The Vancouver Giants put the boots to the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes with an impressive 10–0 Friday night win on home ice. Payton Lee’s first shutout of the season was lost next to the offensive explosion at the other end of the ice — the Giants dominated, holding a huge edge in puck possession and putting 40 shots on the poor bastards between the Hurricanes pipes.
More, including highlights, after the jump.
Special teams accounted for half the team’s output: four power play goals were accompanied by a shorty in the win. Eight different Vancouver skaters bulged the twine, with Jackson Houck and Dalton Sward scoring twice. Check out the highlights below, and you’ll see: nearly every goal came as a result of the Giants swarming the blue paint and fighting for rebounds. Even the shorthanded 3-on-1 goal came when Sward stuffed home a rebound after Jonny Hogue stopped Cain Franson in cold.
The prettiest goals of the night came from Houck, who finished a three-way passing play on the rush, and Arvin Atwal, who walked in from the point before dangling a beauty past Jarrod Schamerhorn. It was just Atwal’s third of the year, but it was a goal that will almost certainly make the best of the year reel alongside the nicest by team scoring leaders Brett Kulak and Carter Popoff.
Before you hit play, getcher full scoring summary here.
The Giants host the Victoria Royals on Saturday night and the Kamloops Blazers in a midweek game next Wednesday before hitting the road for a pair of games to start February.
Abbotsford Heat vs Utica Comets
Elsewhere this weekend, the Abbotsford Heat host the second half of a double header against the Vancouver Canucks farm team, the Utica Comets. Utica won 1–0 in overtime on Friday, and seem to have the Heat’s number this year. Abbotsford have lost five straight to the Comets. If you can’t get out to the game tonight, remember that Hockey Hall of Famer Frank “The Big M” Mahovlich will be signing autographs next Friday, January 31 as the Heat host the Montreal Canadiens affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
UBC Thunderbirds vs U of C Dinos
The UBC Thunderbirds are in the middle of their Sell Out the Doug campaign after rumours surfaced that hockey might not have their varsity status continued by the university. The men have put together an impressive collection of wins lately — they beat two NCAA Div 1 teams in exhibition play during SFU’s Great Northwest Showcase two weeks ago, and last night they took a double overtime decision over the CIS league leading Calgary Dinos. They play again tonight in an early game; the puck drops at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena at 5pm.
Let the girls play!
Let’s not forget the UBC women, either. The Lady Thunderbirds are tops in their CIS division, and ranked #5 in the whole dang country. (Remember, they made a surprise trip to the nationals last year, dispatching Hayley Wickenheiser’s U of C Dinos in the Western Championships.) They beat the U of Manitoba Bisons 6–3 Friday night, and look for a repeat performance at 2 Saturday afternoon at that very same Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena. Sell Out the Doug!