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WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants Fall 5-2 to the Rockets; Will Start the Playoffs Friday in Victoria

March 17, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Darian Skeoch of the Vancouver Giants battles the Kelowna Rockets
Darian Skeoch of the Vancouver Giants battles the Kelowna Rockets
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rik Fedyck)

Vancouver, B.C. - Friday night at the Langley Events Centre the Vancouver Giants wrapped up their home regular season schedule with a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Kelowna Rockets. Jordan Topping and Carsen Twarynski each had two goals for the Rockets while Brodan Salmond made 37 saves. Ty Ronning and Brayden Watts answered with the goals for the Giants who will battle the Rockets again tomorrow night before turning their sights to the playoffs and their first round series with the Victoria Royals that begins Friday on Vancouver Island. (Complete series schedule below).

Vancouver fed off the crowd of over 4624 early on, peppering the Rockets net with eight shots in the early going. Brodan Salmond withstood the early barrage of shots though and kept the Rockets tied. Despite being outshot 17-10 in the opening period, the Rockets eventually opened up a 3-0 lead. Carsen Twarynski scored twice unanswered for the Rockets at 10:40 (shorthanded) and 13:14 (on a power play) to stake them to a 2-0 lead. Defenceman Gordie Ballhorn then increased the Rockets advantage to 3-0 when he knocked his own rebound past Giants netminder Trent Miner at 18:31.

The Giants outshot Kelowna 10-7 in the second period and were rewarded offensively at 8:40 when Ty Ronning won a battle behind the Rockets net, skated out to the left circle and placed a perfect shot past the glove of Salmond for his 61st goal of the campaign. The Giants had three second period power play chances, but were unsuccessful. They'd finish the game zero-for-seven on the power play while the Rockets went one-for-five. After 40 minutes the Rockets led 3-1.

Mid-way through the second period the Rockets regained a three-goal cushion when Kyle Topping finished off a three-way passing play with Liam Kindree and Leif Mattson for his first of two on the night.

Brayden Watts moved the Giants back within two goals with a late goal at 17:22 of the third for the Giants, but all hopes of a comeback were ended when Topping buried his 21st of the season into an empty-net at 18:35 securing win number 42 on the season for the Kelowna Rockets. The final shots were 39-26 for the Giants who now sit at 36-26-6-3 through 71 games. Up next for the G-Men, a rematch with the Rockets on Saturday at 7:00 PM in Kelowna.

NOTES:

- Before the game the Vancouver Giants handed out their 2017-18 Team Awards. The winners were:

Season Ticket Holder of the Year: John Turner

Jock McGrandle Volunteer of the Year: Matt Schaeffer

Players Choice Award: Ty Ronning

Sultan Thiara Plus-Minus Award: Ty Ronning

Save-On-Foods Scholastic Player of the Year (High School): Alex Kannok Leipert

Trinity Western University Collegiate Academic Players of the Year: Dawson Holt and Dylan Plouffe

Three Star Awards Winners: David Tendeck, Tyler Benson and Ty Ronning

White Spot Humanitarian of the Year: Ty Ronning

Bruce Allen Inspirational Leadership Award: Tyler Benson

Graduation Awards: Ty Ronning, Darian Skeoch, Brennan Riddle

Most Improved Player: David Tendeck

Most Sportsmanlike Player: Davis Koch

Milian Ilich Rookie of the Year: Bowen Byram

Pat Quinn Top Defenceman: Dylan Plouffe

The Buble Ironman Award: James Malm

Unsung Hero: Darian Skeoch

Gordie Howe Top Scorer Award: Ty Ronning

P.C. Toigo Most Valuable Players Award: Ty Ronning and Tyler Benson

Round 1 Series Schedule vs. Victoria:

Game Visitor Home Date Time

1 Vancouver @ Victoria Friday, March 23 7:05

2 Vancouver @ Victoria Saturday, March 24 7:05

3 Victoria @ Vancouver Tuesday, March 27 7:00

4 Victoria @ Vancouver Wednesday, March 28 7:00

5 * Vancouver @ Victoria Saturday, March 31 7:05

6 * Victoria @ Vancouver Monday, April 2 2:00

7 * Vancouver @ Victoria Tuesday, April 3 7:05 * If necessary

Check out the Vancouver Giants Statistics




Images from this story

Ty Ronning and Vancouver Giants offer congratulations after a goal
Ty Ronning and Vancouver Giants offer congratulations after a goal
(Rik Fedyck)		 James Malm of the Vancouver Giants presses the Kelowna Rockets defense
James Malm of the Vancouver Giants presses the Kelowna Rockets defense
(Rik Fedyck)		 Darian Skeoch of the Vancouver Giants battles the Kelowna Rockets
Darian Skeoch of the Vancouver Giants battles the Kelowna Rockets
(Rik Fedyck)

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