Vancouver Giants 2026-27 Season Preview
WRITTEN BY: QUINN TAYLOR and NEVYN YACKEL
Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants drop the puck for the 2026-27 season tonight when they host their divisional rival – the Kelowna Rockets at 7 p.m. at Langley Events Centre.
After falling short of the playoffs in the 2025-26 season, the Giants are ready to take the next step forward following some notable trades at the deadline last season.
Leading the team is a new coaching staff with familiar faces: Head Coach Michael Dyck returns from the American Hockey League – coming off a Calder Cup Championship as an Assistant Coach for the Toronto Marlies last season. Joining Dyck on the coaching staff are: Assistant Coach Simon Ferguson (from the West Kelowna Warriors), Assistant Coach Jim Vandermeer (former NHL defenceman) and Carson Dyck (former Penn State Nittany Lion). Kayden Jarvis will return for his fourth season as the Video and Skill Development Coach with the Giants.
Team identity under the new staff has been a big focus for the club heading into the season.
“I think we want to be a hard team to play against. If you’re going to beat us, pack a lunch – it’s going to take a while,” Dyck said ahead of the team’s home opener. “We want to be highly competitive. We want to play really fast. I think we want to play a connected, solid, team game, zone-to-zone. That’s got to be the mindset.”
Dyck will be taking on the additional role as the Giants General Manager. He was previously an Assistant Coach for Vancouver from 2002-2006, then as a scout/Director of Player Development between 2009-2012, and once again as the Giants Head Coach from 2018-2023, leading the team to the league finals in the 2018-19 season.
HOW TO TUNE IN
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Giants Forward Blake Chorney celebrates a preseason goal against Victoria on Sept. 13 (Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants).
ROSTER HIGHLIGHTS
While plenty of familiar faces return on the ice – including 2026 NHL Draft picks Mathis Preston and Joe Iginla, plus 2025 selection Burke Hood, fourth-year veteran Jakob Oreskovic and draft-eligible Blake Chorney – adding size and grit was also a summer priority.
Cash Koch, Nickolas Kovich, Rhys Pederson and Derek Thurston were all added via trade, and the club also signed 6-foot-3, 196 lb. forward Brogan McNeil, who spent last season in the QMJHL. Add in a mix of exciting rookies, headlined by 16-year-olds Louis-Oscar Holowaychuk and Crosby Mateychuk, plus top-5 2026 picks Brayden Jugnauth and Eli Vickers.
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tonight is the first of eight head-to-head meetings between Vancouver and Kelowna this season: four at home and four on the road.
The next time the Rockets visit the LEC won’t be until December 29.
In 2025-26 the G-Men went 2-4-0 in six games against the Rockets. After hosting the Memorial Cup last season, Kelowna is now without nine of their top-11 scorers from last season. Their highest returning scorer is forward Tomas Poletin, who had 35 points and is currently away at New York Islanders training camp.
SEASON SERIES VS. KELOWNA (0-0-0; 8 H2H)
| DATE | LOCATION | RESULT/TIME |
| Sept. 19, 2026 | LEC | 7:00 PM |
| Dec. 11, 2026 | Prospera Place | 7:05 PM |
| Dec. 29, 2026 | LEC | 7:00 PM |
| Jan. 8, 2027 | Prospera Place | 7:05 PM |
| Jan. 30, 2027 | Prospera Place | 6:05 PM |
| Feb. 13, 2027 | LEC | 7:00 PM |
| Mar. 20, 2027 | Prospera Place | 6:05 PM |
| Mar. 21, 2027 | LEC | 4:00 PM |
Players to Watch
The Player to Watch for the Giants is forward Blake Chorney, who is entering his NHL draft season.
The 6-foot, 204 lb. forward looks poised for a breakout season, after recording 20 points in his first full WHL campaign as a 16-year-old (8G-12A). He recorded four points (2G-2A) and 14 shots on goal in just three preseason games. Chorney practiced on the top line this week with Tobias Tomik and Joe Iginla.
The Player to Watch for the Rockets is forward Madden Daneault, who was the 1st overall selection in the 2026 WHL Prospect Draft.
Danuealt decided to stay back in U15 for one more season in 2025-26 with his hometown U15 Red Deer Rebels, where he produced at a ridiculous rate: 4.38 points-per-game. His 149 points in just 34 games broke an AEHL record previously held by former Giants captain Tyler Benson, who had 146 points back in 2012-13.
Daneault can play up to 34 WHL games this season under the new Western Canadian Development Model.
WHAT ARE WE WEARING
The Giants will be wearing primary home red jerseys.
NEXT 5 GAMES
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | TIME |
| September 26, 2026 | at Victoria | Save on Foods Memorial Arena | 6:05 pm PT |
| September 27, 2026 | vs Prince George | LEC | 4:00 pm PT |
| October 2, 2026 | at Penticton | South Okanagan Events Centre | 7:05 pm PT |
| October 3, 2026 | vs Swift Current | LEC | 7:00 pm PT |
| October 6, 2025 | vs Brandon | LEC | 7:00 pm PT |
Jakob Oreskovic (left) and Nickolas Kovich (right) celebrate a preseason goal on Sept. 13 (Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants).
KEY ARRIVALS
Louis Oscar Holowaychuk
Forward (2010)
25-26 Season (CSSHL): 28 GP – 23G – 21A
2025 6th Overall Pick – WHL Draft
Cash Koch
Forward (2007)
25-26 Season (WHL): 41 GP – 7G – 9A
Acquired via trade (from Tri-City)
Derek Thurston
Defenceman (2006)
25-26 Season (WHL): 23 GP – 1G – 2A
Acquired via trade (from Saskatoon)
NOTABLE DRAFT ELIGIBLES
Blake Chorney
Forward (2009)
25-26 Season (WHL): 64 GP – 8G – 12A
Colton Gerrior
Forward (2008)
25-26 Season (WHL): 56 GP – 8G – 13A
