Giants Fall in Shootout Friday Night

For Immediate Release: March 10, 2023

Photo by: Steve Dunsmoor

Kelowna, BC – The Giants got out to an early lead, but were unable to hold on as Kelowna came back to win in front of their home crowd. Vancouver still picked up a point as the loss was of the shootout variety, and forward Samuel Honzek left the game in the second period with an injury following a high hit from Kelowna’s Carson Golder, who was ejected from the game on the play.

1st Period:

VAN: Jaden Lipinski opened the scoring with a one-timer from the bumper spot on the powerplay 7:02 into the game.

VAN: Mazden Leslie doubled the lead 1:25 later with a top corner shot off the rush.

2nd Period:

KEL: Adam Kydd got one back for the Rockets 4:07 into the second period with a power play marker of his own.

VAN: Ty Thorpe made it 3-1 when he slapped in a bouncing puck with 14:22 left in the second.

3rd Period:

KEL: Max Graham buried a rebound into an open net 4:40 into the third to bring the game within one.

KEL: Andrew Cristall tied the game as the Rockets pressed with an extra attacker with 1:29 left in regulation.

OT:

No Scoring.

Shootout:

KEL: Stzurc – Goal

VAN: Lipinski – No Goal

KEL: Cristall – No Goal

VAN: Halaburda – No Goal

KEL: Pacheco – No Goal

VAN: Bruce – No Goal

GAME SUMMARY

Final Score: Vancouver 3 – Kelowna 4

Final Shots:

Vancouver: 26

Kelowna: 37

Jesper Vikman: 34/37 saves for Vancouver

Jari Kykkannen: 23/26 saves for Kelowna

Vancouver Power Play: 1/3

Kelowna Power Play: 1/3

3 Stars:

1)   Kydd (KEL)

2)  Graham (KEL)

3)   Leslie (VAN)