Sports stats



WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants Take Down Royals in Season Opener

September 23, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Victoria Royals' Tanner Scott and Justin Kipkie in action
Victoria Royals' Tanner Scott and Justin Kipkie in action
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rob Wilton)

Langley, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants got goals from four different players in their season-opening win on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre.

Tyler Thorpe, Adam Titlbach, Cameron Schmidt and Colton Langkow each found the back of the net in the club's 4-1 win over Victoria.

Goaltender Brett Mirwald was strong in goal, finishing with 24 saves on 25 shots.

GAME SUMMARY:

There was no score between the two teams after the opening 20 minutes, despite the Giants getting a five-minute power play.

The second period was different.

Despite starting the middle frame down two men for 1:37, the Giants killed it off entirely, which led to a pair of goals within 28 seconds.

Thorpe got things started, after he got a pass from Kyren Gronick and knocked in the puck on the second attempt.

Just 28 seconds later, Titlbach broke free and clear behind the defence, but was slashed and awarded a penalty shot. The Czech native pulled out the moves on goaltender Jayden Kraus, stickhandling quickly in tight and faking to the backhand, before going back to the forehand and depositing the puck into a mostly empty net for his first WHL goal.

Although the Giants power play couldn't convert in the early going, Schmidt scored on the man advantage midway through the second to increase Vancvouer's lead to 3-0. He got the puck at the top of the right circle and ripped a shot right to the top corner for his first of the young season.

Carson Haynes, Gronick and Langkow connected a pretty goal midway through the third period to put the game out of reach.

Victoria's lone goal of the night came with just 40 seconds left, after Deegan Kinniburgh spoiled Mirwld's shutout.

THEY SAID IT:

"For the most part the kids played really well this evening. There was a little bit of nervousness on both teams for sure, but I thought we settled in and once we could concentrate on what we could do to win the game, I thought we played really well...The 5-on-3 against, that was the turning point. We took a couple penalties that we didn't need to take at the end [of the first], but our goaltender [Mirwald] was outstanding during that time and our penalty kill did a great job. That gave us momentum and we carried on from that right after that, so I thought that was the turning point in the game." - Head Coach Manny Viveiros post-game

STATISTICS

SOG: VAN - 9/4/10 = 23 | VIC - 3/11/11 = 25

PP: VAN - 1/6 | VIC - 0/6

Face-Offs: VAN - 27 | VIC - 26

3 STARS

1st: Adam Titlbach - 1G, 1A

2nd: Brett Mirwald - 24 Saves on 25 Shots

3rd Colton Langkow - 1G

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: Win - Brett Mirwald (24 save / 25 shots)

Victoria: Loss - Jayden Kraus (19 saves / 23 shots)

NOTEWORTHY:

The Giants got multi-point games from two players; Titlbach (1G-1A) and Gronick (2A)

Eight different Giants had at least one point

The teams combined for 79 penalty minutes (56 for Victoria, 23 for Vancouver)

The Giants were missing three players due to NHL training camps: Sam Honzek, Jaden Lipinski and Mazden Leslie

The Royals were missing three players due to NHL training camps: Juistin Kipke, Ganon Laroque (no longer listed on the Royals roster) and Kalem Parker

NEXT GAME:

The Giants will travel to Kamloops on Friday, Sept. 29 for their first road game of the season. Then on Sunday, Oct. 1 they welcome the Wenatchee Wild to town.

Check out the Vancouver Giants Statistics




Images from this story

Vancouver Giants' Adam Titlbach on game night
Vancouver Giants' Adam Titlbach on game night
(Rob Wilton)		 Vancouver Giants celebrate win
Vancouver Giants celebrate win
(Rob Wilton)		 Vancouver Giants battle the Victoria Royals
Vancouver Giants battle the Victoria Royals
(Rob Wilton)
Victoria Royals' Tanner Scott and Justin Kipkie in action
Victoria Royals' Tanner Scott and Justin Kipkie in action
(Rob Wilton)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central