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WHL Vancouver Giants

Giants Winning Streak Halted by Kelowna Rockets

April 25, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Vancouver Giants centre Eric Florchuk (right) faces off with the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants centre Eric Florchuk (right) faces off with the Kelowna Rockets
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Paige Bednorz)

Kelowna, B.C. - A four-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday night for the Vancouver Giants (9-4) at the hands of the Kelowna Rockets (5-2). The Rockets scored twice early in the third period to erase a 3-2 deficit en route to a 4-3 victory. Mark Liwiski, Jake Lee, Kaedan Korczak and Dillon Hamaliuk all scored for Kelowna while Justin Sourdif (2G) and Alex Kannok Leipert (1G, 1A) each had multi-point games in response for the Giants.

1st Period:

VAN - Alex Kannok Leipert opened the scoring for the Giants on a power play at 9:11. The Giants captain parked himself in front of the Kelowna net and tipped home a feed from the left-wing corner for his fifth goal of the season. Tristen Nielsen and Eric Florchuk both assisted.

KEL - Late in the first, the Rockets responded with a power play marker courtesy of Dillon Hamaliuk. The San Jose Sharks prospect deflected home a Kaedan Korczak point-shot for his third goal of the season. Tyson Feist added the second assist for Kelowna.

Shots: 8-7 Vancouver

2nd Period:

VAN - Justin Sourdif put the Giants ahead at the 12:47 mark of the middle frame while shorthanded. Sourdif broke up a play at his own blueline, streaked down the right wing and wired a low shot through Cole Schwebius for his sixth goal of the season - And first career shorthanded marker.

KEL - Rockets blueliner Kaedan Korczak responded at 15:02 with his second goal of the season. It came off a Kelowna faceoff victory and a shot from the left-wing point that snuck through traffic and by Trent Miner.

VAN - Justin Sourdif wasn't done. The Florida Panthers prospect struck again at 17:54. This one came off the rush and a shot from the right-wing that found its way over the shoulder of Cole Schwebius and in. Adam Hall and Alex Kannok Leipert both assisted.

Shots: 10-6 Vancouver

3rd Period:

KEL - Two minutes into the third period, Jake Lee evened the score for Kelowna on an individual rush down the left wing. Lee's first goal of the season came unassisted.

KEL - Just over three minutes later, Kelowna took their first lead of the night when forward Mark Liwiski pounced on a loose puck in the slot area, and wired home his fifth goal of the season to give the Rockets their first lead of the game.

GAME SUMMARY:

Final Score: Kelowna 4 - Vancouver 3

Final Shots: 27-20 Vancouver

Trent Miner: 16/20 saves for Vancouver (6-3)

Cole Schwebius: 24/27 saves for Kelowna (3-1)

Vancouver Power Play: 1/1

Kelowna Power Play: 1/4

3 Stars:

1) Kaedan Korczak (KEL - 1G, 1A)

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

3) Mark Liwiski (KEL - GWG)

Next Giants Game: A home battle tomorrow night with the Kamloops Blazers at 6:00 PM.

NOTES:

- Justin Sourdif extended his point-streak to nine games. In that span, he's now managed seven goals and nine assists for 16 points.

- Saturday's game marked the first time this season that the Giants had lost a game when leading going into the third period. The Giants are now 7-1 when leading after 40 minutes.

- Alex Kannok Leipert has now recorded three goals and five assists for eight points in his past five games.

- Four of Alex Kannok Leipert's five goals this season have come via the power play.

- The Giants power play has now scored in four of their past five games.

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Images from this story

Vancouver Giants defenceman Brenden Pentecost
Vancouver Giants defenceman Brenden Pentecost
(Paige Bednorz)		 Vancouver Giants centre Colton Langkow
Vancouver Giants centre Colton Langkow
(Paige Bednorz)		 Vancouver Giants centre Justin Sourdif (right) vs. the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants centre Justin Sourdif (right) vs. the Kelowna Rockets
(Paige Bednorz)
Vancouver Giants centre Eric Florchuk (right) faces off with the Kelowna Rockets
Vancouver Giants centre Eric Florchuk (right) faces off with the Kelowna Rockets
(Paige Bednorz)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2021


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