Giants Topple Royals 5-3 and Return to First Place

April 22, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release

Kelowna, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants (9-3) once again find themselves alone in first place in the B.C. Division standings. Wednesday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna, the Vancouver Giants earned a 5-3 victory over the Victoria Royals (1-10-1-0). Justin Sourdif (1G, 2A) and Alex Kannok Leipert (1G, 2A) each had three points for Vancouver while Zack Ostapchuk and Eric Florchuk each added a goal and an assist. Justin Lies netted the final goal of the night for the G-Men who also received 17 saves from goaltender Drew Sim. Brayden Tracey, Tarun Fizer and Ty Yoder responded with goals for the Royals who have now dropped seven straight games.

1st Period:

VIC - 3:25 into the game, Brayden Tracey (8) wired home a one-timer from the right-wing circle on a Victoria power play. Brandon Cutler and Gannon Laroque each earned assists.

VAN - Giants captain Alex Kannok Leipert responded with a power play marker of his own at 15:32. Kannok Leipert parked himself in front of the Victoria net, and tucked home a rebound for his fourth of the season. Tristen Nielsen and Justin Sourdif each earned assists.

Shots: 11-5 Vancouver

2nd Period:

VIC - 2:58 into the middle frame, Royals captain Tarun Fizer helped restore the lead for Victoria with a shot from the right point that found its way through traffic and in for his third of the season.

VAN - Eric Florchuk responded for Vancouver with a power play marker at 14:58. Florchuk pounced on a Justin Sourdif rebound and wired home his fourth goal of the campaign. Zack Ostapchuk earned a second assist.

VAN - Less than two minutes later, on another power play, the Giants took the lead when Justin Sourdif's shot from the high slot found its way past Adam Evanoff. Sourdif's fifth goal of the season was set up by Eric Florchuk and Alex Kannok Leipert. The goal came at 16:21.

Shots:12-5 Vancouver

3rd Period:

VAN - Zack Ostapchuk opened up a two-goal lead for his team at 3:18 on a highlight reel-type end-to-end rush up the left-wing. Ostapchuk took the puck from his own zone, split through a number of Victoria defenders before roofing his fourth of the season. The goal came unassisted.

VIC - Back came the Royals at 4:57 when Ty Yoder finished off a two-on-one rush with Brayden Schuurman. Carter Dereniwsky also earned a helper on Yoder's third goal of the season.

VAN - Justin Lies ended all hopes of a Victoria comeback at 13:47 when he deflected an Alex Kannok Leipert point shot through Adam Evanoff. Tanner Brown also earned an assist on Lies' second goal of the campaign.

Shots: 15-10 Vancouver

GAME SUMMARY:

Final Score: Vancouver 5 - Victoria 3

Final Shots: 38-20 Vancouver

Drew Sim: 17/20 saves for Vancouver (3-1)

Adam Evanoff: 33/38 saves for Victoria (0-6-1-0)

Vancouver Power Play: 3/8

Victoria Power Play: 2/5

3 Stars:

1) Justin Sourdif (VAN - 1G, 2A)

2) Alex Kannok Leipert (VAN - 1G, 2A)

3) Ty Yoder (VIC - 1G)

Next Giants Game: Saturday night at 7:05 PM in Kelowna against the Rockets.

NOTES:

- Justin Sourdif extended his point-streak to eight straight games. During that span he's recorded five goals and 10 assists for 15 points. He's recorded an assist in each of those eight games. He now has 11 points in four meetings against Victoria.

- Three power play goals is a new season-best for the Giants.

- The Giants are now 8-0 this season in games when 2021 NHL Draft prospect Zack Ostapchuk records a point.

- Three of Alex Kannok Leipert's four goals on the season have now come against Victoria.

Vancouver Giants centre Justin Sourdif and goaltender Drew Sim (Paige Bednorz)	Vancouver Giants goaltender Drew Sim (Paige Bednorz)	Vancouver Giants face off with the Victoria Royals (Paige Bednorz)
Vancouver Giants vs. the Victoria Royals (Paige Bednorz)

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• Giants Topple Royals 5-3 and Return to First Place - Vancouver Giants
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