GAME DAY: Saturday, January 11 vs. Kelowna
Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants (19-16-5-0) look to get back into the win column when they face the Kelowna Rockets (15-18-2-1) tonight at 7 p.m. for the third time in three weeks.
The G-Men have had a tough week, losing 4-2 and 6-5 in Prince George on Tuesday and Wednesday to the division-leading Cougars, followed by a 5-4 overtime setback last night in Kamloops to the Blazers despite leading 3-1 after 40 minutes. Prior to their current 0-2-1 week, the Giants went 5-1.
The Rockets had a very busy trade deadline, trading marquee forward Andrew Cristall to Spokane and defencemen Caden Prince to Lethbridge for younger players and draft picks ahead of hosting next year’s Memorial Cup. Key acquisitions in the trades include 17-year-old defenceman Will Sharpe and 17-year-old forward Hayden Paupanekis.
Kelowna also relieved Head Coach Kris Mallette of his duties on Friday, naming assistant coach Derrick Martin the interim bench boss. The club rewarded Martin by doubling up Prince George 6-3 last night in his first game as Head Coach. Prior to yesterday’s win, Kelowna had gone 1-7-0 in their last eight games.
These divisional rivals met most recently last Saturday in Kelowna, when the Giants thumped the Rockets 7-0 – the biggest margin of victory they’ve ever recorded against the Rockets on the road.
Vancouver is 6-3-1-0 in their last 10, while Kelowna is 3-7-0-0.
HOW TO TUNE IN
|
VAN LAST 5 GAMES (2-2-1) | 21 GF, 15 GA
DATE | RESULT | SCORE | VAN SCORERS | IN GOAL | GWG |
Jan. 10 | OT LOSS | VAN 4 at KAM 5 | Halaburda, Levis, Muranov, Lin | Hood (44/49) | Keller (KAM) |
Jan. 8 | LOSS | VAN 5 at PG 6 | Sparks, Leslie, Muranov (2), Lipinski | Smith (28/34) | Riche (PG) |
Jan. 7 | LOSS | VAN 2 at PG 4 | Schmidt, Leslie | Hood (25/28) | Lajoie (PG) |
Jan. 4 | WIN | VAN 7 at KEL 0 | Titlbach (2), Schmidt, Thorpe, Zimmer, Lipinski, Oreskovic | Hood (44/44) | Titlbach (VAN) |
Jan. 3 | WIN | VAN 3 vs. WEN 0 | Lin, Schmidt, Halaburda | Hood (27/27) | Lin (VAN) |
TALE OF THE TAPE (2024-25 REG SEASON)
VANCOUVER | STAT | KELOWNA |
19-16-5 (43 points) | RECORD | 15-18-2-1 (33 points) |
.538 | POINTS % | .458 |
3rd/7th | DIV/CONF RANK | 4th/9th |
6-3-1-0 | LAST 10 | 3-7-0-0 |
11-7-1-0 | HOME RECORD | 8-8-2-1 |
8-9-4-0 | ROAD RECORD | 7-10-0-0 |
152
(3.80 – 9th) |
GOALS FOR
(Per Game) |
136
(3.78 – 10th) |
160
(4.00 – 17th) |
GOALS AGAINST
(Per game) |
141
(3.92 – 14th) |
-8 (16th) | GOAL DIFF | -5 (15th) |
25.0% (9th) | POWER PLAY | 19.7% (18th) |
73.8% (19th) | PENALTY KILL | 68.5% (22nd) |
Schmidt (29-17-46)
Leslie (9-34-43) Levis (15-19-34) |
LEADERS | Stancl (14-23-37)
Graham (13-20-33) Iginla (14-18-32) |
Schmidt – 29 Goals | TOP GOAL SCORER | Stancl/Iginla – 14 Goals |
Leslie – 43 Points | TOP SCORING D-MAN | Sharpe (29 Points) |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
SEASON SERIES VS. KELOWNA (2-1-0; 8 H2H)
DATE | LOCATION | RESULT/TIME |
Nov. 22, 2024 | Prospera Place | 8-3 L |
Dec. 29, 2024 | LEC | 3-1 W |
Jan. 4, 2025 | Prospera Place | 7-0 W |
Jan. 11, 2025 | LEC | 7:00 PM PT |
Jan. 25, 2025 | Prospera Place | 7:05 PM PT |
Feb. 22, 2025 | Prospera Place | 7:05 PM PT |
Feb. 23, 2025 | LEC | 7:00 PM PT |
March 23, 2025 | LEC | 4:00 PM PT |
NEXT 5 GAMES
DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT/TIME |
Saturday, January 11 | Kelowna | LEC | 7:00 PM |
Friday, January 17 | Tri-City | LEC | 7:00 PM |
Sunday, January 19 | Brandon | LEC | 2:00 PM |
Tuesday, January 21 | Seattle | Accesso Showare Center | 7:05 PM |
Saturday, January 25 | Kelowna | Prospera Place | 6:05 PM |