PREVIEW: Giants Begin Home-and-Home with Royals at LEC on Friday

Category: ArticleSeptember 25, 2025

Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants renew their rivalry with the Victoria Royals tonight at 7 p.m. at Langley Events Centre, in the first of eight head-to-head meetings this season.

The Giants will look to bounce back from a disappointing home opener against Penticton, where the visitors went out to a 3-0 lead after two periods and eventually won 5-1.

Now, however, the Giants have their full lineup, with goaltender Burke Hood and forward Cameron Schmidt back with the team following NHL training camps with the New York Islanders and Dallas Stars, respectively.

CLICK FOR TICKETS

The Royals – like the Giants – only played once during opening weekend, beating the visiting Penticton Vees 5-0 thanks to four third period goals. But they’ve lost a lot of their firepower from last season: no longer on the team are Cole Reschny, Keaton Verheoff, Teydon Trembecky, Justin Kipkie and Nate Misskey – all of whom were eligible to return and combined for 115 goals last season.

HOW TO TUNE IN

Date \| Time	Friday, September 26 \| 7:00 pm PT
Place	Langley Events Centre
Video Stream	Victory+
Listen	Sportsnet 650 \| Pre-Game begins at 6:00 p.m.
Live Stats	Click Here
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| Instagram \| TikTok

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Tonight is the first of eight head-to-head meetings between Vancouver and Victoria this season. The teams will face off four times in a one-week span in mid-December right before the Christmas break.

The next time the Royals visit the LEC won’t be until December 13 for the Giants annual Teddy Bear Toss game.

SEASON SERIES VS. VICTORIA (0-0-0; 8 H2H)

Sept. 26, 2025	LEC	7:00 PM PT
DATE	LOCATION	RESULT/TIME
Sept. 27, 2025	Save on Foods Memorial Centre	6:05 PM PT
Dec. 12, 2025	Save on Foods Memorial Centre	7:05 PM PT
Dec. 13, 2025	LEC	7:00 PM PT
Dec. 18, 2025	Save on Foods Memorial Centre	7:05 PM PT
Dec. 19, 2025	LEC	7:00 PM PT
March 13, 2026	Save on Foods Memorial Centre	7:05 PM PT
March 14, 2026	LEC	7:00 PM PT

PLAYERS TO WATCH

VAN – Ryan Lin: Lin (Richmond, B.C.) did everything that was expected of him and more in his rookie season last year, and game one of year two last weekend was no different. He was excellent at killing plays in the defensive zone last Saturday and would often be the one immediately leading the rush the other way. The only goal of the game for the Giants came off his stick on exactly one of those instances. There will be a lot of eyes on Lin this season with it being his NHL Draft year and scouts would certainly be pleased with what they’ve seen so far.

(Rob Wilton)

VIC – Reggie Newman: Newman (Kamloops, B.C) was named captain of the Royals last week. He followed that up with a three-point performance in his season debut, potting the 3-0 goal and adding two assists in a 5-0 shutout win over Penticton. The 20-year-old is entering his fifth season in the WHL, all with the Royals. Newman has scored 44 goals and 68 assists for 112 points in his career so far in 232 games. He was recently with the Winnipeg Jets as a part of their Prospects Showdown team in Montreal.

TALE OF THE TAPE (2024-25 REG SEASON)

VANCOUVER	STAT	VICTORIA
0-1-0-0 (0 points)	RECORD	1-0-0-0 (2 Points)
0.000	POINTS %	1.000
5th/10th	DIV/CONF RANK	2nd/3rd
0-1-0-0	HOME RECORD	1-0-0-0
0-0-0-0	ROAD RECORD	0-0-0-0
1 (1.00 – 23rd)	GOALS FOR (Per Game)	5 (5.00 – T-7th)
5 (5.00 – T-18th)	GOALS AGAINST (Per game)	0 (0.00 – 1st)
-4 (T-18th)	GOAL DIFF	+5 (T-3rd)
0% (6th)	POWER PLAY	100% (1st)
66.7% (13th)	PENALTY KILL	100% (T-1st)
Lin (1-0-0) Cail (0-1-1) Marrelli (0-1-1)	LEADERS	Newman (1-2-3) Woodward (0-3-3) Danyleyko (1-1-2)
Lin (1 Goal)	TOP GOAL SCORER	5 Players Tied (1)
Lin (1-0-1)	TOP SCORING D-MAN	Runtso (0-1-1)

WHAT ARE WE WEARING

The Giants will be wearing 25th anniversary themed white jerseys.

NEXT 5 GAMES

*DATE*	*OPPONENT*	*LOCATION*	*TIME*
September 27, 2025	at Victoria	Save on Foods Memorial Arena	7:00 pm PT
October 3, 2025	at Swift Current	Innovation iPlex	6:00 pm PT
October 4, 2025	at Moose Jaw	Temple Gardens Centre	5:00 pm PT
October 7, 2025	at Saskatoon	Sasktel Centre	6:00 pm PT
October 8, 2025	at Prince Albert	Art Hauser Centre	6:00 pm PT