Chemainus native John Hawthorne, now tending goal for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, was named the B.C. Hockey League’s Player of the Week for the final week of 2017.
Hawthorne saw a lot of action over a two-day stretch as the Bulldogs hosted the Island Division-leading Powell River Kings for a two-game set . Both matches went to overtime, with Powell River winning 3-2 on Dec. 30 and Alberni prevailing 3-2 on New Year’s Eve. Hawthorne made 33 saves and was named third star of the first game, then earned second-star honours with 46 saves the next night.
Playing his first year in the BCHL after spending 2016-17 with the junior B Nanaimo Buccaneers, the 19-year-old Hawthorne has 10 wins on the season and a .911 save percentage, and has made 35 or more saves in 10 of his 27 appearances.