PRESEASON RECAP: Chorney Scores Twice in Giants Win Over Royals
STORY BY QUINN TAYLOR
Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants defeated the Victoria Royals 5-3 on Sunday afternoon in preseason action at the ARENAS at Langley Events Centre.
After a first period that would see the Giants down 1-0, the G-Men would score two unanswered from Blake Chorney and Sam Charko in the second, before both teams would split power play goals.
Despite the Giants taking five penalties in the second they would head in to the third period up 3-2.
In the final frame, the Royals would come out hot tying the game early, but it didn’t last long as Dennis Emesbie would capitalize in front of the net to give the Giants a late 4-3 lead.
After the Royals pulled their goalie, Giants forward Nickolas Kovich picked up his second point of the night scoring on the empty net with 59 seconds left.
Goaltender Maverick Bell stopped nine of 11 shots in half a game of action, while Oliver Bryks came in to the second half of the game recording 17 saves on 18 shots.
Today was the Giants last game of the preseason. The regular season starts Saturday, September 19 at Langley Events Centre against the Kelowna Rockets at 7:00 p.m.
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GAME SUMMARY
Victoria scored the only goal of the first period, 10:23 in to the game off a shot from 15-year-old Kristian Lima.
The Giants started the second period on the power play and capitalized early, thanks to a one-timer goal from Chorney off a pass from Tobias Tomk.
Giants are on the board!!!
Blake Chorney capitalizes off a nice pass from Tobias Tomik 🚨
VAN 1 – VIC 1 | 18:39 2ND pic.twitter.com/mWSqse15q7
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) September 13, 2026
Less than two minutes later, Kovich’s effort behind the Royals net lead to Charko picking up the puck and on scoring off a wraparound, giving the Giants their first lead of the night.
Charko gets us up!
A quick wraparound from Sam Charko gives us the lead in the 2ND 🚨🚨
Nick Kovic picks up the assist 🍎
VAN 2 – VIC 1 | 17:02 2ND pic.twitter.com/nqE3uokPDw
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) September 13, 2026
The Royals would even up the score on the power play with 12:38 remaining in the second period courtesy of Miles Cooper, on a goal assisted by Nate Yellowaga.
Just over a minute later, the Giants took back the lead after Chorney riffled a shot on the power play off a quickpass from Brayden Jugnauth.
Blake Chorney finds the back of the net on the power play for his second of the game 🚨🚨
Assist to Brayden Jugnauth and Tobias Tomik 🍎🍎
VAN 3 – VIC 2 | 11:18 2ND pic.twitter.com/3QIqdDBZlv
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) September 13, 2026
Less than one minute into the third period, Victoria’s Drayden Uhrina found the back of the net on the power play, tying the game 3-3.
The score remained deadlocked until Emesibe picked up the puck from Louis Oscar Holowaychuk and scored off a wrist shot, giving the Giants a 4-3 lead with only 5:15 remaining in regulation.
A scramble in front and WE ARE IN THE LEAD!
Emesibe snipes it in 🚨
Holowaychuk picks up the assist 🍎
VAN 4 – VIC 3 | 3rd 5:15 pic.twitter.com/iCjsesX8kU
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) September 13, 2026
The Royals pulled their goalie late in the game, and Giants forward Kovich scored on the empty net thanks to hard work from Charko.
After regulation, the Giants and Royals proceeded to play ‘no return’ 3-on-3 overtime as part of a WHL preseason pilot. During the overtime, birthday boy Lance McCloskey would score on a 2 on 0, ending the Giants preseason with a win.
STATISTICS
SOG: VAN —10/8/6 = 24 | VIC – 8/11/10 = 29
PP: VAN—1/3 | VIC— 2/7
Face-Offs: VAN —34 | VIC — 27
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Vancouver: Maverick Bell (9 saves / 11 shots in 31:01 + Oliver Bryks (17 saves / 18 shots in 31:24)
Victoria: Seth Badry (19 saves / 23 shots in 60:00)
UPCOMING
The Giants host the Kelowna Rockets for their home opener at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19 at Langley Events Centre.
