PRESEASON PREVIEW: Giants Visit Rockets Saturday

Kelowna, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants wrap up their 2024-25 pre-season this weekend with a home-and-home against the Kelowna Rockets.

Puck drop tonight on the road is set for 6:05 p.m. PT, while tomorrow the rematch will be played at 2 p.m. PT at the Ladner Leisure Centre. Tickets for Sunday’s home game can only be purchased at the door, for $15 (cash or card will be accepted).

The Giants 29 player pre-season roster (which was announced last week) is now down to 27, after 2009-born forwards Blake Chorney and Landon Horiachka were released following their preseason debuts against Victoria.

But both teams will be significantly depleted for this weekend’s action, with a large number of players currently away at NHL rookie camps.

For the Giants, six players who played last weekend are now with NHL clubs: Ty Halaburda (Vancouver Canucks), Connor Levis (Winnipeg Jets), Tyler Thorpe (Montreal Canadiens), Mazden Leslie (Vegas Golden Knights), Colton Roberts (San Jose Sharks) and Marek Howell (Colorado Avalanche).

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For the Rockets, seven players from their preseason roster are currently away at NHL rookie camps: Tij Iginla (Utah Hockey Club), Andrew Cristall (Washington Capitals), Max Graham (New Jersey Devils), Hiroki Gojsic (Nashville Predators), Caden Price (Seattle Kraken), Ethan Neutens (Los Angeles Kings) and Carter Kowalyk (Carolina Hurricanes).

TUNE IN

MATCH UP

Both clubs are 1-1 so far in the presason after each playing twice last weekend against the same team.

The Giants lost to Victoria on Saturday 3-2, but rebounded on Sunday to beat the Royals 5-3.

Kelowna lost 9-3 to Kamloops last Friday, but won on Saturday in overtime by a score of 4-3.

The Rockets were the Giants kryptonite last regular season, as Vancouver went 1-6-1 in eight regular season head-to-head games. Kelowna finished just three points ahead of the Giants in the final regular standings, claiming the 5th spot in the Western Conference with 71 points, while Vancouver had to settle for 6th place with 68 points.

The Rockets were able to get by the 4th-place Wenatchee Wild, before getting knocked out by the Prince George Cougars in five games.

Although a lot of talent will not be dressing for Saturday or Sunday’s games, there are still some intriguing young names on both sides. For Vancouver, 2023 sixth-overall pick Ryan Lin played in both games last weekend against Victoria and showed off his mobility, maturity and his ability to join the rush. Additionally, 2025 NHL Draft eligible Aaron Obobaifo was a force in his lone game last weekend, scoring a goal and an assist in Sunday’s win.

READ WHL: STARS OF TOMORROW PROFILE ON RYAN LIN 

On the other side, Levi Benson and Kalder Varga are two new names that could have impactful rookie seasons.

Benson is the younger brother of Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson, and although he is only 5-foot-5, he has plenty of skill. He had two points last weekend: a goal on Friday and an assist on Saturday. Varga is the Rockets first round pick in the 2023 U.S. Draft, selected seventh overall. He is one of three WHL players (Brody Gillespie – Spokane; Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll – Medicine Hat) that won a gold medal with USA Hockey at the 2024 Five Nations Tournament in Slovakia this summer. Varga had eight points in four games in that tournament, which featured the United States, Czechia, Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia. The right-shot forward also had an assist on Kanyu Gojsic’s overtime winner last Saturday against Kamloops.

UP NEXT

After tonight’s contest, only one remains for the Giants 2024 preseason, which is tomorrow, Sunday, Sept. 15 at 2 PM PT. *Please note this game was previously a 4 PM start time. This is no longer the case.*