Lipinski Selected by Flames in 2023 NHL Entry Draft
Nashville, TN – The Vancouver Giants are thrilled to announce that 18-year-old forward Jaden Lipinski (Scottsdale, AZ) has been selected by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
This past season, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound centre finished third on the Giants in scoring with 51 points (19G-32A) in 66 games, a 34-point improvement from his rookie season. His breakout 2022-23 campaign consisted of a team-leading five game-winning-goals, eight power play goals (2nd on Vancouver) and a 51 per cent clip in the face-off circle (460 FOW).
He was also named the Bublé Iron Man of the Year and Save-On-Foods High School Scholastic Player of the Year in 2022-23 with the Giants.
Lipinski was signed by the Giants in April of 2021, following a season in which he played for the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes with current G-Men teammate Colton Langkow. The right-shot forward has appeared in 134 career regular season games for Vancouver, having compiled 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points. Additionally, he has played in 16 playoff games, registering four points (1G-3A).
“The Vancouver Giants organization would like to congratulate Jaden and his family on his selection by the Calgary Flames in the NHL Draft,” Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta said. “His improvement from day one to today speaks volumes to his work ethic and high upside. We look forward to working alongside the Flames to help further his development.”
Giants Head Coach Michael Dyck added that Lipinski just kept getting better and better as the season went on.
“He’s got the ability to finish around the net,” Dyck said. “Reliable both ways. Since he’s got to Vancouver, he has improved a lot.”
Day two of the NHL Entry Draft continues today. You can follow along here.
QUOTE:
“Tools are the appeal of Lipinski. He has a deep bag of skating skills, surveying the perimeter with heel-to-heel skating and separating from opponents with powerful cutbacks. Opponents bounce off him as he drives inside. And he combines handling and passing skill to hook pucks back into space or pull pucks closer to his feet before releasing.” – Elite Prospects Draft Guide
NOTES:
- Lipinski is the sixth Giant to ever be selected by the Flames (J.D. Watt, Lance Bouma, Brett Kulak, Milos Roman, Samuel Honzek)
- He becomes the 24th Giants forward to ever be drafted to the NHL.
- The Vancouver Giants have had at least one player selected in the NHL Draft in 18 of the past 22 years.
The Vancouver Giants are proud members of the Western Hockey League and were inaugurated in 2001. They have since won one Memorial Cup (2007), one Ed Chynoweth Cup (2006), and three conference championships (2005-06, 2006-07 & 2018-19). The team plays out of the 5,276-seat Langley Events Centre. For the latest information on the Giants, visit vancouvergiants.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
