This Week in Giants Hockey

Dave Sheldon - Vancouver Giants
September 22, 2008

Vancouver BC - The Vancouver Giants are off and running on their 2008-09 regular season. After a team record 49 win and 106 point campaign in 07-08, the Giants are looking to re-establish their place in the upper echelon of the WHL after a second round playoff setback to the eventual Memorial Cup Champions, the Spokane Chiefs. This season, the Giants started on the road, with a opening night matchup against their US Division rivals, the Everett Silvertips.

This season, the Giants started on the road, with a opening night matchup against their US Division rivals, the Everett Silvertips. Riding the spectacular goaltending of rookie netminder Jamie Tucker, the Giants scored three times on the power play en route to a 4-0 whitewash of the Tips. Tucker was named first star of the game while Neil Manning, Evander Kane, Mike Piluso and Lance Bouma each lit the lamp in victory. The Giants special teams were also prominent, as mentioned scoring three times on the power play in six opportunities while thwarting the Silvertips on all eight of their power play chances.

Tucker becomes the first Giant goalie to post a shutout in his first WHL start and moves his record to 1-0 on the season. Craig Schira had an outstanding night on defence. With only five healthy defensemen in the lineup, Schira logged a tonne of minutes in key situations and was on the ice for all four Giants goals. Schira finished the evening with 2 assists.

The Giants will now spend two days practicing out in Ladner before returning to action on Wednesday evening versus the Kamloops Blazers. The trip to Kamloops marks the first of four games in five nights for the G-Men, as they will also host the Prince George Cougars on Friday night before rounding out the weekend with games in Portland and Chilliwack.

With the home opener set for Friday evening, the Giants will once again raise a banner to the Pacific Coliseum's rafters. For the third consecutive year, a BC Division banner will fly as the Giants will salute their 2007-08 Division Championship with a pre-game ceremony that will feature Giants co-owners Pat Quinn and 'Mr. Hockey', Gordie Howe. Game time for the home opener will be at 7:30 p.m.

All Giants games, home and away can be heard on our new home for Giants hockey, SUPERHITS 650 CISL. Tune in to 'Voice of the Giants' Dave Sheldon as he brings you the action of every game all season long. Dave's guest commentators this year will include Jay Janower of GLOBAL TV, Steve Ewen of THE PROVINCE and Bill Wilms of SHAW TV and the Vancouver Giants.

You can also catch THE GIANT HOCKEY HOUR each Thursday night from 7pm to 8pm on SUPERHITS 650 CISL. Dave Sheldon will have news and notes on all things Giant, as well as take you around the league and interview guests from throughout the hockey world.