WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants defeat Spokane 5-2 to set new franchise win record

Published on February 25, 2009 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


VANCOUVER BC - The Vancouver Giants established a new team record tonight at the Pacific Coliseum, as Adam Basford scored once and set up another to lead the G-Men to their franchise record 50th win of the season, 5-2 over the defending MasterCard Memorial Cup Champions, the Spokane Chiefs.

The Giants opened the scoring just two minutes in, as Andrej Kudrna scored his 17th of the season, surprising Chiefs net minder Dustin Tokarski with an off speed shot that snuck past the Spokane keeper. After goals just two and a half minutes apart midway through period one gave Spokane the lead 2-1, Evander Kane was able to tip a Brent Regner point shot past Tokarski on the Giants power play to tie things up at two. For Kane, it was his 41st goal and his 5th goal over his past three games. After twenty minutes, the game was knotted up at twos.

In the second period, Basford scored what turned out to be the game winner at the seven minute mark. After taking a feed inside the left circle in the Chiefs zone, Basford turned and zinged a backhand into the top corner glove side past a startled Tokarski. For Basford, his first goal since December 30th, eighteen games, gave the Giants the lead. Late in the period, Basford would help the Giants get some insurance. After breaking up a Spokane rush up ice, Basford turned back with a two on one break on the Chiefs goal. Basford laid a perfect saucer pass onto the stick of Craig Cunningham, and Cunningham did the rest, sliding the puck past Tokarski to double the Giants lead in the last minute of the second period.

Craig Schira would add an empty net goal in the final seconds to seal the deal and the Giants would make history with their 50th win of the season. Tyson Sexsmith would pick up his 35th win of the year and second against the defending champs. Vancouver now has n impressive record of 50-7-1-3 and move to 104 points on the season. The G-Men are now 15 points up on second place Tri City in the Western Conference and eight points back of overall leaders, the Calgary Hitmen. Vancouver still has four games in hand on Calgary.

Vancouver continues their busiest time of the season with a game on Wednesday night versus the Everett Silvertips. You can catch all the WHITE SPOT GIANTS HOCKEY action on AM 650, with the pregame show at 6:30 pm. Dave Sheldon and Bill Wilms will have the call from the Comcast Arena at 7 pm.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2009


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