PREVIEW: Vancouver Giants at Kamloops Blazers (Game #4)
Tonight in Kamloops the Vancouver Giants look to return to the win column when they go head-to-head with the Blazers for the first time this season. Last night the G-Men suffered their first loss of the 2019-20 season – A 4-2 set-back at the hands of Portland. Meanwhile the Kamloops Blazers snapped a three-game slide with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
OVERVIEW:
Head Coach: Shaun Clouston
Record: 1-3
Home Record: 1-1
2018-19 Record vs. Vancouver: 0-6-1-1
Power Play: 4/21 (19.1% – 11th)
Penalty Kill: 12/14 (85.7% – 9th)
Leading Scorers: Ryan Hughes (3GP – 3G – 3A – 6PTS), Zane Franklin (4GP – 2G – 2A – 4PTS), Connor Zary (4GP – 1G – 3A – 4PTS)
WHAT A DEBUT FOR HUGHES:
20-year-old Ryan Hughes wasted little time endearing himself to his new teammates. Mere days after being acquired in a trade with Saskatoon, Hughes paced the Blazers with two goals and an assist last night in a 3-2 win over Kelowna. Hughes’ second goal of the night came in overtime. So far he’s recorded six points through three games. Fun fact: Two of his three goals this season have been overtime winners.
CAPTAIN FRANKLIN:
Earlier this week, 1999-born forward Zane Franklin was named captain of the Kamloops Blazers. Last season Franklin set new career highs with 28 goals and 40 assists for 68 points in 68 games. In eight games against the Giants, Franklin notched three goals and five assists for eight points. Through four games he’s managed two goals and two assists. Three of those points came last night against Kelowna.
ZARY’S ON A STREAK:
2001-born forward Connor Zary has produced a single point in each of the first four games of the season for Kamloops. Zary’s first goal of the season came on September 20th against Kamloops and has recorded an assist in each game since. He had a goal and five assists in eight games against the Giants a season ago.
VANCOUVER GIANTS
OVERVIEW:
Head Coach: Michael Dyck
Record: 2-1
Road Record: 2-0
2018-19 Record vs. Kamloops: 8-0
Leading Scorers: Justin Sourdif (3GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS), Seth Bafaro (3GP – 2G – 3A – 5PTS), Jackson Shepard (3GP – 3G – 1A – 4PTS)
BYRAM VS. BLAZERS:
In eight games last season against Kamloops, Giants defenseman Bowen Byram recorded six goals and nine assists for 15 points and a +17 rating. Two of those six goals were overtime winners. In 16 career games against Kamloops, Byram has compiled 20 points (6G, 14A). Last night in his return to the WHL, Byram had two assists and nine shots against Portland.
STREAKY SOURDIF:
2020 NHL Draft eligible forward Justin Sourdif has earned points in each of the first three games of the season for the Giants. Last night Sourdif assisted on the Giants first goal, giving him two goals and three assists on the season. He’s tied with Seth Bafaro for the team lead in scoring.
BETWEEN THE PIPES VS. KAMLOOPS:
Last season against the Blazers:
Trent Miner: 5-0 with a 2.20 goals-against-average and a .917 save percentage.
David Tendeck: 3-0 with a 2.80 goals-against-average and a .907 save percentage and one shutout.
Trent Miner is 6-0 lifetime against the Blazers dating back to 2017-18 while David Tendeck is 6-3.
