The Vancouver Giants entered the 2021-2022 WHL season and their 21st season of existence with optimism and belief that the team would be one of the best in the league. The Giants won the first two games of the season, a 5-0 victory in Victoria and a 6-4 victory at the Langley Events Centre against the Prince George Cougars in what was the first game back at home since Friday, February 28th of 2020. The start to the new year has not been as nice as the start to the season for the G-men as the team entered 2022 with a record of 14-16-1-0 and are 1-1-1-0 for the new year.
Since landing in the Canadian Hockey League national rankings in early December, the team has since gone 2-10-1-0. With five NHL Draft Picks on the Giants this season, the most of all Giants teams, the team certainly had reason to believe that their season would unfold differently. Lysell (Boston Bruins), Vikman (Vegas Golden Knights), Ostapchuk (Ottawa Senators), Cotton (Detroit Red Wings), and Sourdif (Florida Panthers) have not been able to spark their team which is something that this team has needed for the last month.
After the Giants 3-2 overtime defeat to the Prince George Cougars Michael Dyck met the media like he does after every game and had this to say about his thoughts in regards to his team prior to the trade deadline that took place yesterday afternoon.
“There’s a lot of things that we’ve got to fix, but we have the time to do it.” Dyck and his staff ran out of time on Monday afternoon.
Despite the WHL trade deadline being pushed back one week, many still believe it was one of the most difficult trade deadlines due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts that it has had on players and teams already this season. Many WHL teams were forced to postpone and shut down team practices and events, including the Giants who have already had three games changed on their original regular-season schedule.
Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta was one of the busier GMs come the trade deadline making three trades that saw Parneta ultimately trade away Tanner Brown (D) and Captain Justin Sourdif (F) in exchange for a forward, a defenceman, and some draft picks.
Parneta got things going first when he traded a fifth-round pick in 2022 and a third-round pick in 2023 to the Regina Pats in exchange for 2002-born defenceman Tom Cadieux (Saskatoon, SK). Cadieux, a right-handed player, is listed at 6’1” and 177-pounds and has spent time with the Tri-City Americans and the Regina Pats. Parneta and Cadieux are no strangers to one another as Cadieux was drafted by the Tri-City Americans when Barclay Parneta was the assistant GM and head scout of the Americans. Parneta claims that Cadieux used to be really good on the power play which is something that could certainly benefit a Vancouver Giants team that has a power play that is operating at 20.7% and currently sitting at 11th in the WHL.
The second of three trades that the Giants made on Monday saw the Vancouver Giants grab a first-round draft pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft from the Winnipeg ICE in return for 2002-born defenceman Tanner Brown. Brown, the pride of Kelowna BC, led the Giants with a +11 rating and received the Giants Unsung Hero Award during last season’s 22 game schedule. Brown is headed to a team with a record of 28-5-2-0 and one that is first in the Eastern Conference.
The third and final trade that the G-men made prior to the trade deadline was arguably one of the most heart-breaking trades the team has ever made. The return was good, but the trade was a tough one to swallow for Giants staff, fans, and players including Sourdif who was named the Captain of the team in September. Some believe that Sourdif who was drafted by the Florida Panthers will be playing in the AHL for the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL team affiliated with the Panthers, come next season. The Giants received two first-round draft picks (2022 and 2025) as well as 2002-born forward Jacob Boucher (Legal, AB) from the Edmonton Oil Kings in the deal. Boucher, a 9th round draft pick in the 2017 WHL Prospects Draft, has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points in 30 games with the Oil Kings this season. Boucher should fit in well with a highly talented group of forwards with the Giants.
The Vancouver Giants are back at it on Friday night when they head over to the island for a 7:05 p.m. tilt against the Royals (12-16-4-0) before concluding the weekend by hosting the Kelowna Rockets (18-10-1-3) the following night at 7:00 p.m.
With the WHL Trade Deadline now in the books, it is up to the newly formed Vancouver Giants to step up and work hard in an attempt to gain confidence and ultimately become the dominant Vancouver Giants team that many believe they should be.