Sourdif, Sim Lead the Giants to a 4-0 Shutout Victory over Victoria

April 16, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Vancouver Giants News Release

Kamloops, B.C. - Thursday night at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, the Vancouver Giants (6-3) were 4-0 winners over the Victoria Royals (1-7-1-0). Justin Sourdif, Tristen Nielsen and Alex Kannok Leipert all registered a goal and an assist each while Drew Sim turned aside all 16 shots he faced to secure his first career WHL shutout. Evan Evanoff and Connor Martin combined for 36 saves in the Victoria net. It marked the third victory in as many tries for the Giants over the Victoria Royals.

1st Period:

No Scoring

Shots: 9-6 Vancouver

2nd Period:

VAN - 43 seconds into the second period, Justin Sourdif slid past the defense, took a feed from Tristen Nielsen and scored a beautiful forehand, backhand breakaway goal to stake his team to a 1-0 lead.

VAN - Giants captain Alex Kannok Leipert extended the Vancouver lead on a power play at 17:09. Kannok Leipert wired a shot past Adam Evanoff from the right wing circle. Justin Sourdif and goaltender Drew Sim earned the helpers. The goal came at 17:09.

VAN - 57 seconds later defenceman Mazden Leslie extended the Giants lead to 3-0 when he took the puck wide, slipped by the Royals defender and tucked a low sow past Adam Evanoff and home for his fifth of the season. Bryce Bader and Tanner Brown both assisted.

*Victoria goaltender Adam Evanoff was pulled at 18:06 of the second period.

Shots: 14-5 Vancouver

3rd Period:

VAN - The game's final goal came courtesy of Tristen Nielsen on a power play at 7:14 of the final period. Nielsen one-timed home a feed from Zack Ostapchuk inside the right-wing circle to secure his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Alex Kannok Leipert earned the second assist on the goal which resulted in a Gordie Howe hat-trick.

Shots:17-5 Vancouver

GAME SUMMARY:

Final Score: Vancouver 4 - Victoria 0

Final Shots: 40-16 Vancouver

Drew Sim (2-1) - 16/16 saves for Vancouver

Adam Evanoff (0-5-1-0) - 19/22 saves for Victoria

Connor Martin - 17/18 saves for Victoria

Vancouver Power Play: 2/2

Victoria Power Play: 0/3

3 Stars:

1) Justin Sourdif (1G, 1A)

2) Alex Kannok Leipert (1G, 1A, And a fight)

3) Drew Sim (1A, Shutout)

NOTES:

- Both of Drew Sim's WHL victories have now come against the Victoria Royals. He's 2-1 on the season.

- The Vancouver Giants have four shutout victories in a span of nine games to start the 2020-21 season. The Giants are also the only team in the WHL to have two different goalies record a shutout.

- Justin Sourdif has now notched three goals and five assists for eight points in three games against Victoria.

- Sourdif currently has a team-best five-game point streak. He has four goals and five assists for nine points in that span.

- Under-age defenceman Mazden Leslie leads all B.C. Division rookies with five goals. He also sits second in the WHL in goal-scoring among defencemen trailing only Cole Clayton (Medicine Hat) and Daemon Hunt (Moose Jaw) who have scored six.

- Monday's game marked the third time in a span of nine games that the Giants have held their opponents to 16-or-fewer shots against.

Vancouver Giants defenceman Alex Kannok Leipert (right) scores against the Victoria Royals (Allen Douglas)	Vancouver Giants defenceman Jackob Gendron with the puck against the Victoria Royals (Allen Douglas)	Vancouver Giants defenceman Tanner Brown (left) prepares to deliver a hit against the Victoria Royals (Allen Douglas)
Vancouver Giants goaltender Drew Sim minds the crease against the Victoria Royals (Allen Douglas)	Vancouver Giants defenceman Alex Kannok Leipert with the puck against the Victoria Royals (Allen Douglas)

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2021

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• Warriors Toss 45 Shots on Net But Fall to Paddock & the Raiders - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Sourdif, Sim Lead the Giants to a 4-0 Shutout Victory over Victoria - Vancouver Giants
• Paddock Backstops Raiders to Win Over Warriors - Prince Albert Raiders
• Royals Blanked by Giants - Victoria Royals
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