Giants Wrap up 2019 with a Commanding 6-2 Win over Rockets
December 29, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release
Vancouver Giants defenceman Connor Horning and goaltender Trent Miner vs. the Kelowna Rockets
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rik Fedyck)
Vancouver, B.C. - The Vancouver Giants (17-15-1-1) are heading into the new year riding a three-game winning streak. Saturday night in front of 4537 strong at the LEC the Vancouver Giants defeated the Kelowna Rockets (18-13-1-2) 6-2. Cole Shepard paced the Giants with two goals and an assist while Tristen Nielsen (2A), Michal Kvasnica (2A) and and Tyler Preziuso (1G, 1A) all added multi-point games. Trent Miner stopped 25 of Kelowna's 27 shots to help lead the Giants to their 17th win of the season and their third in as many tries against the Rockets. Liam Kindree responded with both Kelowna goals.
1st Period:
VAN - 2:48 into the game, Tristen Nielsen and Tyler Preziuso combined on a shorthanded two-on-one to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Preziuso finished off the Nielsen feed from the left-wing to secure his 14th goal of the season.
KEL - 31 seconds later the Rockets responded on the same power play when Liam Kindree one-timed home his fifth of the season past Trent Miner from the right-wing circle.
VAN - Jackson Shepard restored the lead for the Giants at 4:31 off another two-on-one chance. Michal Kvasnica carried the puck down the right-wing and centered a pass for Shepard who did the rest, tucking his sixth of the season by Cole Schwebius.
VAN - The younger Shepard brother got in on the scoring act at 10:34. Cole Shepard took a breakaway feed from Michal Kvasnica and snuck a backhand shot through Schwebius' pads and home for his seventh goal of the season.
VAN - Cole Shepard wasn't done. He ripped home his eight of the season on a power play at 17:34 off a shot from the left-wing circle. Tristen Nielsen and Tyler Preziuso both assisted on the play.
Shots: 14-7 Vancouver
2nd Period:
VAN - Early in the second period, Cole Shepard earned his third point of the game when he assisted on Zack Ostapchuk's third goal of the season. Ostapchuk took a Shepard pass, skated in close and roofed his shot over Cole Schwebius' left shoulder.
VAN - Milos Roman notched Vancouver's final goal of the night at 14:24 of the middle frame off a shot from the high slot. Justin Sourdif had the lone helper on Roman's 50th career WHL goal.
*Kelowna pulled Cole Schwebius in favour of Roman Basran.
Shots: 12 - 8 Kelowna
3rd Period:
KEL - Liam Kindree struck for a second time at 16:30 while shorthanded. He forced a turnover inside the Giants zone and roofed his sixth of the season over Trent Miner's shoulder to make the final score 6-2 in favour of the Giants.
Shots: 11-8 Vancouver
-
Final Score: Vancouver 6 - Kelowna 2
Final Shots: 33 - 27 Vancouver
Trent Miner: 25/27 saves for Vancouver (7-7-1-1)
Cole Schwebius: 16/22 saves for Kelowna (4-5)
Roman Basran: 11/11 saves for Kelowna
Vancouver Power Play: 1/6
Kelowna Power Play: ü
*Both teams had a shorthanded goal.
3 Stars:
Cole Shepard (VAN - 2G, 1A)
Tristen Nielsen (VAN - 2A)
Seth Bafaro (VAN - 1A, +4)
Next Giants Game: Wednesday, January 1st at 2:00 PM against the Victoria Royals.
QUOTES:
"In the first period we were opportunistic and utilized our speed well. We got the puck moving quickly to areas where we could skate onto it and took advantage of our opportunities," - Michael Dyck.
"We all just bought in. We played hard, played to our game and that's why the score was 6-2." - Cole Shepard
NOTES:
Thanks to their victory, the Giants now sit three points back of Kelowna for second place in the B.C. Division standings.
The Giants also remain two points back of Victoria for third place in the B.C. Division standings.
The Giants improved to 3-0 on the season against Kelowna and 2-0 against them at home.
Milos Roman recorded the 50th goal of his WHL career in the second period of Saturday's game.
Saturday's three-point effort was the first of Cole Shepard's WHL career.
Images from this story
Western Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2019
- Preview: Cougars at Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
- Wheat Kings Look for Bounce Back Monday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Stewart Traded to Oil Kings - Tri-City Americans
- Oil Kings and Tri-City Americans Announce Trade - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Oil Kings Score Seven Third Period Goals en Route to Rout of Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Silvertips Outscore Kamloops, 7-5 - Everett Silvertips
- Decade Closes with 6-3 Victory over Raiders - Saskatoon Blades
- Slow Start Dooms Americans in 5-3 Loss to Spokane - Tri-City Americans
- Victoria Ends Cougars' Streak - Prince George Cougars
- Broncos Shutout by Hurricanes on the Road - Swift Current Broncos
- Royals Drop Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Giants Wrap up 2019 with a Commanding 6-2 Win over Rockets - Vancouver Giants
- Beckman Extends Streak with Hat Trick in 5-3 Win over Americans - Spokane Chiefs
- Rebels Implode in Third Period, Lose Big to Oil Kings - Red Deer Rebels
- Liam Kindree scores twice in loss to Giants - Kelowna Rockets
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