Langley, B.C. – Tonight the Vancouver Giants drop the puck for their 25th anniversary season when they host the Western Hockey League’s newest franchise, the Penticton Vees.

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at Langley Events Centre.

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After falling in five games to the powerful Spokane Chiefs in the first round of the 2025 playoffs (who went all the way to the WHL Championship Final), the Giants are ready to take the next step.

Leading them will be an almost entirely new coaching staff: Head Coach Parker Burgess joins from the USHL – where he won a Clark Cup Championship with Muskegon; Assistant Coach Wacey Rabbit joins from the Saskatoon Blades; and Assistant Coach Gaelan Patterson joins from the Nanaimo Clippers. Video and Skill Development Coach Kayden Jarvis returns for his third season.

Putting all the pieces together is new General Manager Hnat Domenichelli, who won back-to-back Memorial Cups as a player in the 1990s with the Kamloops Blazers before seven-year NHL career and 11-year pro career in Switzerland. Domenichelli was most recently the GM of the professional team in Lugano in the NLA from 2019-25.

While the Giants lost some veteran producers due to graduation, their forward group remains incredibly deep – led by last year’s 40-goal man Cameron Schmidt, fifth-year forward Ty Halaburda, returning Czech forward Adam Titlbach and new Slovak addition Tobias Tomik. Expect big steps to be taken by Aaron Obobaifo, Tyus Sparks, Brett Olson and Jakob Oreskovic. And don’t forget about 16-year-old rookie Blake Chorney, one of the best players at training camp.

The Giants blueline will be led by one of the best in the league in Ryan Lin, who is primed for a huge NHL draft season, plus steady veterans Marek Howell and Ethan Mittelsteadt, as well as new CHL Import pick Jan Skok, who may quickly become a fan favourite due to his take no prisoners attitude. Eighteen-year-old Colton Alain is also primed for a bigger role.

Goaltender Burke Hood should also be one of the best in the WHL, after being drafted by the New York Islanders this past summer.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Tonight is the first of six head-to-head meetings between Vancouver and Penticton this season: three at home and three on the road.

The next time the Vees visit the LEC won’t be until January 16.

SEASON SERIES VS. PENTICTON (0-0-0; 6 H2H)

Players to Watch

The Player to Watch for the Giants is forward Tyus Sparks, who led the way offensively for the Giants in the preseason with seven goals and nine points in three games.

The 6-foot, 180 lb. forward put in a lot of work in the gym this offseason and looks faster and more confident with the puck.

Last year, the winger scored 11 goals, but six came in the final 14 games of the season.

Look for the Giants to use Sparks’ lethal one-timer on the power play this season, at least to start. His shot is really his calling card.

The Player to Watch for the Vees is forward Brady Birnie, who is one of four 20-year-olds on the Vees roster – a temporary one-year rule for them for their inaugural season. He has already played 268 career regular season games in the WHL, all but one with the Swift Current Broncos.

Birnie was acquired by the Vees along with their captain Nolan Stevenson and 16-year-old Brooks DeMars in a blockbuster trade right before the 2025 Prospects Draft in May in exchange for five draft picks, including a 2027 first-round pick.

Birnie was fourth on the Broncos in scoring last season with 26 goals and 65 points in 61 games.

TALE OF THE TAPE (2024-25 REG SEASON)

Tobias Tomik
Forward (2007)
24-25 Season (Slovakia Pro): 40 GP – 6G – 2A
2024 1st Round Pick – CHL Import Draft

Jan Skok
Defenceman (2006)
24-25 Season (Czechia Pro): 28 GP – 1G – 0A
2025 1st Round Pick – CHL Import Draft

Blake Chorney
Forward (2009)
24-25 Season (SMAAAHL): 41 GP – 29G – 38A
2024 1st Round Pick – WHL Prospects Draft

NOTABLE DRAFT ELIGIBLES

Ryan Lin
Defenceman (2008)
24-25 Season (WHL): 61 GP – 5G – 48A

Tyus Sparks
Forward (2008)
24-25 Season (WHL): 53 GP – 11G – 6A

Brett Olson
Forward (2008)
24-25 Season (WHL): 64 GP – 4G – 11A