Vernon Vipers forward Matt Kowalski’s torrid pace did not go unnoticed within the B.C. Hockey League.
Kowalski has been named the BCHL Subway Player of the Week after helping the Vipers to three straight wins with six goals – including a hat trick in an 8-3 home-ice win over the Merritt Centennials – and three assists for nine points.
The Vernon product has 12 goals in his last 11 games, and points in all 11 of those contests as the Vipers have won their last four games. Kowalski leads the team in goals with 19, and in scoring with 35 points, which is good for 10th overall in league scoring.
READ MORE: Vernon Vipers survive collapse, edge Cents in shootout
The Vipers have moved to within two points of the third-place Salmon Arm Silverbacks, losers of eight straight, in the Interior Division and are four points behind the second-place Trail Smoke Eaters.
Vernon sits 11 points behind the division-leading Penticton Vees, and can cut into that deficit as the longtime rivals play a home-and-home series this weekend. The Snakes host the Vees Friday at 7 p.m. at Kal Tire Place with the rematch Saturday at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
* The North Okanagan Knights hit the road for a pair of Kootenay International Junior Hockey League games.
The Knights visit the Ghostriders in Fernie Friday before taking on the league’s best team, the Kimberley Dynamiters, Saturday.
READ MORE: Kelowna blanks North Okanagan Knights
North Okanagan sits in fourth place in the league’s Bill Ohlhausen Division, six points behind the third-place Summerland Steam, and 11 points up on the fifth place Osoyoos Coyotes.
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