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Vancouver Giants Announce the Return of Michael Dyck as Head Coach & General Manager

Nathan Kanter — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:58:14 +0000

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

Nathan Kanter — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:33:28 +0000

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

Nathan Kanter — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:07:48 +0000

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

Nathan Kanter — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:59:34 +0000

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

Nathan Kanter — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:44:17 +0000

Giants Home Opener: September 19 vs. Rockets

Nathan Kanter — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:22:14 +0000

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

Nathan Kanter — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 20:01:02 +0000

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

Nathan Kanter — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 20:40:16 +0000

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

Nathan Kanter — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:52:44 +0000

The WHL's Cami Kepke profiles NHL Draft prospect Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants.

WHL, Stanley Cup champion Lucic retires after 17 NHL seasons

Nathan Kanter — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:05:07 +0000

Power forward Milan Lucic, who won a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup title as a member of the Vancouver Giants prior to hoisting the Stanley Cup as a member of the Boston Bruins, announced his retirement from pro hockey on Sunday.

Lucic, 38, made the announcement via the NHL Players Association.

“Looking back on my career, I feel truly grateful to have fulfilled my dream of playing professional hockey, culminating with a Stanley Cup win in 2011 with the Boston Bruins,” Lucic said in a statement.

“I want to especially thank the Bruins for giving me my start in professional hockey and for instilling the confidence to reach new heights as a player.”

The 6-foot-3, 231-pound Lucic, who hails from Vancouver, B.C., spent two seasons as a member of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. During his rookie season in 2005-06, he emerged as an impact player during the playoffs, registering seven points (3G-4A) in 18 games as the Giants claimed the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions. At the 2006 NHL Draft, the Bruins called Lucic’s name during the second round (50th overall). He broke out during the 2006-07 WHL campaign, recording 68 points (30G-38A) in 70 games, adding another 19 points (7G-12A) in 22 WHL Playoff games.

Though the Giants fell in Game 7 of the WHL Championship, they went on to win the Memorial Cup as tournament hosts. Lucic tallied seven points (2G-5A) in five games and was presented with the Stafford Smythe Trophy as Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Memorial Cup. Part of Lucic’s championship performance included “The Shift” – where he laid out three heavy hits before taking on Jordan Bendfeld in a spirited heavyweight tilt.

Upon finishing his days with the Giants, Lucic made the immediate jump to the NHL, dressing in 77 games with the Bruins as an NHL rookie in 2007-08.

He spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Bruins, helping Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011. The 2010-11 season goes into the books as the best of Lucic’s career – he logged 62 points (30G-32A) in 79 regular season games and added another 12 points (5G-7A) during post-season play.

Lucic was once again impactful as the Bruins advanced to the Stanley Cup in 2013. The bruising winger posted 19 points (7G-12A) in 22 games, though Boston ultimately fell in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Over the course of 17 NHL seasons, Lucic posted five 20-goal campaigns. Following his time with the Bruins, he made stops with the Los Angeles Kings (2015-16), Edmonton Oilers (2016-17 to 2018-19) and Calgary Flames (2019-20 to 2022-23), before returning to Boston in 2023-24.

“Later in my career, I had the privilege of playing with some exceptional organizations in Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Calgary,” Lucic said. “I look back with fondness at the time I spent with each organization and for the remarkable teammates I had the pleasure of playing alongside.

“I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the coaches, staff and fans from each team I was apart of. I also want to thank my agent, Gerry Johannson, for his guidance during my playing days.”

After a five-game American Hockey League tryout with the Springfield Thunderbirds this past season, Lucic wrapped up his professional career by playing 26 games with the Fife Flyers of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom.

At the end of the road, Lucic’s ledger includes 1,177 career NHL regular season games, having scored 586 points (233G-353A), along with another 136 Stanley Cup playoff games and 77 points (29G-48A).

Lucic was the first player in Vancouver Giants history to reach 1,000 NHL games played, accomplishing the feat April 13, 2021. Prior to winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, he was named to the Vancouver Giants ring of honour.

In 2023, he represented Canada at the IIHF World Championship and helped his nation to a gold medal finish.

https://twitter.com/NHLPA/status/2063607120436556150?s=20 https://twitter.com/NHLAlumni/status/2064045571514478918?s=20