RECAP: Giants Keep Momentum Going with Big Win Over Cougars

Category: ArticleFebruary 2, 2024

PHOTO BY: DIANA HONG

Langley, B.C. – A late goal from Logen Hammett and 36 saves from Brett Mirwald helped the Vancouver Giants to a 3-2 win over the Prince George Cougars on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre.

The win gives the Giants points in five straight (4-0-1) and improves their record in 2024 to 8-3-1. Vancouver’s overall record is now 21-24-3-0. Prince George falls to 32-15-0-2 this season.

Providing the Giants’ goals on Friday night was Cameron Schmidt (15th), Sam Honzek (6th) and Logen Hammett (4th).

Prince George got goals from Terik Parascak and Carlin Dezainde.

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GAME SUMMARY:

Schmidt got the scoring started in this one, getting sprung on a breakaway by Tyler Thorpe and finishing on the backhand to make it 1-0 just 3:08 into the game.

On their third power play of the period, the Cougars tied the game, courtesy of Parascak, who walked out from the goal line, taking the puck from his backhand to his forehand and then potting his 30th of the season to even the score.

It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.

Honzek restored the Giants lead at the 12:50 mark of the second period, when he used his impressive acceleration at the offensive blue line to blow past the defender before going top shelf for his sixth of the season.

Before the second period was done, Prince George tied the game once more, this time when Dezainde picked up his own rebound at the side of the goal and potted his 15th of the year.

The third period saw only one goal, which stood up as the game-winner, after Hammett simply fired a quick wrist shot from the left point that beat Young through the five hole. Hammett’s fourth of the season made it 3-2 Giants with just 3:27 to go, which stood up as the final score.

“We knew going in tonight against P.G. that we had to be good in our own end here. So the kids bought in. Really happy for them. Our kids wanted that win really bad tonight. They stuck to the game plan. We got away from it a little bit in the second period, but that’s going to happen against a good team like P.G. and then we just stuck with our game. It was a tight checking game on both sides and just stuck with it and I’m really happy that we got the win.” – Head Coach Manny Viveiros on defence

“We’re a completely different team than we were three months ago and part of it was just it takes a while for the kids to understand what we need to do to be successful with our group and obviously we added some veteran leadership to our group, which makes a difference, where we’re solid in my opinion all the way through our lineup here. And you’re able to roll all four lines for the most part and rest some of your big guns so to speak for the latter part of the game when you really need them. That’s something that’s been a big difference with our group here. The whole identity of our group and how we want to play and need to play, the kids are understanding it. Right now we’re at a point where we don’t even have to say it on the bench. They’re saying it themselves and going out and executing it.” – Head Coach Manny Viveiros on the team’s play as of late

CLICK BELOW FOR THE POST-GAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH MANNY VIVEIROS AS HEARD ON SPORTSNET 650

STATISTICS

SOG: VAN — 14/8/7 = 29 | PG – 12/14/12 = 39
PP: VAN — 0/2 | PG — 1/4
Face-Offs: VAN — 37 | PG — 25

3 STARS

1st: VAN – Sam Honzek – 1G, 4 SOG, +1
2nd: PG – Carlin Dezainde – 1G, 6 SOG
3rd: VAN – Brett Mirwald – 36 Saves on 38 Shots

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: WIN – Brett Mirwald (36 saves / 38 shots)
Prince George: Loss – Ty Young (26 saves / 29 shots)

NEXT GAME:

The Giants face off with the Everett Silvertips on home ice tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 3. CLICK FOR TICKETS