Vancouver Giants are heading State side, hoping for a victory this week against a few of their U.S. counterparts in Washington.
The Langley-based major junior hockey team is playing its next three games away from home, starting and ending in Kennewick with games against the Tri-City Americans on both Wednesday and Saturday nights. And in between, they’re visiting Spokane where they’ll take on the Spokane Chiefs on Friday night.
The team is looking for a victory after a disappointing weekend of play.
Following a 5-3 loss against the Rockets in Kelowna on Friday night, the G-Men returned to Langley for an afternoon game on home ice Sunday afternoon, they once again fell, this time 8-3 to the top ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League – the Regina Pats.
The Pats, who have only lost one game in regulation time this season, skated to victory over the Giants.
The Giants had a strong start to the game, but the Pats opened the scoring just before the midway mark of the first period when Adam Brooks setup Luc Smith from behind the net, explained team marketing director Brendan Batchelor.
Brooks scored a goal of his own a few minutes later before Nick Henry tallied a power play marker.
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Vancouver goalie Ryan Kubic was chased from the net after conceding three goals on six shots. Connor Hobbs added his name to the score sheet before the end of the stanza to give the visitors a 4-0 lead after one period.
Johnny Wesley put the Giants on the board early in the second period, beating Pats goaltender Jordan Hollett on a shot from the point.
The Pats responded with a power play goal from Filip Ahl before Austin Wagner scored on a hard net drive to put Regina ahead 6-1.
Dmitry Osipov bagged his first goal of the season in the final minute of the middle frame on a hard shot from the right circle.
Henry picked up his second goal of the evening in the third period, and Rykr Cole scored for Regina. as well.
Tyler Popowich scored Vancouver’s third goal of the evening, poking a loose puck across the goal line for his first goal in the Western Hockey League.
Regina out shot Vancouver 27-25.
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Vancouver went 0-for-5 on the power play.
Giants goaltender David Tendeck made 16 saves on 21 shots after relieving Kubic in the first period.
The Giant’s next home game will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 29, against the Prince George Cougars. For tickets, click here or call 604-444-2687.
• Click here to see more photos from the Giants Vs. Pats game
