PREVIEW: Giants Host Blazers Before Heading Out on Alberta Road Trip

Langley, B.C. – Tonight the Vancouver Giants (2-1-0) host the Kamloops Blazers (1-2-0) at 7:00 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre in the first of eight meetings this season.

The G-Men are looking to get back into the win column after a 6-3 setback to the Prince George Cougars last Friday, while the Blazers split a pair of home games last weekend, winning on Sept. 27 over Seattle and losing on Sept. 28 to Victoria. 

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The Blazers haven’t played a road game yet this season.

Although the Giants came up short against the Cougars last weekend, they nearly came back from a 4-0 deficit, getting two (more) goals from Cameron Schmidt and one from Ty Halaburda to make it a one-goal game with 2:48 remaining in regulation. Schmidt co-leads the entire WHL in goals with six so far this season in just three games, thanks to three consecutive two-goal performances. The Giants out-shot the Cougars in Friday’s game 45-35.

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP

Tonight is the first of eight head-to-head meetings between Vancouver and Kamloops this season, which is the case for all of the Giants B.C. Division opponents. Vancouver will actually host Kamloops at the LEC three times in the next seven weeks, with home dates also scheduled for October 27 and November 15. 

The Giants got four players back from NHL camps last weekend, while the Blazers begun the season with several injuries and also haven’t been at full strength yet, with forward Emmitt Finnie having just returned from Detroit Red Wings camp and defenceman Harrison Brunicke still at camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Last season, the Giants went 5-3 against the Blazers.

Players to Watch

The Player to Watch for the Giants is forward Ryan Lin, who had two assists last game.

Despite being just 16-years-old, Lin (Richmond, B.C.) has come as advertised.

The mobile defenceman has four assists in three games so far this season and has played more minutes (per game) than any other Giants defenceman. In fact, he sits top-10 in ice-time in the entire WHL at nearly 28 minutes per game.

The right-shot defender has been the quarterback on Vancouver’s power play – where he has picked up three of his four points – and has also been effective at killing penalties. He closes gaps and kills plays in the defensive zone at a high rate and rarely gives the puck away when pressured.

The Player to Watch for the Blazers is forward Nathan Behm, who is the Blazers first round pick from 2022 (13th overall).

He scored his first WHL hat-trick last weekend in his season debut, and then followed up Friday’s performance with another goal and an assist on Saturday, which led to him being named the WHL Player of the Week on Monday.

Behm played all 68 games for Kamloops last season and recorded 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points, which T-7th amongst 16-year-old rookies in the WHL. This season is Behm’s first year of NHL Draft eligibility, and with four goals and two assists in just two games, it’s likely the start he was hoping for.

TALE OF THE TAPE (2024-25 REG SEASON)

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