PREVIEW: Giants Host Broncos for Oktoberfest on Saturday
Langley, B.C. – Tonight the Vancouver Giants (2-1-1-0) host an opponent they haven’t played in a full calendar year in the Swift Current Broncos (2-2-0-0), who are making their once-every-two-seasons trip out West.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. PT at Langley Events Centre. Tonight is Oktoberfest, so fans are encouraged to come early for free beer and food samples in the banquet hall, courtesy of The Barley Merchant!
The Giants last played the Broncos exactly one year ago, on Oct. 3 2025, when they began their Saskatchewan road trip, losing that contest 7-5.
Vancouver dropped a tough one last night in Penticton, when a controversial call was made in the new ‘no-return’ 3-on-3 overtime, leading to a defensive zone faceoff and the eventual game-winning goal for the Vees, who won the contest 3-2. Vancouver entered the final frame up 2-1 thanks to goals from Jakob Oreskovic (1st) and Mathis Preston (2nd), but Graham Jones tied the game 2-2 early in the third and then scored the game-winner less than a minute into overtime.
The Broncos lost last night in Victoria 5-4 to the Royals in the first game of their six-game B.C. Division road trip. Swift Current came back from down 4-1 to tie the game 4-4, before allowing the eventual game-winner midway through the third period. Swift Current is looking for their first road win of the year.
HOW TO TUNE IN
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TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tonight is the first and only meeting between Vancouver and Swift Current this season.
| vs. SC – LAST 5 H2H (1-2-2-0) | ||
| DATE | LOCATION | RESULT |
| Oct. 3, 2025 | InnovationPlex | 7-5 L |
| Jan. 26, 2025 | LEC | 3-2 OTL |
| Oct. 13, 2023 | LEC | 6-3 L |
| Nov. 2, 2022 | InnovationPlex | 5-4 OTL |
| Oct. 19, 2019 | LEC | 4-3 SOW |
LAST 4 GAMES (2-1-1) | 10 GF, 11 GA
| DATE | VAN RESULT | SCORE | VAN SCORERS | IN GOAL | GWG |
| Oct. 2 | OT LOSS | VAN 2 at PEN 3 (OT) | Oreskovic, Preston | Bryks (18/21) | Jones (PEN) |
| 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 | SWIFT CURRENT | |
| 2-1-1-0 — 5 points | Team Record | 2-2-0-0 — 4 points |
| 3rd/5th | Conf./WHL Ranking | 3rd/7th |
| 2-1-1-0 | Past 10 Games | 2-2-0-0 |
| 1 OTL | Streak | 2L |
| 3-2 OTL at PEN (Oct. 2) | Last Game | 5-4 L at VIC (Oct. 2) |
| 2-0-0-0 | Home Record | 2-0-0-0 |
| 0-1-1-0 | Away Record | 0-2-0-0 |
| 10 | GF | 15 |
| 11 | GA | 15 |
| -1 | Goal Differential | 0 |
| (4/20) 20.0% | PP (Overall) | (1/15) 6.7% |
| (19/20) 95.0% | PK (Overall) | (15/24) 62.5% |
| (0/0) 0% | PP vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% |
| (0/0) 0% | PK vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% |
| Mateychuk (1-2-3) | Leading Rookie | Torkki (1-1-2) |
| Preston (2-2-4) | Top Scorer | Wilke (2-3-5) |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vancouver – Crosby Mateychuk: Mateychuk (Dominion City, Man.) scored his first career WHL goal last weekend at LEC, opening the scoring in an eventual 4-2 win for the Giants over Prince George. The previous night, he picked up his first WHL point with an assist on Vancouver’s lone goal against Victoria. After registering another assist last night in Penticton, the 16-year-old rookie defenceman has now strung together an impressive three-game point streak. The 13th overall pick from 2025 is also +3, tied for the team lead.
Swift Current – Kayd Ruedig: Ruedig (Humboldt, Sask.) had a two-goal outing last night in Victoria, scoring the Broncos first and last goals of the contest. He was a hot commodity last year, first getting traded to Kamloops from Portland in October, but when the Blazers unexpectedly got Harrison Brunicke back from the AHL later in the season, Ruedig was the odd-man out. Everett then acquired him from Kamloops, where the right-shot defenceman helped the Silvertips win their first ever WHL Championship with six points and a +6 rating in 17 playoff games. This summer, the Saskatchewan native was traded to his home province, where he will spend his final year of junior.
WHAT ARE WE WEARING
The Giants will be wearing their primary red jerseys tonight.
UPCOMING
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | TIME |
| Saturday, October 3 | Swift Current | Langley Events Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday, October 6 | Brandon | Langley Events Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Friday, October 9 | Seattle | Accesso ShoWare Center | 7:05 PM |
