The Vancouver Giants are eager to hit the ice, but not just any ice as they have their sights set on the home opener in their new home in Langley.
The Giants made it official in the off-season and in reality, it wasn’t a real surprise to many that they were relocating the team east of the Port Mann.
The new facility is smaller, seating wise, but in other way’s it offers so much to the size and quality of what they can offer the public.
The team’s new home is the Langley Events Centre off 200th and highway 1 in Langley and seats just over 5,000.
With the new addition’s to the facility, such as added lighting, enhanced parking as well a menu that will fit the families budget, simply put – you won’t go away hungry, but with an appetite for more hockey.
The closer the team get’s to hitting the ice, the more surprises they throw out to entice the fans.
Earlier in the day, they hosted a media event with the focus set on the home opener and if you’re a fan of the Giants, you’ll clearly be impressed with what they are serving up.
The home opener will be a Gordie Howe Tribute night, with (I am hearing) special pins for everyone attending to commemorate the hockey legend and co-owner for the Giants.
In addition the Giants plan to honour Gordie Howe by retiring Jersey #9 in his honour.
Howe’s #9 is synonymous to the hockey world, mainly for when he played with Detroit.
In addition to the above the Giants are using a special #9 puck as well as have members of the Howe Family in attendance for the special pre-game ceremony.
Heading into the season and on November 10th they have plans on honouring Pat Quinn for the induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame November 14th in Toronto.
The Vancouver Giants would like to congratulate veteran forward Thomas Foster on being included on the Edmonton Oilers’ roster for their 2016 Rookie Camp which includes the 2016 Young Stars Classic Tournament in Penticton with the camp running from September 15-21.
Foster joins Giants teammate Tyler Benson on Edmonton’s roster and with Benson being drafted in the second round by the Oilers in the 2016 NHL Draft, we wish him all the best.
To the surprise of some, Laird and I brought a new reporter to the Giants media event, but the interesting part is that Kiyomi is from Japan and she will be writing stories in Japanese for local fans.
She has never attended a media event prior to now and was like a “kid in a candy store” meeting everyone, but the highlight was meeting co-owner Lewis Bublé
General Manager Glen Hanlon mentioned “Everyone around the Giants has watched Thomas develop over the last five years and we’re happy for him to have an opportunity to put on the sweater of a team from his home province.”
With the departure of conditioning coach Ian Gallagher leaving the organization; it’s no real surprise to many that they formed a new partnership with conditioning coach Peter Twist and Twist Performance and Wellness, and Aaron Klatt has been named the team’s new Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Hanlon told the media “Adding a conditioning team that is as accomplished as Twist Performance and Wellness is a major plus for us Peter and his team are world renowned in the conditioning field, and they will oversee all of our organizational conditioning needs. Peter’s passion, energy and knowledge will bring us the competitive edge that we are looking for both on the ice and with the recruitment of future players.”
Peter Twist is the President and CEO of Twist Performance and Wellness.
Twist is the former Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Vancouver Canucks and remains a consultant for a number of NHL players.
He has won the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Presidents Award and has authored over 400 papers, 10 books and 19 DVDs on athlete development.
Aaron Klatt is the Coordinator of Athlete Development and Hockey Camps for Twist Performance and Wellness as well as the new Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Giants.
Klatt was raised on the North Shore and played a number of sports growing up before earning a Bachelor of 
Kinesiology.
For more information on Twist Performance and Wellness, click here.
The Giants also released their special events calendar for the season.
Sept. 27 — Las Vegas Giveaway Night
Sept. 30 — Country Night
Oct. 5 — Thanksgiving Turkey Toss presented by BC Turkey Farmers
Nov. 10 — White Spot Legends Night
Dec. 16 — Hyundai Teddy Bear Toss
Jan. 20 — Outdoorsman Night
Feb. 13 — Family Day Festival
March 1 — Fill the Rink in support of Basics for Babies
March 18 — Fan Appreciation Night
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