A Vernon hockey player was honoured with the first star of the week for his play in the National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA).
Nicholas Cherkowski was given the award after five points in two games. The junior forward plays for the Marian University Sabres in Indianapolis. He scored once and had four helpers in a two game sweep of Concordia Moorhead. Four of his points came in the second game, where he registered a goal and three assists in the first two periods of the team鈥檚 5-3 victory.
Currently, Cherkowski is ninth in league scoring, with 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 13 games.
The 23-year-old grew up playing for the Pursuit of Excellence minor hockey association, before playing parts of three seasons for the hometown Vernon Vipers. He was traded to the Wenatchee Wild in the 2019-20 season, and then shipped to the Chilliwack Chiefs in that season.
In 2020-21, Cherkowski had a cup of coffee with the AJHL鈥檚 Calgary Canucks before committing with Marian University.
In his NCHA career through three seasons, he has accumulated 43 points in 66 games.
The Sabres are currently just 2-6 for ninth in the 10-team conference.
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