Giants Get Ready To Take On The Chiefs

The Vancouver Giants begin a four game homestand tomorrow night when they take on the Spokane Chiefs at 7:00 pm at the Pacific Coliseum. It is the first of two meetings this season between the Giants and Chiefs. Vancouver comes in having lost two straight games, but are a perfect 2-0 on home ice. Spokane is 1-1-0-0 on the season, losing its opener in Tri-City 4-1 and then defeating the Americans a week later on home ice 7-2.

2011-12 marks the second season under head coach Don Nachbaur in Spokane. Last year the Chiefs lost in the Western Conference Final in 6 games to the Portland Winterhawks. This year’s team features 4 players that went to NHL camp. Forwards Blake Gal (Calgary), Darren Kramer (Ottawa), Dominik Uher (Pittsburgh), and defenseman Brenden Kichton (N.Y. Islanders). Kichton was tied for first in points among defensemen last season with 81 points. So far through 2 games, Anthony Bardaro leads the way offensively with 4 goals. In net, Mac Engel is the team’s number one goalie. He is in his second year in the league and comes off an impressive rookie season in which he was the WHL Goaltender of the Month for February 2011. The club also features rookie forward Liam Stewart who is the son of British rocker Rod Stewart and supermodel Rachel Hunter.

Newcomers Adam Morrison and Levi Bews will be in the Giants line up vs. the Chiefs. Morrison, a native of White Rock, B.C., is in his final season in the WHL and so far is 1-1-0-0 on the season. He was drafted by the Philadlephia Flyers in the 3rd round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and with the Giants will get the chance to prove he can be a number one goalie on a nightly basis. Bews, a 17 year old from Longview, AB, is in his second season in the WHL. He has 1 assist in 4 games this year. The right winger gives the Giants a solid core of 17 year olds.

Last year the Giants were 0-1-0-1 against Spokane, losing 3-2 in a shootout December 10 and 4-0 on December 18.