Strong Start Not Enough for Giants in 7-5 Road Loss to Broncos
WHL Vancouver Giants

Strong Start Not Enough for Giants in 7-5 Road Loss to Broncos

Published on October 3, 2025 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Swift Current Broncos' Joey Rocha and Vancouver Giants' Tyus Sparks in action
Swift Current Broncos' Joey Rocha and Vancouver Giants' Tyus Sparks in action
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Ed Fonger)

Swift Current, Sask. - The Vancouver Giants' offence was front and centre on Friday night at the InnovationPlex against the Swift Current Broncos, but a late third period goal from the home side resulted in a 7-5 loss.

The Giants stormed out to a commanding 3-0 lead 92 seconds in, but Swift Current pushed back hard in the second period, when the Giants' 4-2 lead became a 5-4 deficit. Colton Alain scored late in the middle frame for Vancouver to make it 5-5 after 40 minutes.

Broncos defenceman Jace McFaul went on to score the game-winner on a seeing eye point shot with 3:39 left in regulation, before an empty-net goal made the final score 7-5.

Five different Giants found the back of the net on Friday: Jakob Oreskovic (1st), Cameron Schmidt (2nd), Tobias Tomik (1st WHL goal), Ty Halaburda (4th) and Alain (1st).

Hudson Darby scored twice for Swift Current, as did McFaul. Stepan Kuryachenkov, Anthony Wilson and Connor Dale had the other Broncos markers.

GAME SUMMARY

Oreskovic notched his first of the season 37 seconds into the game after Sparks got him the puck in front of the net for an easy tap-in.

Schmidt extended the lead to 2-0 just 10 seconds later on a great individual effort where he finished high on the backhand.

Forty-five seconds after that, Tomik blasted home his first career WHL goal on a one-timer from the right circle.

Before the period came to a close, Swift Current's Kuryachenkov made the score 3-1 with a power play goal.

Darby cut the Giants' lead to one thanks to a goal off the rush early in the second period.

Several minutes after that, however, Halaburda restored the visitors' two-goal lead with his fourth goal in four games, beating goaltender Joey Rocha on the blocker side with a snap shot.

The Broncos then rang off three in a row: Wilson scored 32 seconds after Halaburda to make it 4-3, before McFaul tied the game on a power play with under five minutes left in the second period. Darby flew down the right wing and snapped home his second of the night not long after to give the Broncos their first lead of the night.

Alain responded just 15 seconds later for the Giants with a tremendous shot from the right circle that went right to the top shelf.

Neither team could find the back of the net for most of the third period, but with 3:39 remaining, McFaul's point shot found the top right corner. Dale scored into the empty-net with three seconds left to make the final score 7-5.

THEY SAID IT

"We have to turn the page and we have to obviously play the whole 60-minute game and stick to the script the whole game. The margin for error is so small and right now, as we're just kind of gelling together as a team, we have to stay strong and mentally tough." - Giants Asst. Coach Gaelan Patterson

"We were kind of chasing the game a bit at times...Maybe guys are getting a little too excited to get that next one, but it's where we've got to stay strong in our game plan...when you're in their zone and you're working and you have structure, you have a high F3...when that F3 gets a little bit too excited and he starts chasing the game a bit, then they get the puck and they get going on offence and he's too low, then all of a sudden there's an odd-man rush and maybe our D doesn't recognize that he's there and he steps up. That happened a lot tonight and we've got to clean that up." - Giants Asst. Coach Gaelan Patterson

STATISTICS

SOG: VAN - 6/10/15 = 31 | SC - 7/13/12 = 32

PP: VAN- 1/4 | SC - 2/5

Face-Offs: VAN - 30 | SC - 39

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: LOSS - Burke Hood (25 saves / 31 shots)

Swift Current: WIN - Joey Rocha (26 saves / 31 shots)

UPCOMING

The Giants continue their East Division road trip tomorrow in Moose Jaw, with puck drop scheduled for 5 p.m. PDT. Saturday will be the second of six games in the next nine days.

Stream the game for free on Victory+.

Giants single game tickets are NOW ON SALE! For the best value, grab your season ticket package, starting as low as $18.26 per game. Flex packs start at just $135 and come in six,12 or 36-ticket packs. Call the Giants Office at 604.4.GIANTS (+1 (604) 444-2687) or contact the Giants at: sales@vancouvergiants.com.

Check out the Vancouver Giants Statistics

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Images from this story

Swift Current Broncos' Joey Rocha and Vancouver Giants' Tyus Sparks in action
Swift Current Broncos' Joey Rocha and Vancouver Giants' Tyus Sparks in action
(Ed Fonger)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2025


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