The fans have spoken, and evidently they want Prince George Spruce Kings goalie Jordan Fairlie to play in the 2023 BCHL All-Star 3-on-3 Tournament.
The 20-year-old goalie from Fort St. John was one of two goalies who topped an online poll the league conducted over the past week to determine the final 10 spots (five from the Interior Conference, five from the Coastal Conference) for the all-star tournament, Jan. 21, on an outdoor rink in downtown Penticton.
Fans had a list of 13 skaters and five goalies to choose from in each conference when making their selections.
Fairlie and the Spruce Kings are off to a great start this season. His 2.43 goals-against average ranks fifth-best in the league. Now in his third BCHL season, the former Cariboo Cougars sports a 12-4 record with a .909 save percentage and two shutouts.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks goalie Matthew Tovell was also voted in to join the Interior team, along with forwards Nathan Mackie (Salmon Arm), Josh Nadeau (Penticton Vees) and Nicholas Remissong (Trail Smoke Eaters).
The two Coastal Conference goalie voted in were Eli Pulver (Surrey Eagles) and Oliver Auyeung-Ashton (Victoria Grizzlies), while defencemen Ethan Mistry (Nanaimo Clippers) and Garrett Valk (Langley Rivermen) and forward Mateo Dixon (Coquitlam Express), also drew enough votes to make the team.
All 18 BCHL teams were represented in the initial all-star selections, voted in by the league’s head coaches. Prince George centre John Herrington is the other Sprucer Kings picked for the all-star festivities, which also includes a skills competition.
The Top Prospects Game roster has yet to be announced.
The Spruce Kings host the Cranbrook Bucks this Friday and Saturday at Kopar Memorial Arena. The Kings (13-7-1-1-0, third in Interior) are three points ahead of the Bucks (12-8-1-0-0), who have played one fewer game than Prince George.
