PREVIEW: Giants Return from Break with Road Contest in Kelowna
KELOWNA, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants (15-18-1-1) return from the holiday break with three games in four days, starting on the road against the Kelowna Rockets (16-12-3-1) on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. PT.
The Giants went 3-2-0 in their final five games before the break, but left with a sour taste after losing 5-1 to Victoria on home ice in their very last game on Dec. 19.
Vancouver is 6-4-0 in their last 10, but still in tenth place in the Western Conference standings – two points out of the final playoff spot.
The Rockets played their six-game East Division road trip before the holiday break, where they went 3-3-0. They are currently in fifth place in the West and have played a league-low 12 games on home ice (versus 20 on the road).
The Giants and Rockets have met just once so far this season, with Kelowna winning 5-2 in Langley on Nov. 1.
Between the two teams, there are five players currently competing for their respective countries at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Minnesota: Adam Titlbach (Czechia) and Tobias Tomik (Slovakia) for Vancouver, and Tij Iginla (Canada), Vojtech Cihar (Czechia) and Tomas Poletin (Czechia) for Kelowna.
HOW TO TUNE IN
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TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tonight is just the second of six head-to-head meetings between Vancouver and Kelowna this season.
| 2025-26 SEASON SERIES vs. KEL (0-1-0-0) | ||
| DATE | LOCATION | RESULT |
| Nov. 1, 2025 | LEC | 5-2 L |
| Dec. 27, 2025 | Prospera Place | 6:05 PM |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | LEC | 7:00 PM |
| Feb. 14, 2026 | Prospera Place | 6:05 PM |
| March 6, 2026 | Prospera Place | 7:05 PM |
| March 8, 2026 | LEC | 4:00 PM |
LAST 5 GAMES (3-2-0-0) | 22 GF, 20 GA
| DATE | VAN RESULT | SCORE | VAN SCORERS | IN GOAL | GWG |
| Dec. 19 | LOSS | VAN 1 vs. VIC 5 | Lin | Hood (27/31) | Perreault (VIC) |
| Dec. 18 | WIN | VAN 7 at VIC 4 | Schmidt (4), Sparks, Olson, Obobaifo | Pyne (35/39) | Olson (VAN) |
| Dec. 14 | WIN | VAN 8 vs. SPO 4 | Gerrior, Halaburda, Lin (2), Sparks (2), Howell (ENG) | Hood (31/35) | Sparks (VAN) |
| Dec. 13 | Loss | VAN 1 vs. VIC 3 | Schmidt | Pyne (22/25) | Woodward (VIC) |
| Dec. 12 | SO WIN | VAN 5 at VIC 4 (SO) | Lin, Obobaifo (+ SO Winner), Tomik, Olson | Hood (36/40) | Obobaifo (VAN) |
TALE OF THE TAPE (2025-26 REG SEASON)
| VANCOUVER | KELOWNA | |
| 15-18-1-1 — 32 points | Team Record | 16-12-3-1 — 36 points |
| 0.457 | Points % | 0.563 |
| 10th/16th | Conf./WHL Ranking | 5th/11th |
| 6-4-0-0 | Past 10 Games | 5-5-0-0 |
| 0-1-0-0 | Streak | 0-1-0-0 |
| 5-1 L vs. VIC (Dec. 19) | Last Game | 8-3 L at PA (Dec. 19) |
| 9-7-1-0 | Home Record | 4-5-2-1 |
| 6-11-0-1 | Away Record | 12-7-1-0 |
| 117 (3.34 – 17th) | GF | 118 (3.69 – 11th) |
| 148 (4.23 – 20th) | GA | 117 (3.66 – 12th) |
| -31 (21st) | Goal Differential | +1 (10th) |
| (30/115) 26.1% | PP (Overall) | (24/125) 19.2% |
| (39/125) 68.8% | PK (Overall) | (28/127) 78.0% |
| (2/6) 33.3% | PP vs. Opp. | (2/5) 40% |
| (2/5) 60% | PK vs. Opp. | (2/6) 66.7% |
| Schmidt (22-27-49) | Top Scorer | Smith (17-20-37) |
WHAT ARE WE WEARING
The Giants will be wearing their white primary jerseys tonight.
UPCOMING
The Giants return from the holidays with three games in four days.
| Date | Opponent | Time | Location |
| Saturday, December 27 | Kelowna | Prospera Place | 6:05 PM |
| Sunday, December 28 | Kamloops | Langley Events Centre | 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday, December 30 | Calgary | Langley Events Centre | 7:00 PM |
