PREVIEW: Vancouver Giants vs. Victoria Royals (Game #22)

Category: ArticleMay 11, 2021

Tonight inside the RE/MAX Hub in Kamloops, the Vancouver Giants take the ice for the final time in 2020-21. It’ll be a bittersweet night indeed, particularly for over-agers Alex Kannok Leipert, Eric Florchuk and Tristen Nielsen who will each be competing in their final WHL game. That alone is plenty of motivation for the Vancouver Giants who will also be using this game as one final “game” audition as far as next season is concerned.

VICTORIA ROYALS

OVERVIEW

Head Coach: Dan Price

Record: 3-15-1-1

Last Game: A 2-1 victory on Saturday night against the Prince George Cougars

Record vs. VAN: 0-4-0-1

Goals For/Goals Against: 45 GF/87 GA (-42)

Power Play: 19.5% (15th)

Penalty Kill: 70.2% (17th)

Leading Scorers: Brayden Tracey (20GP – 8G – 11A – 19PTS), Tarun Fizer (18GP – 6G – 13A – 19PTS), Brandon Cutler (2oGP – 9G – 7A – 16PTS)

ABOUT SATURDAY

On Saturday night in Kelowna, the Victoria Royals earned a 2-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars. Goaltender Adam Evanoff was superb making 33 saves in a first-star performance, while the goals came courtesy of Brandon Cutler and Keanu Derungs in the second period. It marked the Royals third victory of the season, all of which have come against Prince George.

THE MATCHUP WITH VANCOUVER

The Royals are 0-4-0-1 against the Giants this season, but aside from a 4-0 shutout loss on April 15th, the Royals have kept each game close against the G-Men having not lost by more than a goal or two in each of the other four meetings. Tarun Fizer leads all Royals in scoring with seven points (3G, 4A) in five games against the Giants while Brayden Tracey (3G, 3A) and Brandon Cutler (3G, 2A) are all at a point-per-game pace as well. Adam Evanoff is 0-3 on the season against the Giants with a .849 save percentage and a 5.42 goals-against average.

ONE LAST LOOK AT SMITH, EVANOFF AND CUTLER

Tonight will mark the final time that 20-year-olds Brandon Cutler, Matthew Smith and Adam Evanoff face the Vancouver Giants.

Brandon Cutler has appeared in 256 career WHL games (Red Deer, Victoria) and has notched 47 goals along with 59 assists for 106 points. The product of Spruce Grove, AB has nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 20 games so far this season with Victoria. He was a ninth-round pick of Red Deer back in 2015.

Matthew Smith has suited up in 209 career games, all with the Victoria Royals. In that span he’s notched seven goals and 26 assists for 33 points while adding a 42 penalty minutes. A product of Saskatoon, SK, Matthew Smith has one goal for the season in 20 games. He was a seventh-round pick of Victoria back in 2015.

Goaltender Adam Evanoff has played 115 career WHL games (Moose Jaw, Victoria). For his career he’s 49-48-8-3 and he adds a goals-against average of 3.23 and a save percentage of .903. He’s from Penticton, B.C. and was originally a 10th-round pick of the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2015.

VANCOUVER GIANTS

OVERVIEW

Head Coach: Michael Dyck

Record: 11-10

Last Game: A 3-1 loss on Saturday night to Kamloops.

Record vs. VIC: 5-0

Goals For/Goals Against: 65 GF/58 GA (+7)

Power Play: 20.5% (14th)

Penalty Kill: 84.8% (5th)

Leading Scorers: Justin Sourdif (10G – 21A – 31PTS), Tristen Nielsen (21GP – 15G – 13A – 28PTS), Eric Florchuk (21GP – 4G – 15A – 19PTS)

THANK YOU ERIC

Tonight marks the final WHL game for forward Eric Florchuk of Fort Saskatchewan, AB. Originally selected 13th overall by the Victoria Royals in 2015, Eric Florchuk has since gone on to play 269 career WHL games (Victoria, Saskatoon and Vancouver). With the Giants this season, Florchuk has compiled four goals and 15 assists for 19 points. For his entire WHL career, the one-time draft pick of the Washington Capitals has 65 goals and 120 assists for 185 points.

THANK YOU TRISTEN

Tonight also marks the final WHL game for forward Tristen Nielsen of Fort St. John, B.C. He was selected 20th overall by the Calgary Hitmen back in 2015, and has since played in 240 career games with Calgary and Vancouver. Nielsen leads the B.C. Division with 15 goals, and his 28 points rank him second on the team in scoring behind Justin Sourdif. For his career, Nielsen has managed 82 points and 89 assists for 171 points.

THANK YOU ALEX

Defenceman Alex Kannok Leipert of Regina, SK will be taking the ice for the final time tonight in a Giants uniform. Originally selected by the Giants in Round 4 of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Kannok Leipert has gone on to play 218 career games, all with the Giants. In that span, the one-time draft pick of the Washington Capitals has managed 20 goals and 62 assists for 82 points for his career along with 240 penalty minutes and a +46 rating. This season, he leads all B.C. Division defencemen in scoring with 17 points.