Giants/Bruins Trade Punches

This match-up is the 9th of the season between both clubs with one yet to be played. The Giants are 5-3-0-0 over the Bruins and 3-1-0-0 on home ice and sporting a 2-2-0-0 in Chilliwack.

The final meeting of the season between both clubs is Saturday March 12th in Chilliwack. While the building is large, it was listed that the overall paid attendance was 5,207 on this clear Vancouver evening.

Entering this game see’s Chilliwack sitting six points behind Vancouver who have locked up a play-off spot holding onto second place with 71 points, six behind Kelowna.

The Giants are coming off a dismal weekend of hockey, losing to Portland 5-0 followed by a loss to Tri-City 5-1 in a game where Mark Segal made 19 saves in a losing battle and the Giants went 0-3 on the PP, while Tri-City was 2-3, thus making the trip home far more enjoyable.

The win on February 27th saw Giants head coach Don Hay pass Pat Ginnell for the third most career wins by a head coach in the WHL with 519.

The record was held for a while and it might be a while yet, before it is surpassed, but only time will tell.

After one period of this game the Bruins were up by a margin of 1-0 with the first period being filled with several minors assessed by the game ref’s Trent Knorr and Steve Papp.

While the game was physical there was one situation in the second with 17:18 on the clock Giants player was checked into the boards behind the net with a “head-shot” and from my view point, he was out before he hit the ice.

Team Doctor Martin Ray came on the ice to attend to the player then they took him off on a stretcher and I assume to the hospital for observation.

This followed by yet another head-shot at 6:17 of the period as Vannieuwenhuizen was “nailed” from behind which saw the Giants have a five minute PP for all efforts.

The third started as tentative as the second did, both trading shots, but nothing of any quality. The Bruins did manage a goal at 9:27 off the stick of Horak from Soudek to take a 2-0 lead.

Try as they might and even using the T/O which was called with 1:52 left in the game, the Giants were unable to muster any offense only getting 2 shots on net in the remaining time.

The Giants outshot Chilliwack by a margin of 36-24 putting the Bruins four (4) points behind the Giants.

Final score saw Chilliwack out-gun the Giants by a 2-0 tally.

Next game for the Giants is March 11th against Prince George Cougars
Three Stars:
3rd Star  # 27 Statstny
2nd Star # 25 soudek
1st Star  # 1 Lucas Gore