The Vancouver Giants annual awards were handed out prior to the game agianst the Kelowna Rockets before 13,766 fans at the Pacific Coliseum and one lucky fan drove off with a 2014 Honda Civic CRV.
Vancouver dropped a 6-5 decision to the WHL’s top team the Kelowna Rockets as they nearly completed a comeback after being down 6-1 after two periods.
This was the Giants last home game prior to the start of the playoffs as they get ready to face the Portland Winters Hawks in the opening round which is their first appearance in two years in the post-season.
Prior to the final home game of the season the Giants honoured the achievements of several individual players this past season and a complete list of award winners is below:
- Players’ Choice Award: Cain Franson
- Sultan Thiara Plus/Minus Award: Dalton Throwe
- High School Scholastic Player of the Year: Thomas Foster
- Post Secondary Academic Player of the Year: Carter Popoff
- Three Stars Award: Cain Franson, Jackson Houck, Brett Kulak
- White Spot Humanitarian of the Year Award: Jackson Houck
- Bruce Allen Inspirational Leadership Award: Mason Geertsen
- 20-Year Olds: Cain Franson, Dalton Thrower, Tim Traber
- Most Improved Player: Thomas Foster
- Sportsmanlike Player Award: Brett Kulak
- Milan Ilich Rookie of the Year: Ty Ronning, Alec Baer
- Pat Quinn Defenceman of the Year Award: Dalton Thrower
- Ironman Award: Carter Popoff
- Unsung Hero Award: Dalton Sward
- Gordie Howe Top Scorer: Carter Popoff
- P.C. Toigo Most Valuable Players: Dalton Thrower and Dalton Sward
The game featured an exciting finish as the Giants who led 1-0 after the opening period on a goal by Ronning after he was set up from Joel Hamilton and Thomas Foster.
The Rockets tied the game as Myles Bell beat Payton Lee to even the score with 4:42 remaining heading to intermission dead-locked at one.
Shots with 34-30 and Rockets Justin Kirkland and back-up “keeper” call up Ryan Kubic played the rest of the game shots were 13-5 for Kelowna.
In the second period the Rockets exploded for five taking a commanding 6-1 lead as they got a pair from Justin Kirkland and the other markers from Rouke Chartier, Madison Bowey with a pair late in the second.
he faced 18 shots finishing with 13 saves in the period total shots were 18-5 for the Rockets as they took the five goal lead into the final period.
Vancouver proved to the fans they are determined to fight in the playoffs as they stormed back in the final period scoring four times cutting the Rockets lead to 6-5.
With under a minute remaining Vancouver goals were scored by Ty Ronning (second of the night) Joel Hamilton, Dimitry Osipov and Jackson Houck.
This brought Vancouver close and they pressed for the equalizer only to hit the crossbar with 6 seconds left in the game.
Rockets vs Giants Last Home GameGiants back-up Ryan Kubic was out standing coming up with huge saves only to turn back the Rockets when they had a chance to score with time running out seeing them fall by a 6-5 score.
Shots in the third period were 18-6 for the Giants and the game total was 34-30 for Vancouver.
The three stars were 1. Madison Bowey of the Rockets 2. Ty Ronning of the Giants and 3. Justin Kirkland of the Rockets
In the Giants now face the Portland Winter Hawks in the opening round the playoffs starting with the first two games begining Friday (21st) and Saturday (22nd) prior to returning home for two on the the 25th (game three) of the series.
