Vancouver Giants
Alumni Feature, B.C. Division, Interviews

The Greatest Empty Netter in Giants History: Spencer Machacek

Written by Adam Kierszenblat on

 

Spencer Machacek played for the Vancouver Giants from 2005-2008. During that time, he went to two straight Memorial Cups and was named captain of the team in his final season. Currently, Machacek is plying his trade over in Germany with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of the DEL. The 32-year-old has great memories of his time with the Giants. During a recent interview, Machacek looked back on his time in Vancouver and the lessons that have carried him through his career.

Rookie Season with the Giants:

After a year in the AJHL with the Brooks Bandits, Machacek made the team out of training camp as a 17-year-old. The Giants were a solid team that had made the quarterfinals the year before. Machacek joined other first-year Giants like Jonathon Blum, Brent Regner, Lance Bouma, and Michal Repik to solidify the team. With the injection of young players, along with older starts like Gilbert Brule and Cody Franson, the Giants made a run to the Memorial Cup. Machacek credits Mitch Bartley, who was playing in his final WHL season, for helping him get through his rookie year.

“It helped to have some experienced older guys on the team. In my first year, I lived with Mitch Bartley so that helped me for sure. He was a 20-year-old and I was a 17-year-old, so we were doing different things, but it was fun. The coaching staff and billets made it an easy transition.”

In his first season, Machacek put up 45 points in 70 games. The Giants finished with 100 points for the first time in team history, as well as sweeping the last Western Final and WHL Finals. The Giants made it all the way to the Memorial Cup where they lost to Moncton in the semi-finals.

“It was such a fun group with Hazer (Don Hay) as our head coach. He was such a strict coach that taught us a lot on and off the ice. I personally think he is the reason I could move into pro so easily. We went out East and it was a different game. We took a lot of penalties early in the tournament, but we had a solid team. The experience we had that year really helped. We played some good teams. To have that experience helped us in the next year. It definitely trained us to be more mature and how to win the next year.”

2007 Rivalry with the Medicine Hat Tigers:

After making the championship the year before, the Giants were playing hosts to the Memorial Cup. They were determined to win in front of their home fans, and now had the experience of what it takes to make the championship. 14 players from the Giants Memorial Cup team made the NHL including Machacek. After another BC Division title and 100-point season, Machacek and the Giants were playing in the WHL finals versus Medicine Hat. Both teams were guaranteed spots in the Memorial Cup but were still determined to win the WHL championship. The series went to game 7 where Medicine Hat won in double overtime in what some consider the greatest game 7 in WHL history.

“Every few minutes, we had to skate around the ice because it was so hot and foggy. That showed you how deep the series went. It was one of the most epic series in WHL history. There were biting incidents and fighting. There was everything in that series. It was a crazy round and then to end in double overtime was tough. The goal was a floater with no screen and just went right past Sexsmith. At that point, we both knew we were going to the Memorial Cup but we both wanted to win. You don’t want to go in the back door, you want to go in as the champion. During the game, it was tough to keep momentum when they had to come out and clear the fog every few minutes.”

Memorial Cup:

During the Memorial Cup, Machacek potted three goals on route to winning the championship. All three were powerplay goals, and he also scored the first and last goals of the tournament. Having the tournament at home provided an extra spark for Machacek and the Giants.

“At home, you have up to 16,000 fans waving white towels. It gives me chills just talking about it. Every year when the Memorial Cup comes on, my wife teases me because I go on YouTube to check out our game. Pretty much once a year, I’ll go back and watch clips of that tournament. Playing in front of the fans at home definitely helped us and gave us momentum. It felt like we had an extra player out there.”

Facing Medicine Hat Again:

The Giants and Tigers met up again in the round-robin, where Medicine Hat won 1-0. This meant that the Giants would have to play in the semi-finals, while Medicine Hat went straight to the finals. This loss helped motivate the Giants as they wanted to prove they were better than Medicine Hat.

“The 1-0 game tells you right there how rugged and gritty the game was. It was the eighth time we played in 15 days. The goal was by Derek Dorsett on the powerplay. It was one of those grinding games and it just felt like, after that, the story had to continue. It didn’t feel like we were done.”

On May 27th, 2007, the Giants took on Medicine Hat for the Memorial Cup Championship in front of a capacity crowd at the Pacific Coliseum. The game was gritty and exciting. Machacek still remembers this game fondly, from his goal to “the shift” where Milan Lucic threw three big hits and fought to fire up his team.

“I’m sure that coaches use that shift in video sessions still to this day. He went out and threw three big hits. You have to give (Jordan) Bendfeld credit for stepping up to Lucic. He said I know I’m going to lose this fight anyway, but you can’t run around like that. The roof blew off the building after that shift. The hate that both teams had for each other was something. That is why Lucic was MVP of the tournament.

Champions at Last:

(Photo Credit- Chris Relke)

With less than five minutes to go, Michal Repik scored the game-winner, followed by an empty-net goal by Machacek. Machacek still gets chills talking about the moment Repik scored and the crowd’s reaction.

“I can still see it. It was a play behind the net where Repik lifted the D-man’s stick and wrapped it around to score. After he scored, he celebrated all the way to the neutral zone. I can still picture it. We knew it wasn’t over because of its Medicine Hat. There was a lot of time left but we had the momentum. We were a confident team. The experience of knowing what it’s like to lose drove us. We didn’t give much up in the last five minutes. Then we got a powerplay and I scored the empty-net goal.

“Up until my first career NHL goal, that goal was my all-time favorite. I would tell people it was probably the easiest goal I have ever scored, but that goal was my all-time favorite. Even to this day, that goal is number two. To be able to win in front of the home fans was unbelievable I can still close my eyes and see it. Having everyone there, was just so much fun. It was such a team win. Whenever we get together, we still bring up the Memorial Cup win even after everything everyone has done. It’s really special.”

A Wild Six Months:

In the span of six months, Machacek won the Memorial Cup, was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers and named Captain of the Giants. Although the Giants were not able to repeat, it was a special year for Machacek.

“Within a few weeks, you go to the NHL combine. You do some workouts and interviews with all the NHL teams. After winning the Memorial Cup, it was easy during the interview with the NHL teams because most of the questions were how it felt to win. Then to be drafted was such a cool moment. I stayed home with my family and ex-teammate Kenton Dulle. My billet came from Vancouver and we had a little party. Going to Atlanta that first summer was a fun experience. Then to be named captain was a big step. Hazer, Scott, and Craig Bonner did a great job molding the leadership group from our first year. They taught us how to be good leaders. It was a huge honor to be named captain especially to do it after that Memorial Cup year.”

Don Hay, Scott Bonner, Craig Bonner, and Ian Gallagher:

Machacek credits the Bonners, Hay, and Gallagher for the success he has had in his career.

“I still talk to Scott Bonner. It’s a friendship we still have. For Scott to take a chance on me in the WHL meant a lot. Hazer (Hay) was also a big part. I think that the reason I had success so early was because of Hazer, Craig Bonner, and the coaching staff. They developed us in the WHL and taught us what pro-life was like. Don would always say he is not just training us for hockey, but also for life.

“Hazer, Scott, and Bones (Craig Bonner) did an amazing job helping us adapt to being a pro and I owe a lot of my career to those three guys. As for Ian Gallagher, he was the strength coach when I was there, and I would train with him during the summers after I left the Giants. He played an important role in where I am today. I still keep in touch with all those guys and I wouldn’t be where I am today without that whole organization.”

Playing with the Thrashers/Jets Franchise:

Machacek spent most of his time with the franchise in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves and the St John’s IceCaps. In the 2010-2011 season, Machacek was named to the AHL all-star game and also was awarded the Dan Snyder award. This award is given out within the Chicago Organization for the player that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice. During his time in the NHL, Machacek was part of the move that saw the Atlanta Thrashers move to Winnipeg. With the move came a change in farm teams as the Chicago Wolves were replaced by the St. John’s IceCaps. Machacek registered two goals and nine points in parts of three seasons in the NHL.

“I had some early success. I got called up in my 20-year-old season and played a couple of games. Then in year three, I got to play in the AHL all-star game. I was called up that year and played 10 games. I got my foot in the door with this organization and you feel like next year might be your year but then you’re starting all over again with a new organization in Winnipeg. New farm team and new coaching staff.

(Photo Courtesy of the Vancouver Giants)

“My first year with the Winnipeg organization was one of my most fun years. I had some success in that year as well. Winnipeg was so excited to have the Jets back. I also finally scored that year in the NHL. It was pretty special to play for a Canadian team especially the Jets who had just come back after about 15 years. To be a small part of that was pretty memorable.”

Living and Playing in Germany:

In 2014, Machacek made the move to Germany where he has played ever since. Moving over to Germany was a bit of an adjustment as they play on the bigger ice, but Machacek has enjoyed his time playing overseas. Last season he put up 32 points in 52 games with Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

“The bigger ice was an adjustment. The way I play is I finish all my checks so you slowly realize you can’t do that as much because you are going out of the play to finish the check. It took a month or two but from then on, it has been a lot of fun. It was a great decision to come. I’ve seen so much more of the world than I would have ever seen. I had both my kids over here in Germany. It has been great.”

A Giant for Life:

Machacek was key in the two runs the Giants made to the Memorial Cup. He finished his Giants career with 168 points in 203 games but will always be remembered as the guy who sealed the Memorial Cup for the Giants. A great player on and off the ice, Machacek is another Vancouver Giants alumni having success in the pro hockey world.