It’s ‘Legends Weekend’ and the Vancouver Giants played like legends as they took down the struggling Regina Pats 10-4 on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre.
This game had everything you could ask for as far as junior hockey goes, every one of the 14 goals scored could easily make their way onto the plays of the week, fans were also entertained by three fights, and even a marriage proposal in the stands in the first period. So let’s get into it.
It didn’t take the Giants long to put one past Max Paddock and the Regina Pats, as Justin Sourdif scored just 44 seconds into the game to put them up 1-0. The Giants didn’t stop there, they scored three unanswered, absolutely peppering the Pats and forcing Paddock out of the game with just over five minutes left in the 1st to make the score 4-1 Vancouver after 20 minutes.
That didn’t take long! Fresh off his U17 games, Justin Sourdif makes it 1-0 @WHLGiants 44 seconds in #WHL pic.twitter.com/kFWqkDA7Sm
— Caden Fanshaw (@CadenFanshaw) November 17, 2018
The Pats tried to push back, putting one past goaltender Trent Miner to end the 1st, and another to start the 2nd but that’s as close as they got. The Giants came right back on the powerplay after the Pats second marker and started the offence that came in like a landslide for the Giants.
Vancouver again went on a tear with the whole team producing offence, coming up with three more unanswered goals, which arguably could’ve been a lot more. The offensive chances never seemed to stop for either team, the G-men would have a chance at one end and just barely miss the net, then the Pats would come streaking down the ice only to have Miner slam the door shut multiple times.
Special teams were very ‘special’ in this one, with both teams scoring shorthanded markers, and also both converting on at least one powerplay chance. The Giants finished three for eight, while the Pats went one for six on the man advantage.
Just when you thought maybe the goals would stop, someone would score again, with the teams trading goals in the third to eventually complete 60 minutes with a 10-4 score.
Score is 10-4. I’ve officially run out of room on the section of my paper reserved for scoring. #VANvsREG #WHL
— Caden Fanshaw (@CadenFanshaw) November 17, 2018
There was no lack of offence for either team, that’s for certain. 12 players between the two teams had two points or more. The standouts for Regina being Nick Henry with a hat trick, Jake Leshyshyn increasing his point streak to nine games, and Austin Pratt extending his point streak to five games. For Vancouver, Milos Roman had another multi point night, Yannik Valenti had his first multi-point and multi-goal game, and Tristen Nielsen who notched his first two goals as a Giant.
Coach Michael Dyck said after the game “we played on our toes, we did less thinking and more reacting,” adding “tonight, we just played.”
Dyck also commented on how encouraging it was to see the offence coming from up and down the lineup and the powerplay coming together to convert their chances.
The last time the @WHLGiants scored over 10 goals in a game was November 18th, 2011 vs. VIC at the Pacific Coliseum. #WHL
— Caden Fanshaw (@CadenFanshaw) November 17, 2018
The Giants (14-4-2-0) carried on their winning streak when scoring first, moving them to 9-0 on the season. They play again Saturday night in Everett, in what should be an exciting game between the two top teams in the west.
The Pats (7-14-0-0) move onto face Victoria for Saturday night hockey on the Island.
