RECAP: Giants Erase 3-0 Deficit, But Royals Score Lone 3rd Period Goal to Win 4-3

Category: ArticleMarch 15, 2025

Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants stormed back from a 3-0 deficit on Saturday night at home against the Victoria Royals, only to see the visitors score their third power play goal of the game early in the third and hold on for a 4-3 win.

The Giants fall to 32-25-8-0 on the season and are now in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, two points back of the Portland Winterhawks for fifth. The two teams play one another on Sunday.

Cameron Schmidt scored again on Saturday for Vancouver and now has goals in four straight, while captain Mazden Leslie and alternate captain Ty Halaburda also each had a goal. Burke Hood made 28 saves on 32 shots.

Teydon Trembecky led the way offensively for Victoria with two goals and an assist. Kenta Isogai had a first period power play goal, while Markus Loponen had the game-winner in the third, also on a Royals power play.

CLICK FOR THE OFFICIAL WHL BOXSCORE | CLICK FOR STANDINGS

GAME SUMMARY

Victoria took a 2-0 lead less than six minutes into the game, after Trembecky and Isogai scored goals 2:23 apart – Tremebcky at even-strength off a pass from Cole Reschny and Isogai on a wrist shot on the power play from the top of the left circle.

Early in the second, the Royals cashed in on another power play, this time when Trembecky deflected in his second of the night and 44th of the season to make it 3-0.

A power play goal from Leslie just over five minutes later got the home side on the board and gave them some much-needed life. It was the captain’s 21st goal of the season and his 71st point, putting him just one point back of Kevin Connauton (72, 2009-10) for the franchise record for points in a single season by a defenceman.

It's a @White_Spot power play goal and the Captain gets the Giants on the board!

Mazden Leslie with his 21st on the season.@TheWHL pic.twitter.com/oM6ghaLK66

— X – Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 16, 2025

Schmidt followed up with another Giants goal just 30 seconds later, after he whacked in a rebound out of mid-air after he came to him in the slot off the right pad of goaltender Jayden Kraus. It was Schmidt’s team-leading 39th goal of the season and extended his point streak to six games (5G-7A).

Cameron Schmidt is there for the rebound!@WHLGiants | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/i7uzMKRhQz

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 16, 2025

Vancouver wasn’t done there, as Halaburda tied the game at three with 5:56 left in the second after Levis found him the slot.

MAKE THAT THREE UNANSWERED GOALS!!

Ty Halaburda pokes it in and it's a good goal!@TheWHL pic.twitter.com/pmDb9WUAZJ

— X – Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) March 16, 2025

The Giants were whistled for a penalty 2:58 into the third period, and after two strong shorthanded chances, the Royals went the other way and re-took the lead, after Lopnen walked out from the corner and scored on the backhand.

Vancouver had 14 third period shots on goal, but couldn’t beat Kraus on any of them, as the Royals held on for the 4-3 regulation win.

STATISTICS

SOG: VAN —9/10/14 = 33 | VIC – 16/5/11 = 32
PP: VAN—1/4 | VIC — 3/3
Face-Offs: VAN — 28 | VIC — 32

3 STARS

1st: VAN – Cameron Schmidt – 1G, 2A, 4 SOG, +2
2nd: VIC – Teydon Trembecky – 2G, 1A, 8 SOG
3rd: VAN – Ty Halaburda – 1G, 3 SOG, +2

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: LOSS – Burke Hood (28 saves / 32 shots)
Victoria: WIN – Jayden Kraus (30 saves / 33 shots)

UPCOMING

The Giants wrap up the weekend with a matinee in Portland on Sunday.

Date	Opponent	Time	Location
Sunday, March 16	Portland	4:00 PM PST	Veterans Memorial Coliseum