PREVIEW: Vancouver Giants vs. Prince George Cougars (September 24)
Tonight in Maple Ridge, the Vancouver Giants wrap up their 2021 preseason schedule when they play host to the visiting Prince George Cougars. The Giants are two sleeps removed from a 6-5 overtime defeat suffered Wednesday against Kamloops, and a quick turnaround looms tonight with the up-and-coming Prince George Cougars.
TONIGHT’S LINEUP – RADIO BROADCAST ON SPORTSNET 650
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
OVERVIEW
Preseason Record: 1-1
Head Coach: Mark Lamb
Last Game: A 7-6 shootout victory on Saturday at home against Kamloops.
2021 Record vs. VAN: 4-2
Preseason Leading Scorers: Koehn Ziemmer (2GP – 2G – 0A – 2PTS), Jonny Hooker (1GP – 1G – 1A – 2PTS), Riley Heidt (2GP – 1G – 1A – 2PTS)
BRAND NEW ‘HEIDT’S
2005-born forward Riley Heidt was the second overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. Last season as an under-ager he appeared in 22 games with the Cougars and managed two goals and six assists for eight points. Four of Heidt’s eight points from last season came against the Vancouver Giants. So far in two exhibition games, Heidt has notched two points (1G, 1A) and despite the fact that he’s only 16 – He’ll likely be a ‘go-too’ player in all situations this season for Prince George.
ZIEMMER TIME
2004-born forward Koehn Ziemmer’s nine goals last season tied him for tops in the B.C. Division among all rookies. The fourth overall pick from the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft has already notched two goals in two preseason games so far this season, and had five goals in six games last season against the Giants in the Kamloops Hub. The scary part? Ziemmer isn’t NHL draft eligible until 2023 because of his late birthday.
COUGAR NOTES
- Defenceman Ethan Samson (PHI) and goaltender Taylor Gauthier (TOR) have yet to appear in a preseason game with the Cougars due to the fact that they were both attending NHL training camps.
- 2003-born forward Craig Armstrong has also yet to appear in a preseason game, but he led the Cougars in scoring last season with 13 points (7G, 6A). Six of those seven goals came against the Giants.
- Goaltender Tyler Brennan is considered a top prospect for the 2022 NHL Draft. He helped Canada secure a gold medal in the 2021 World Under-18 Championship tournament which took place earlier in the spring of 2021.
VANCOUVER GIANTS
Preseason Record: 0-0-1-0
Head Coach: Michael Dyck
Last Game: A 6-5 overtime loss at the hands of the Kamloops Blazers.
2021 Record vs. PG: 2-4
Preseason Leading Scorers: Kaden Kohle (1GP – 1G – 1A – 2PTS), Ty Thorpe (1GP – 1G – 1A – 2PTS), Adam Hall (1GP – 0G – 2A – 2PTS)
GURSKI’S FIRST LOOK
Drew Sim played the entirety of Wednesday’s game for the Giants, which means tonight likely means a full game audition for 2002-born Will Gurski. Gurski was acquired by the Giants earlier in September and will no doubt be motivated to put forth a good showing in his Giants debut. Gurski is one of three goaltenders currently rostered by the Giants. The others being Drew Sim (2003) and Jesper Vikman (2002) who is still with the Vegas Golden Knights.
NEW DAY/SAME LINEUP
The line combinations and looks might be different, but all signs point to a similar lineup tonight for Michael Dyck’s crew given the fact that Cade McNelly (LA), Zack Ostapchuk (OTT), Justin Sourdif (FLA) and Jesper Vikman (LV) are all still at their respective NHL Training Camps. It will once again be a steady mix of veterans and youth, all of whom are auditioning for a larger role with the team in 2021-2022.
GIANT NOTES
- Nine of the 20 Giants in uniform Wednesday were either playing in their first WHL game, or their first game in a Giants uniform. Of those nine players, three found the scoresheet: Ty Thorpe (1G, 1A), Payton Mount (2A) and Jaden Lipinski (1G).
- The Giants are one of four teams to have a perfect penalty killing percentage so far in the WHL preseason.
- Despite the small sample size (2/4) the Giants come into the weekend with the best power play percentage in the WHL.
- Nine Giants recorded at least a single point in Wednesday’s game against Kamloops.
