Giants Alumni Nielsen, Sourdif Will Battle in Calder Cup Finals
Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants are proud to acknowledge two alumni who will face off against one another in the Calder Cup Finals: forwards Tristen Nielsen and Justin Sourdif.
Nielsen, 25, is currently in his fourth professional season with the Abbotsford Canucks. He has scored 14 or more goals in each of the last three regular seasons.
The Fort St. John, B.C. native has four goals and six points in 18 playoff games, including a two-goal outing in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Texas Stars.
“It just shows that when we play the Abby Canucks way, that we can win, no matter how long it takes, we’re gonna get the job done.”
Tristen Nielsen chats with Olivia McDonald following their 5-4 double overtime winner tonight! pic.twitter.com/O3XkaQjK1T
— X – Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) June 5, 2025
Sourdif, 23, is currently in his third professional season with the Charlotte Checkers. A third-round draft pick by the Florida Panthers in 2020, the right-shot forward has been called up to play in four games with the Panthers over the last two seasons. He scored his first career NHL goal on February 25, 2025 against Nashville.
The Surrey, B.C. product recorded 34 points (16G-18A) in just 43 AHL regular season games in 2024-25, and has six points so far in 12 AHL playoff games (3G-3A), including a big goal in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Laval Rocket.
BIG GOAL pic.twitter.com/Dh0hnstb0R
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) June 4, 2025
Nielsen and Sourdif were teammates with the Giants for nearly two full seasons from 2018-20. They were 1-2 in team scoring in the 2019-20 season, with Nielsen scoring a career-high 30 goals and 65 points and Sourdif finishing second with 54 points in 57 games (26G-28A).
The Canucks and Checkers will clash in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals on June 13 in Charlotte. Games three, four and five (if necessary) will be played in Abbotsford on June 17, 19 and 21.
