Giants Cruise to Big Win over Cougars
February 17, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Vancouver Giants goaltender Burke Hood and left wing Maxim Muranov vs. the Prince George Cougars
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)
Langley, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants played one of their most complete games of the season on Monday afternoon at the Langley Events Centre, defeating the Prince George Cougars 7-2 in a game where they never trailed.
The win improves Vancouver's record this season to 27-21-6, while Prince George falls to 31-17-4-2 on the season. The Giants are now 18-9-2-0 on home ice.
The Giants had a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes and proceeded to score four goals in the final period.
Tyus Sparks delivered a strong performance with his first career two-goal game, while Adam Titlbach and Connor Levis also each scored twice. Captain Mazden Leslie scored a power play goal as well. Burke Hood stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced for his third consecutive win.
Ben Riche and Terik Parascak scored for Prince George.
Sparks opened the scoring on a 1-on-2, when he snapped a shot from the high slot past the blocker of goaltender Cooper Michaluk.
Titlbach and Levis would score less than four minutes apart midway through the second period to extend the Giants lead to 3-0.
Riche scored for the Cougars late in the second on a 2-on-1 to make it 3-1 after 40 minutes.
Leslie put home a rebound from the left circle after Cameron Schmidt was stopped on a power play early in the third to make it 4-1 for Vancouver.
Parascak got one back on a Prince George power play, but that's when the Giants pulled away.
Schmidt made a fantastic pass off the rush that created an odd-numbered situation in front of the Cougars net, with Brett Olson one-touching the puck for an uncovered Sparks, who netted his seventh goal of the season.
Levis would score his 20th goal of the season just 1:28 later to make it 6-2.
Titlbach scored his second of the game in the final 10 seconds to make the final score 7-2.
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STATISTICS
SOG: VAN - 9/15/15 = 39 | PG -5/12/17 = 34
PP: VAN- 1/5 | PG - 1/5
Face-Offs: VAN - 37 | PG - 32
3 STARS
1st: VAN - Tyus Sparks - 2G, 2 SOG, +2
2nd: VAN - Burke Hood - 32 Saves on 34 Shots
3rd: VAN - Adam Titlbach - 2G, 2A, 5 SOG, +4
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Vancouver: WIN - Burke Hood (32 saves / 34 shots)
Prince George: LOSS - Cooper Michaluk (32 saves / 39 shots)
THEY SAID IT
"[Today] I thought was great. We had a couple huge blocks in the third. The team came to battle from the start, which is great. It's what we need to do to win. Hopefully we continue this...It's always more fun when you've got that fan base and that electricity in the crowd." - Giants Goaltender Burke Hood
"I'm very proud of Burke's progress right from day one this season, at the beginning of the season. He's a goalie who has spent a lot of time succeeding the last few years, well before he got to us. It's going to plan. It's not as much me; it's him. It's the performer, it's the artist, it's not the coach. He's very coachable. He listens. He is enormously talented. He's focused. He's mature for his age. And there's lots more to go here; there's lots more upside. And that's not to say that we won't see blips in the road too of course. He's 17-years-old." - Giants Goaltending Coach Paul Fricker
"I thought today we were in complete control of the game. I think Burke [Hood] was very good. And I think that some ill-timed penalties from us at times gave them life. But for the most part I liked us a lot tonight. I liked us across the board." - Giants Goaltending Coach Paul Fricker
THIS AND THAT
It was Sparks first career two-goal game. Sparks has five points in his last seven games, after putting up eight in his first 33 contests
With 2G and 2A, Titlbach recorded his first career four-point game, while also reaching 40 points on the season. The forward has six goals in his last seven games
With a goal, Levis reached the 20-goal mark for the third consecutive season (24 last season; 27 the year prior). Levis has 96 career goals
With a goal, Leslie increased his point streak to five games (4G-5A). The defenceman now has 28 points in his last 18 games (9G-19A)
Hood is 3-0 in his last three starts with a .932 SV%. Hood holds a 9-5-2 record since Dec. 31
UPCOMING
Date Opponent Time Location
Friday, February 21 Kelowna 7:05 PM PST Prospera Place
Saturday, February 22 Kelowna 7:00 PM PST Langley Events Centre
Sunday, February 23 Wenatchee 4:00 PM PST Town Toyota Center
The Giants are home next on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 at 7 PM against KELOWNA. Head to VancouverGiants.com/tickets for more details or call 604-4-GIANTS.
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Western Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2025
- Oil Kings Win Monday Matinee against Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- T-Birds Streak Ends in Portland - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets Grab A Point From Shootout Loss To Americans - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Cruise to Big Win over Cougars - Vancouver Giants
- Tigers Clinch Playoff Spot with 5-1 Win over Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Cougars Fall 7-2 to Giants in Langley - Prince George Cougars
- Broncos Drop 5-2 Decision to Hitmen - Swift Current Broncos
- Matecha shines in come-from-behind win over Rockets - Tri-City Americans
- Royals Clinch 2025 WHL Playoffs Berth - Victoria Royals
- Baumuller Leads Wheat Kings Past Blades for Fourth Straight Win - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Spokane Clinches Playoff Spot After Monster 2nd Period Sees off Kamloops - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Fall to Raiders on Family Day - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Rockets Host Americans In Family Day Matinee - Kelowna Rockets
- Game Day Hub: February 17 vs. Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Preview: Game 57 vs Lethbridge Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game Preview: Cougars at Giants - Prince George Cougars
- Oil Kings Head Back to Red Deer for Family Day Meeting with Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Host Hitmen in Family Day Game - Swift Current Broncos
- Preview: Americans at Rockets - February 17, 2025 - Tri-City Americans
- After Scoreless 44-Minute Stalemate, Seattle Snags Sunday Win at Wenatchee - Wenatchee Wild
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