well over a year in the making and we are thrilled with how it turned out,” said BCHL deputy commissioner and COO Steven Cocker.

“A huge thank you goes out to the City of Penticton for hosting us and contributing so significantly to this event. We would also like to recognize the players who came out and represented the BCHL so well. We hope this was a weekend you will never forget.

And finally, a thank you to our wonderful event sponsors, volunteers and fans who really helped make everything come together.”

The weekend kicked off with the Top Prospects game on Friday with Team East topping Team West by a 6-2 final and Trail Smoke Eaters defenceman Brady Smith taking home MVP honours after a two-goal performance.

The outdoor festivities got started on Saturday afternoon with the skills competition. The winners for each event were:

• Fastest skater: Mateo Dixon – Coquitlam Express (8.18 seconds)
• Puck control relay: Nathan Mackie – Salmon Arm Silverbacks (12.88 seconds)
• Accuracy shooting: Josh Nadeau – Penticton Vees (11.98 seconds)
• Hardest shot: Bradly Nadeau – Penticton Vees (92 MPH)
• Breakaway save competition: Eli Pulver – Surrey Eagles (5/6)

The next event was the Alumni & Friends game, featuring former NHLers Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Morrison, Kyle Turris, Geoff Courtnall, Garry Valk and many more.

The day culminated with the All-Star tournament and it was Team Turris who took top place.