The Giants host the Blazers in a game that see’s them entertain the dye-hard fans prior to hitting the road for five game road trip that starts in Red Deer and ends in Lethbridge.
With the holiday season coming to a close the phrase “the weather outside is frightful” could be changed to “the game inside is delightful” as on this night the Giants were playing exceptional hockey.
The Blazers rested the number one tender Cole Cheveidave and put Taran Kozan between the pipes that had marginal work in the first.
This match up is the fourth of eight this year with the Blazers winning the first three.
The last game saw the Giants get their tenth win of the season doubling up on the Cougars 8-4.
The Giants have placed the work-load on young Tyler Fuhr as Payton Lee is at the U-17 Challenge in Quebec playing for Team Pacific. Liam Liston retired for reasons known only to him, but states he wants to attend school in Alberta, and if that’s the case, more power to him.
The Giants are on a rebuilding which was shown early with the move of some key players to other WHL clubs.
The first two periods were fast paced with each team getting some quality chances from several key players.
One question floating around the media room is “will the Giants move any 20 year olds out?
The Kamloops Blazers scored two goals a minute and a half apart midway through the third period en route to a 4-2 victory.
While everyone was chatting during intermission about 20 year old players and being moved prior to January 10th (trade deadline), the post game scrum was set aside as GM Scott Bonner moved power forward Kale Kessy to Kamloops in exchange for 18 year-old Rob Tzonkowski (pronounced CHIN-koss-key) and a 5th-round draft pick in 2015. Tzonkowski.
When Kessy was asked about the move he told the media “I want to thank the Giants for being a first class organization and offering me the chance to play on a championship team.”
The move gives them a couple of extra years and allows Kale to finish his Junior career on a (possible) championship team.
In addition the Giants stayed close to home and acquired 16 year-old forward Luca Leone of the Coquitlam Express. Leone played two seasons at Shattuck St. Mary and is currently in his first full season with the Express.
The Vancouver native has 4 goals and 2 assists in 29 games with the British Columbia Hockey League team this season.
The 6’0”, 190lbs forward will be joining the Giants on their upcoming Alberta road trip.
Looking at bolstering the back end they shopped an eighth round WHL Bantam Draft Pick in 2013 and in return got 18 year-old Jared Rathjen from the Victoria Royals.
This gives them security behind the pipes while giving up nothing and being able to distribute the work load with two quality tenders.
Rathjen is currently playing for the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
In 11 games with the Wolverines this season, Rathjen has a GAA of 2.99 and a 0.916 save %.
The PG native played 26 games with the Victoria Royals in the past two seasons and in only 4 appearances this season (with the Royals) he had a 2-2 record, a 2.92 GAA and a 0.912 save %.
Rathjen will join the Giants in Edmonton for their upcoming Alberta road trip, while allowing him to get more familiar with his new team mates.
Look for a possible move or over-age forward Trevor Cheek as the trade deadline looms ever so close!!!
