PREVIEW: Giants & Vess Clash For 1st Time on Friday
Penticton, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants (2-1-0-0) begin the month of October with a road contest on Friday night against the Penticton Vees (2-2-0-0) at 7:05 p.m. at South Okanagan Events Centre.
The Giants are coming off a 4-2 win over Prince George on Sunday afternoon. Vancouver got early contributions from Crosby Mateychuk, Derek Thurston and Mathis Preston, taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. In the third period, Dennis Emesibe potted his first career WHL goal to put the game in the bag.
The G-Men are looking for their first road win, after losing to Victoria last Saturday night 4-1.
Penticton split a home-and-home last weekend with the Kelowna Rockets, winning their home opener on Friday 4-2 before losing in Kelowna 3-1. The Vees won the B.C. Division a year ago with 44 wins and 98 points – their first season in the WHL – and are a favourite to compete for the division lead again.
Last season, Vancouver went 2-3-0-1 against the Vees.
HOW TO TUNE IN
|
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tonight is the first of eight head-to-head meetings between Vancouver and Penticton this season.
| vs. PEN – LAST 6 H2H (2-3-0-1) | ||
| DATE | LOCATION | RESULT |
| Oct.. 2, 2026 | South Okanagan Events Centre | 7:05 PM |
| Oct. 17, 2026 | South Okanagan Events Centre | 6:05 PM |
| Nov. 14, 2026 | LEC | 7:00 PM |
| Dec. 12, 2026 | LEC | 7:00 PM |
| Feb. 7, 2027 | LEC | 4:00 PM |
| Feb. 12, 2027 | South Okanagan Events Centre | 7:05 PM |
| Mar. 12, 2027 | LEC | 7:00 PM |
| Mar. 13, 2027 | South Okanagan Events Centre | 6:05 PM |
LAST 3 GAMES (2-1-0) | 8 GF, 8 GA
| DATE | VAN RESULT | SCORE | VAN SCORERS | IN GOAL | GWG |
| Sept. 27 | WIN | VAN 4 vs. PG 2 | Mateychuk, Thurston, Preston, Emesibe | Hood (32/34) | Preston (VAN) |
| Sept. 26 | LOSS | VAN 1 at VIC 4 | Armstrong | Hood (27/30) | Virk (VIC) |
| Sep. 19 | WIN (OT) | VAN 3 vs. KEL 2 | Pederson, Iginla, Tomik | Bryks (25/27) | Tomik (VAN) |
TALE OF THE TAPE (2026-27 REG SEASON)
| VANCOUVER | PENTICTON | |
| 2-1-0-0 — 4 points | Team Record | 2-2-0-0 — 4 points |
| 2nd/6th | Conf./WHL Ranking | 3rd/7th |
| 2-1-0-0 | Past 10 Games | 2-0-0-0 |
| 1W | Streak | 1L |
| 4-2 W vs PG (Sep. 26) | Last Game | 3-1 L at KEL (Sep. 26) |
| 2-0-0-0 | Home Record | 1-0-0-0 |
| 0-1-0-0 | Away Record | 1-2-0-0 |
| 8 | GF | 11 |
| 8 | GA | 10 |
| 0 | Goal Differential | +1 |
| (4/16) 25.0% | PP (Overall) | (4/17) 23.5% |
| (17/18) 94.4% | PK (Overall) | (9/13) 69.2% |
| (0/0) 0% | PP vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% |
| (0/0) 0% | PK vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% |
| Mateychuk (1-1-2) | Leading Rookie | Pakarinen (1-2-3) |
| Preston/Tomik (1-2-3) | Top Scorer | Katz (3-3-6) |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vancouver – Derek Thurston: The Giants newly named captain has certainly made his presence felt so far. He scored his first goal in a Giants uniform on Sunday, but it’s his physical, bruising style that has caught the attention of many. He was unable to play in the Giants first road game last weekend due to a one-game suspension and will be counted upon tonight to set the tone and take away time and space from a skilled Vees squad. Thurston was acquired this offseason from the Saskatoon Blades. He was named the Giants 25th captain in franchise history on September 25.
Penticton – Gavin Katz: Katz is the Vees leading scorer so far, with six points already in four games (3G-3A). The 19-year-old from Minnesota scored 30 goals in the USHL last season with the Green Bay Gamblers. Prior to that, the 5-foot-9 forward was a star at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep School, co-leading the U18 team in scoring in 2024-25 with 93 points in 58 games (43G-50A).
WHAT ARE WE WEARING
The Giants will be wearing their primary white jerseys tonight.
UPCOMING
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | TIME |
| Friday, October 2 | Penticton | South Okanagan Events Centre | 7:05 PM |
| Saturday, October 3 | Swift Current | Langley Events Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday, October 6 | Brandon | Langley Events Centre | 7:00 PM |
