3 STARS: Yanko shining as Laker leader

1ST STAR - TRE LECLAIRE, NEW WESTMINSTER SALMONBELLIES

3 GAMES - 10 GOALS, 9 ASSISTS, 19 POINTS 

Tre Leclaire picked up right where he left off when he returned home from another big season at Ohio State. The Junior finished on the All-Big Ten second team and finished third in the conference in goals per game with 3.09. He also had multiple goals in all 11 games he played in. He's continued that trend upon his return to the 'Bellies, including a 5-goal, 10-point night in a win over his former team in the Delta Islanders. He also had a decent night in his season debut against Coquitlam with a pair of goals and an assist.

Leclaire and Will Malcom give the 'Bellies a formidable duo that will give defences fits all season. The bigger question may be whether they, alongside New West's supporting cast, can get the job by making the playoffs and qualifying for the Minto Cup. Leclaire hasn't made a Minto Cup despite being on the Islanders team that made it in 2016 because of commitments to Team Canada's World U19 Field Lacrosse Championships. A Minto would put a cap on a great BCJALL career.

He can also make a strong case for MVP this season by continuing to pile up the points. He already leads the league in points per game, putting up a 6.3 PPGA in those three contests. 

2ND STAR - TY YANKO, BURNABY LAKERS

3 GAMES - 9 GOALS, 4 ASSISTS, 13 POINTS

Yanko already ranks in the top three in points for the Lakers, a team that is tied with the Delta Islanders for the second-least amount of goals scored, despite Burnaby playing two more games. Only Nanaimo trails the Lakers, but they have already played four less games at this point. Yanko come back from a strong season at Hobart wheeling and dealing. He started out with a four-point night against Langley before putting up a pair of four-goal efforts in losses against Nanaimo and Victoria.

We know Yanko can fill the net after a five-goal, eight-point night he had against the Delta Islanders last season with the Coquitlam Adanacs. Now with the Lakers, we are starting to see him put it all together on a consistent basis. He was the big piece the Lakers got back when they traded Coquitlam the rights to Dawson Rodin in the offseason, so they have to be happy to see him playing this well so quickly. This is also the first time in Yanko's career that he's had a string of games where he scored multiple points 

3RD STAR - COLIN JEFFREY/JUSTIN GEDDIE, NANAIMO TIMBERMEN

2 GAMES - 2 WINS, 93 SHOTS AGAINST, 12 GOALS ALLOWED, .870 SAVE PERCENTAGE

If you happened to catch Game 1 of the NLL Finals between the Calgary Roughnecks and Buffalo Bandits, you probably noticed right away that it wasn't a boatload of goal scoring that was the talk of the town, but the elite goaltending on display by former BCJALL MVP Christian Del Bianco and Matt Vinc, and for good reason. It's goaltending that often makes or breaks teams; defences can play with more confidence knowing they will get the stop, even if they lose a guy. 

So it makes sense that goaltending has arguably been the backbone of Nanaimo's resurgence. The T-Men are off to one of their best starts in years, maybe even in team history, and the netminding duo of Colin Jeffrey and Justin Geddie is a big reason why. The two teamed up to give Nanaimo two more wins this weekend, and in impressive fashion. Jeffrey, who made Team Australia for the upcoming World Indoor Box Lacrosse Championships in Langley, has a few seasons of experience under his belt, but Geddie has been just as impressive. 

An .870 save percentage is remarkable for a goalie playing a high level of lacrosse, but that's what Jeffrey and Geddie posted up this weekend. Despite it coming against two of the lower-scoring teams in the league, Nanaimo has to be pleased with their development, as well as knowing they can turn to either tendy if they need a big win. 

Jeffrey currently sits second in both GAA (6.00) and SV% (.882) while Geddie is fifth in SV% (.838) and third in wins (3).