
Vancouver Strikes to Break Third-Period Deadlock Friday in 3-0 Wenatchee Defeat
January 4, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
LANGLEY, British Columbia - After 45 scoreless minutes of hockey in Friday's Western Hockey League game at Langley Events Centre, the Wenatchee Wild and Vancouver Giants knew that making the most of a single opportunity might be enough to lock up a victory. Then, with a 4-on-3 power play, the Giants struck.
Vancouver broke the deadlock with a one-timer from Ryan Lin, and added two more goals in support, taking a 3-0 win against the Wild on Friday evening to open Wenatchee's 2025 schedule. The teams racked up 42 shots in the first 40 minutes, but came up empty thanks to timely defense and outstanding goaltending from Brendan Gee and Burke Hood.
For much of the contest, another overtime matchup after the teams' extra session in Wenatchee in October seemed to be within reach. However, immediately after a faceoff in the Wenatchee end, Ty Halaburda found Lin for a setup at the top of the slot. Lin put his team in front at the 5:15 mark of the third, just six seconds into the 4-on-3 opportunity.
After winning that restart, Jaden Lipinski added a second assist at 8:58 of the period, setting the puck to Cameron Schmidt on the doorstep for a one-timer of his own. Vancouver got its final goal of the night with 7:56 to play, when Halaburda punched in a rebound off an initial shot from Lipinski.
Halaburda, Lin and Schmidt finished the night with a goal and an assist apiece, while Lipinski had a helper on all three Giants goals. Wenatchee was not able to solve Hood in this contest, earning his seventh win of the season with a 27-save shutout. Gee had a valiant effort in net himself, posting 33 saves on 36 Vancouver chances. Lin's power play goal was the only success for either team on the man-advantage in nine total opportunities.
Wenatchee moved to 13-18-3-1 with Friday's loss, while Vancouver climbed to 18-14-4-0 with the win. Both teams find themselves in the midst of busy stretches coming out of the holiday break, with the Wild playing six games in their first 10 days back, and Vancouver in the thick of an eight-game run over 13 days.
A three-game road weekend continues Saturday for Wenatchee, with a visit to Portland on the schedule. The opening puck drop at Veterans Memorial Coliseum is scheduled for 6 p.m., with live coverage on Newsradio 560 KPQ and WHL Live. The Wild return home to face the Victoria Royals on Friday, January 10 for Grandparents' Night presented by Papa Murphy's. Tickets for that game and all regular-season home games are on sale now by phone at 509-888-7825, or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. Updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team's website and on the team's social media platforms on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
Images from this story
![]() Wenatchee Wild's Morgan Hackman in action (Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants) |
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Western Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2025
- Wild Power Play Scores Thrice as Wenatchee Downs Portland Saturday, 6-3 - Wenatchee Wild
- Whitehead's Overtime Winner Lifts Pats to Victory in Red Deer - Regina Pats
- Mayes' Laser Knocks Out Kamloops, Chiefs Win 3-2 - Spokane Chiefs
- Oil Kings Earn Second Straight Win Over Hurricanes - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets Shut Down By Giants On Home Ice - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Drop 5-2 Decision in Medicine Hat - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Buck Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hawks Drop 6-3 Contest to Wild - Portland Winterhawks
- Third Period Comeback Falls Short Against Saskatoon - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hadland the Star as Wheat Kings Win Playoff-Style Contest with Raiders - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hitmen Acquire Carson Birnie from Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Rebels Complete Trade with Hitmen - Red Deer Rebels
- Game Preview: Cougars vs. Thunderbirds - Prince George Cougars
- Hitmen Acquire Vancouver Canucks Prospect Sawyer Mynio from Thunderbirds - Calgary Hitmen
- T-Birds Acquire Mayes and Burrett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game Preview: Game 39 vs Swift Current Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Host Blazers in First Home Game of 2025 - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Drop First of Home and Home with Swift - Medicine Hat Tigers
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- Game Day Hub: January 4 vs. Wenatchee - Portland Winterhawks
- Cougars Fall to Thunderbirds to Snap Five Game Win Streak - Prince George Cougars
- Hood Records 1st WHL Shutout as G-Men Blank Wild - Vancouver Giants
- Vancouver Strikes to Break Third-Period Deadlock Friday in 3-0 Wenatchee Defeat - Wenatchee Wild
- T-Birds Claw Past Prince George - Seattle Thunderbirds
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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