Vancouver Giants - Feed https://chl.ca/whl-giants/author/bthomas/ Fri, 26 Jun 2026 20:00:04 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 2026 NHL Draft Preview: Vancouver Giants https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/2026-nhl-draft-preview-vancouver-giants Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:24:16 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/2026-nhl-draft-preview-vancouver-giants Langley, B.C. – The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is nearly here! Round 1 begins today, Friday, June 26, at 4 p.m. PT and rounds 2-7 will take place tomorrow, Saturday, June 27, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.. Five Giants skaters were listed by NHL Central Scouting in their final rankings for the draft (released in April): defenceman Ryan Lin, along with forwards Mathis Preston, Joe Iginla, Brett Olson and Tobias Tomík. Lin (Richmond, B.C.) led the Giants in scoring with 57 points in 53 games, on 14 goals and 43 assists. The 5-foot-11 defenceman ranked 4th amongst all WHL skaters in average ice-time per game (25:58). His 1.08 points-per-game were the third-highest by a Giants defenceman in franchise history, trailing only Jonathon Blum (1.29 in 2008-09) and Mazden Leslie (1.09 in 2024-25). Internationally, Lin has represented Canada five times already, most recently at the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Championship, where he won a Bronze medal. Lin is the 16th ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. Preston (Penticton, B.C.) recorded 12 points (4G-8A) in 10 games with Vancouver after being acquired from the Spokane Chiefs at the trade deadline. He began the season with 32 points in 36 games for Spokane. The 5-foot-11 winger missed significant time due to a lower-body injury that he suffered on January 10, but returned in time to deliver a standout performance for Canada at the 2026 IIHF U-18 World Championship, where he recorded two goals and four assists in five games. Preston is the 32nd ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting. Olson (Spruce Grove, AB) doubled his point total from his 16-year-old rookie season, finishing 2025-26 with 30 points (11G-19A). He was the only Giant to suit up in all 68 games this season. The second-year forward rounded out his game for the Giants this season, averaging 2:20 of penalty killing time per contest. Twenty-four of his points came at even-strength, the second-most amongst Giants forwards. Olson is ranked 173rd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Tomík (Ilava, SVK) finished his first season in North America with 28 points (12G-16A) in 61 games. The forward represented Slovakia at the IIHF World Junior Championship for the second year in a row, this time producing two points (1G-1A) in five games. Tomík was drafted by the Giants with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft. Tomik is ranked 193rd on NHL Central Scouting's final draft rankings. Iginla (Lake Country, B.C.) finished his second full WHL campaign with 31 points (15G-16A) in 59 games split between the Edmonton Oil Kings and Giants. He was recovering from an injury at the time of the midseason trade to Vancouver, but heated up at the end of the season, with seven points (3G-4A) in his final 10 games. Iginla is ranked 200th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The Giants have had 40 players in franchise history drafted to the NHL, most recently goaltender Burke Hood, who was selected in the sixth round by the New York Islanders last year. Round one of the 2026 NHL Draft begins at 4:00 p.m. PT on Friday. Rounds 2-7 start on Saturday at 8 a.m. PT. Round one will be available on Sportsnet in Canada and on ESPN in the United States, while Rounds 2-7 will be on Sportsnet in Canada and on the NHL Network in the U.S.]]> Vancouver Giants Announce the Return of Michael Dyck as Head Coach & General Manager https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/vancouver-giants-announce-the-return-of-michael-dyck-as-head-coach-general-manager Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:58:14 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/vancouver-giants-announce-the-return-of-michael-dyck-as-head-coach-general-manager Ladner, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants announced today the hiring of Michael Dyck as the club’s next Head Coach and General Manager. Dyck returns to the Giants after spending the past three seasons as an Assistant Coach with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, where he recently helped the club capture the 2026 Calder Cup. He becomes the first person in franchise history to hold the dual role of Head Coach and GM. "Michael has been an important part of the Giants family for many years, and we couldn’t be more pleased to bring him back in this expanded role,” Giants Majority Owner and President Ron Toigo said. “He knows what it takes to build a winning culture. His experience, character and commitment to player development make him the ideal person to guide our team both behind the bench and in the front office as we enter the next chapter of Giants hockey.” The appointment marks a return to familiar territory for Dyck, who previously served as the Giants’ Head Coach from 2018-23. His history with the organization also includes stints as an assistant coach (2002-05), scout (2009-10) and director of player development (2010-12). “It’s an honour to return to this organization as GM and Head Coach,” Dyck said. “We have a clear vision for how we want to play and the type of identity we want to create. We’re focused on establishing a culture built on development, professionalism and consistent performance. I’m looking forward to getting to work with our players, staff and community.” A native of Lethbridge, Alta., Dyck brings 19 seasons of WHL coaching experience to the role. During his previous tenure with the Giants from 2018-23, Dyck guided Vancouver to the 2019 WHL Championship Series and helped engineer one of the most memorable playoff upsets in league history when the eighth-seeded Giants defeated the top-seeded Everett Silvertips in the opening round of the 2022 WHL Playoffs. He compiled a regular-season record of 144-120-17-7 and a playoff mark of 21-17 during his five seasons behind the bench. In addition to his WHL experience with Vancouver, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Kootenay, Dyck has represented Canada on multiple occasions, winning gold medals at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2021 IIHF Men's World Championship, as well as silver medals at the 2021 WJC, the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2016 Youth Olympic Games. As a player, Dyck spent five seasons in the WHL from 1985-89 with the Calgary Wranglers, Brandon Wheat Kings and Regina Pats. The Vancouver Giants organization extends a warm welcome back to Michael, his wife Charlene and their three children: Bailey, Carson and Brennan.
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]]> Lin, Preston Ranked in 1st Round on Multiple Final NHL Draft Rankings https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/lin-preston-ranked-in-1st-round-on-multiple-final-nhl-draft-rankings Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:33:28 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/lin-preston-ranked-in-1st-round-on-multiple-final-nhl-draft-rankings Langley, B.C. – Vancouver Giants skaters Ryan Lin and Mathis Preston are first-round candidates for the 2026 NHL Draft, according to multiple final rankings recently over the last few weeks. Lin is ranked in the top-15 on eight different NHL draft rankings, including being ranked 10th overall by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic and 12th overall by both Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff and Jason Bukala of Sportsnet/Pro Hockey Group. "He's just an excellent all-around modern defenceman who gets it, and I think there's some Josh Morrissey/Jared Spurgeon in him," Wheeler said in his ranking. "I think he's a phenomenal player who plays the game the way it's meant to be played, and he might be my favourite prospect in the draft." Bukala, a former NHL Director of Amateur Scouting with the Florida Panthers, is the founder of The Pro Hockey Group, which populates scouting reports on pro and amateur players around the world. "Lin's a projectable, puck-moving, high-IQ defenseman who plays a well-rounded game," Samuel Tirpak, a scout with The Pro Hockey Group, said in his evaluation. "He is capable of playing on both special teams and logging big minutes at the same time. A smart decision-maker in all three zones who improved his physical game from a consistency standpoint. Great first pass, great DZ coverage and gap control defensively. In my opinion, he projects as a top-pair, number-two defender in the NHL." Lin is the 16th ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2026 NHL Draft. See below for a consolidation of Lin's ranking on 13 different lists:
Rank Publication Author Released Takeaways
9th Hockey Prospecting Byron Bader May 22 "Lin probably isn’t talked about enough. He has a really elite profile in the model...If he hits, there’s a good chance he hits really big."
10th The Athletic Scott Wheeler June 3 "The smartest defenseman in this draft and arguably its most well-rounded...does almost everything at a high level."
11th Cam's Consensus Poll of NHL Scouts June 4
 12th Daily Faceoff Steven Ellis June 22 "One of the most naturally skilled defensemen in this class. High-end decision-making combined with explosive skating makes him a one-man transition machine."
12th Sportsnet Jason Bukala June 9 "A transitional defenceman and power play quarterback. He added more of a “shooting” approach to his game offensively this season."
13th Hockey Prospect Radio Shane Malloy June 1
 15th Sportsnet Sam Cosentino June 17 "When he returned at the end of February he looked revitalized. Lin already has elite skill and, with more refinement, he can impact the game in all areas of the ice."
15th Elite Prospects Multiple Authors June 2 "The draft's most detailed defender plays a remarkably consistent defensive and puck-moving game; a high-probability top-four defender."
17th The Hockey News Tony Ferrari June 22 "One of the best breakout passers in the draft class, and his playmaking in the offensive zone is quite impressive. His skating is strong, allowing him to evade pressure."
17th TSN Craig Button June 17
17th Smaht Scouting Multiple Authors June 18
18th TSN Consensus Poll of NHL Scouts June 22
18th Dobber Prospects Multiple Authors June 22 "A very intelligent two-way WHL defenseman...will activate in the offensive zone and is a real threat to score."
20th FloHockey Chris Peters June 15
  Preston is ranked in the top-20 on five rankings and is a first-round pick on eight different NHL draft rankings, including being ranked 9th overall by Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News and 22nd overall by Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff.
"Possibly the most divisive player in the draft class, Mathis Preston is the king of upside in this class," Ferrari said in his ranking. "When you watch him on the ice, though, he's a high-paced, high-skill winger who is like a knife through butter in transition at times...Preston is always looking to make an impact offensively, using his snappy shot and slick passing to generate scoring chances. He has all of the potential in the world to be one of the most effective offensive players in this draft class."
Ellis noted a strong showing for Canada at the IIHF U-18 Worlds may have helped his draft stock. "Preston left scouts wanting more during the season [but] they fell in love again at the U-18s, where he was one of Canada’s top players every single game," Ellis said in his ranking. "He’s an undeniably talented player who could become a top-six threat down the line. Preston has a remarkable shot and often wastes no time firing in the back of the net from the slot. It’s NHL-ready right now – something very few 17/18-year-olds can claim. Preston consistently finds open space, but he can also create those opportunities with his skating. He’s fast, can start and stop on a dime and can often skate himself out of dangerous situations." Preston is the 32nd ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2026 NHL Draft. See below for a consolidation of Preston's ranking on 12 different lists:
Rank Publication Author Released Takeaways
9th The Hockey News Tony Ferrari June 22 "The king of upside in this class...his ability to be a true game-breaker is too enticing."
11th Smaht Scouting Multiple Authors June 18
19th Dobber Prospects Multiple Authors June 22 "A highly dynamic winger who can burn defenders on the outside and then make a move on the goalie to seal the deal."
20th Hockey Prospecting Byron Bader May 22 "As a late 1st rounder, early 2nd he’s going to be great value."
 22nd Daily Faceoff Steven Ellis June 22 "An undeniably talented player who could become a top-six threat down the line. Preston has a remarkable shot and often wastes no time firing."
23rd The Athletic Scott Wheeler June 3 "A shifty and fast skater who can attack inside ice laterally but can also play out wide and burn for odd-man rushes, and excelled after moving to his off-wing (left wing) in Vancouver."
28th Cam's Consensus Poll of NHL Scouts June 4
31st TSN Consensus Poll of NHL Scouts June 22
33rd Elite Prospects Multiple Authors June 2 "Blazing speed and explosive shooting make him a rush threat, but must develop more translatable patterns to reach his second-line potential."
35th Sportsnet Jason Bukala June 9 "Competitive two-way forward with secondary scoring upside. He has the motor and skill set to be deployed in a variety of roles and played some of his best hockey at the U18 worlds representing Canada."
37th FloHockey Chris Peters June 15 "Has so much natural skill and feel for the game that, at his best, he looks like a first-round talent."
39th TSN Craig Button June 17
]]> Giants Announce Preseason Schedule https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-announce-preseason-schedule Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:07:48 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-announce-preseason-schedule Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants announced today their preseason schedule for the 2026-27 Western Hockey League season. The G-Men will play two home preseason games, including one at the Arenas at Langley Events Centre, the brand new facility that will open in the fall. The Giants begin their preseason campaign on the road with a pair of games in Everett on Sept. 4 and 6 for the Silvertips preseason tournament with U.S. Division teams. Then Vancouver will host Victoria for back-to-back games on Sept. 12 and 13. The Giants' preseason schedule can be found below or by clicking here:
DATE OPPONENT TIME VENUE
Friday, Sept. 4 Seattle Thunderbirds 12:00 PM PT Angel of the Winds Arena
Sunday, Sept. 6 Wenatchee 12:00 PM PT Angel of the Winds Arena
Saturday, Sept. 12 Victoria Royals 7:00 PM PT Port Coquitlam Community Centre
Sunday, Sept. 13 Victoria Royals 2:00 PM PT the Arenas at Langley Events Centre
*Home games in Bold The complete WHL Regular Season schedule for 2026-27 will be announced next week.]]> Giants Sign 2nd Round Pick Brady Leinenweber to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-sign-2nd-round-pick-brady-leinenweber-to-whl-scholarship-development-agreement Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:59:34 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-sign-2nd-round-pick-brady-leinenweber-to-whl-scholarship-development-agreement Langley, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants are excited to announce the signing of 2011-born defenceman Brady Leinenweber (Kerrobert, Sask.) to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Leinenweber was selected by the Giants with the 26th overall pick in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. The right-shot blueliner was named a CSSHL U15 Prep first-team all-star this past season, after recording 35 points for Northern Alberta Xtreme, thanks to two goals and 33 assists. “We’re pleased to announce the signing of Brady to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement," Giants Assistant General Manager Pete Toigo said. "He’s a reliable, smart two-way defenceman who moves the puck well and competes hard in all areas of the ice. His character and commitment to the game make him the type of player who will have a positive impact on our team both on and off the ice.” Leinenweber tied for second in scoring among all defencemen at the John Reid Memorial tournament with six points in six games (1G-5A). "I’m so excited to be signing with such a great organization," Leinenweber said. “I want to thank the scouting staff and the whole Vancouver Giants team for believing in me and taking me in the draft. I would like to thank my family, friends, coaches and teammates – without them I wouldn’t be here. Looking forward to the journey ahead!” The Vancouver Giants extend a warm welcome to Brady and the Leinenweber family. Leinenweber is guaranteed a WHL Scholarship for every year he plays in the WHL by signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

“Brady Leinenweber is the most projectable defender in this class.”

Leinenweber was ranked 7th overall on Elite Prospects Top-120 Ranking for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. "Never panicked, Leinenweber uses his mobility and reach to protect the puck under pressure and finds outlets with the timing and weight that allow recipients to receive in motion," EP's ranking said. "His blueline work is a legitimate offensive weapon: he opens his hips to distribute in both directions, pulls defenders out of lanes with shot fakes, and delivers backdoor passes with the kind of professional precision that is rare at this level. The shot from the right circle carries real threat, and his activation habits give his team a consistent offensive presence from the back end. He projects as a top-pair, two-way WHL defenceman with legitimate special teams upside on both sides of the ice."]]> 2026 NHL Draft Profile | Mathis Preston, Vancouver Giants https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/2026-nhl-draft-profile-mathis-preston-vancouver-giants Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:44:17 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/2026-nhl-draft-profile-mathis-preston-vancouver-giants Giants Home Opener: September 19 vs. Rockets https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-to-open-2026-27-season-sat-sept-19-vs-rockets Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:22:14 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-to-open-2026-27-season-sat-sept-19-vs-rockets Langley, B.C. – The date for the Vancouver Giants home opener has been revealed. The G-Men will open the 2026-27 Western Hockey League season on Saturday, September 19 against the Kelowna Rockets at 7:00 p.m. PT inside the friendly confines of the Langley Events Centre. https://twitter.com/WHLGiants/status/2067261232021696855 The 2026 preseason schedule will be released soon, which will be followed by the full regular season schedule in the coming weeks.]]> Giants Acquire Conditional First Round Pick from Winterhawks https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-acquire-conditional-first-round-pick-from-winterhawks Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:01:02 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/giants-acquire-conditional-first-round-pick-from-winterhawks Ladner, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants have acquired a conditional first-round pick in 2028 and a seventh-round pick in 2030 from the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for the playing rights to 2007-born forward Mason West. West, from Edina, Minnesota, played last season for the Fargo Force in the USHL and is currently committed to Michigan State University. He was added to the Giants protected list during the 2024-25 season. This gives the Giants potentially four first-round picks in 2028: their own, Kelowna's, Seattle's and Portland's.]]> Former Giant Jordan Martinook Wins Stanley Cup https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/former-giant-jordan-martinook-wins-stanley-cup Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:40:16 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/former-giant-jordan-martinook-wins-stanley-cup Las Vegas, NV – Former Vancouver Giants Forward Jordan Martinook is a Stanley Cup Champion. Martinook, 33, and the Carolina Hurricanes shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Sunday night in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, giving the Hurricanes a 4-2 win in the best-of-7 series and their first championship in 20 years. "It's been a long road, especially with the group here," Martinook said in a post-game interview with Sportsnet's David Amber and Elliotte Friedman. "I'm just so happy. It's the best feeling in the world. "This year everything came together. We had a group of guys [that] just wanted it so bad. For it to end like this, you can't write it any better." Martinook becomes just the third Giants alumni to lift Lord Stanley, after Milan Lucic in 2011 with Boston and Bowen Byram in 2022 with Colorado. https://twitter.com/Canes/status/2066573359651926429 During the Canes' playoff run, the Brandon, Manitoba native chipped in with five points (2G-3A) in 19 games, including a goal in Game 3 of the Cup Final. Martinook has spent eight of his 11 NHL seasons with Carolina, after originally being drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round in 2012. He has 262 career regular season points in 797 career games. This year was the seventh season Martinook has served as an alternate captain for the Hurricanes. As a Giant, Martinook scored 51 goals and 41 assists for 92 points during his two seasons with the club from 2010-12, including a 40-goal campaign in 2011-12. The Vancouver Giants organization congratulates Jordan and his family on this incredible accomplishment. https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/2066376036736966950]]> 2026 NHL Draft Profile | Ryan Lin, Vancouver Giants https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/2026-nhl-draft-profile-ryan-lin-vancouver-giants Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:52:44 +0000 Brad Thomas https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/2026-nhl-draft-profile-ryan-lin-vancouver-giants