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WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants Get Halaburda, Leslie, Roberts Back from NHL Camps

September 23, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Colton Roberts of the Vancouver Giants
Colton Roberts of the Vancouver Giants
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)

Ladner, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants are pleased to announce that Ty Halaburda, Colton Roberts, and Mazden Leslie have been returned to the club for the 2024-25 season after attending NHL main camps this past weekend.

On Sunday evening, the Vancouver Canucks announced that Halaburda had been released from his amateur tryout agreement, giving the Giants their top point producer from 2023-24. The 19-year-old was a free agent invite to the Young Stars Classic in Penticton and was then invited to Canucks Main Camp over the weekend.

Halaburda was tied for the Giants lead in both points (66) and power play points (17) last season with Jaden Lipinski. He finished the year with 22 points in his final 18 games (6G-16A) and was the only Giant to appear in all 68 games. Additionally, the Victoria native recorded five shorthanded points - which was just outside the top-10 in the WHL - and three game-winning-goals, as well as two shootout goals, one of which was a game-winner.

On Monday morning, the San Jose Sharks announced that they had reduced their roster by 13 players, which included sending Roberts back to the Giants.

The 18-year-old was a fifth-round selection by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft this past summer. The 6-foot-4, 200 lb. blueliner finished second in points among Giants defencemen last season with 27 points in 62 games, including seven goals. His 27 points were fifth among all WHL defencemen age 17 or younger.

On Monday afternoon, the Vegas Golden Knights announced they had assigned six players to their junior teams, which included Leslie. The 19-year-old defenceman was a free agent invite by the Golden Knights for the Rookie Faceoff and to Training Camp.

In the 2023-24 season, Leslie led all Giants defencemen in scoring for the second consecutive time, scoring 14 goals and adding 30 assists for 44 points. His 14 goals were tied for 10th amongst all WHL defencemen, while his five game-winning-goals were tied for the most amongst all D-men. Twenty-seven of his 44 points came at even-strength. The Lloydminster, Alta. product led all Giants in ice-time with close to 26 minutes per game last season, playing in all situations.

It's expected that all three players will be in the lineup on Friday when the Giants welcome the Prince George Cougars to the Langley Events Centre.

Giants season tickets and flex packs are NOW ON SALE! Season ticket packages start as low as $17.20 per game and include the first two home playoff games, plus a free subscription to WHL Live. Flex packs start at just $135 and come in six or 12-ticket packs. Call the Giants Office at 604.4.GIANTS (+1 (604) 444-2687) or contact the Giants at: sales@vancouvergiants.com.

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Images from this story

Vancouver Giants celebrate a Mazden Leslie goal
Vancouver Giants celebrate a Mazden Leslie goal
(Rob Wilton)		 Colton Roberts of the Vancouver Giants
Colton Roberts of the Vancouver Giants
(Rob Wilton)		 Ty Halaburda of the Vancouver Giants
Ty Halaburda of the Vancouver Giants
(Rob Wilton)
Ty Halaburda of the Vancouver Giants
Ty Halaburda of the Vancouver Giants
(Rob Wilton)		 Mazden Leslie of the Vancouver Giants
Mazden Leslie of the Vancouver Giants
(Rob Wilton)		 Colton Roberts of the Vancouver Giants
Colton Roberts of the Vancouver Giants
(Rob Wilton)

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