The Vancouver Giants are looking like a much improved hockey team in comparison to the 2016-17 WHL season. For their poor performance last year, fans wanted a turnaround. Most would chalk up last season to a number of reasons. Some include a new coach, a new general manager and a new building. Others believe it has to do with the way players were used, from the crease all the way to centre ice. Players were put in spots that did not lead to them having success.
2016/17 goaltending and defense
In the net last year, 19 year old Ryan Kubic was leaned on heavily to handle the goal stopping duties, leaving 18 year old David Tendeck to make a relief appearance here and there. Kubic performed well, posting a 3.67 GAA in 56 games, while Tendeck had a 4.78 GAA in 22 games. Not staggering numbers for the young goal tending duo that the Giants had last season. One reason the Giants needed a turnaround was due to the situation in the crease.
The defencemen that were supposed to have the goaltenders backs last year, were a rotating carousel. Head coach Jason McKee was unable to pen in the same lineup for much of last year. Injuries, suspensions, call-ups and trades led to a lot of shakeup on the GMen’s blue line last season. In total, 14 defenceman were used. The number 14 jumps out at you because its hard to find chemistry if you constantly have a different defensive partner next to you in the line. It did not help coming into last season that the Giants only had five defenceman left over from the year prior.
2016/17 offence
There was a lot of hype surrounding the whole Giants attack last season, and rightfully so. Tyler Benson was coming off being drafted in the second round by the Edmonton Oilers. Ty Ronning was coming off a 31 goal season, and Radovan Bondra was emerging as one of the best shooters in the WHL. It all fell apart when Benson missed more than half the season, and Ronning had just 25 goals. The Giants started their inaugural season at the Langley Events Centre winless in the first four games. Winning just one of their first eight overall. It is never easy to turnaround from losing that many games early on in a season. Since the team could not make that good of a turnaround, they made some moves. They traded away fan favourites Radovan Bondra and Dmitry Osipov. Their were some bright spots though, with former Valley West Hawk star James Malm emerging as a real first line player. Not to mention Tyler Benson coming back to much fanfare.
There were a lot of areas of that needed to be addressed this past off-season for the Vancouver Giants. Fixing the power play was one. Another was finding offensive help for Benson and Ronning. Also, finally shoring up the defensive situation. Now it is time to compare the team through the part of the season this year compared to last season altogether.
2017/18 goal tending and defense
Starting once again in the crease, the goaltenders from the previous year in David Tendeck and Ryan Kubic were nothing to sneeze at. The feeling was though, that youngster Todd Scott deserved a shot in the crease this season and that Kubic needed a fresh start. So Kubic got traded away to Saskatoon a few days before the regular season, allowing Scott and Tendeck to be thrust into the limelight. And Giants general manager Glen Hanlon will be smiling at the move he made in his second season in that role. Scott has come up with some highlight reel saves and performances, shaking off a season opening 7-1 loss to the Royals. Tendeck has started the majority of the back to backs this season for the GMen. Both goalies who are 18, have appeared in the same amount of games (14), Scott has a 3.96 GAA, and Tendeck has a 3.47 GAA.
On the blue line, the Giants kept stable from last year, having carried over six defencemen. Darian Skeoch in his over age year has performed well while saying healthy. Dylan Plouffe’s draft stock continues to rise, and Bowen Byram is having a good rookie season. Four of Vancouver’s defenceman were born in the 2000’s or later and are rookies. Although they are first year players there is lots advantages to them being younger. Players such as Parker Hendren, love to move the puck which plays into the Giants hands going forward.
2017/18 offence
The Giants offence has come as advertised this season. Ronning, Benson, and newly acquired Brad Morrison as well as import draft pick Milos Roman make the Giants look like a completely different team this time around. The Giants needed help around Benson and they have gotten that from the trade of Morrison and the drafting of Roman. Not to mention the play of returning forwards James Malm, Brayden Watts and Brendan Semchuk. All these factors make this team no longer look like a one line team.
Last season, the Giants had won 10 out of their first 29 games, this year? 12 of 28, heading into Saturday’s game in Prince George. There is certainly an air of optomism around the Giants this season, they are also currently third in the B.C. Division and four points up on the teams chasing the final playoff spots. Time will tell if the turnaround has truly begun.
