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VIDEO: Vancouver Giants end Kamloops Blazers winning streak

Tyler Thorpe opened scoring and added an empty net goal

After back-to-back overtime losses, Vancouver Giants had a satisfying win Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27, at Langley Events Centre.

Giants broke a 1-1 deadlock 7:11 into the third period and went on to defeat the visiting Kamloops Blazers 3-1 in front of 4,522 fans, ending a four-game win streak for the visitors.

Tyler Thorpe opened the scoring and added an empty net goal, while Connor Levis tallied the game-winning-goal against his former club, in a contest where Vancouver out-shot Kamloops 36-26. Colton Roberts, Ty Halaburda and Jaden Lipinski recorded two assists each.

Burke Hood made 25 saves on 26 shots for the second win of his young career.

Scoring the lone goal for Kamloops was Conner Radke.

Giants record improves to 7-4-2-0, while the Blazers drop to 6-7-1.

Giants Head Coach Manny Viveiros felt "really good overall."

"I thought we got off to a really good start in the first period," Viveiros said.

"In the second period, I thought we had some really good looks offensively too, but we got a little bit loose after that. We gave up some really good chances and Burke was there and made some real big saves for us at that time. Then we just resettled back after the second period, we reset, and got going in the third period."

"It was nice to get a win," Goaltender Burke Hood said.

"I think playoff teams learn to win close games and I think we're starting to learn that and it will [help] us."

Next, Vancouver will host Saskatoon on Friday, Nov.1. Puck drop is 7 p.m.

4 Giants Listed by NHL Central Scouting

Four Vancouver Giants players have been listed by NHL Central Scouting on their 'Preliminary Players to Watch' list for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, which was announced Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Leading the way was forward Cameron Schmidt, who was given a 'B' rating, followed by goaltender Matthew Hutchison ('C'), forward Aaron Obobaifo ('C') and goaltender Burke Hood ('W'). Twenty-one of 22 Western Hockey League clubs are represented in the preliminary rankings. With four players, the Giants are tied for the second-most with Victoria. Calgary and Spokane each have five.

A ‘B’ rating indicates a second or third round candidate, ‘C’ rated players project as fourth or fifth-round picks and a ‘W’ rating indicates a player who could go in the sixth or seventh round.

Giants Sign Winnipeg's Luca Pura

Giants have signed 2008-born forward Luca Pura to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.  The announcement was made Thursday, Oct. 24.

Last year, the Winnipeg native played for Team Manitoba in the 2023 WHL Cup, where he recorded two goals and added an assist in five games, helping them capture a Gold Medal.

The 6-foot-2, 185 lb. left-shot forward was the Giants seventh-round selection (139th overall) in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

“Luca is a strong forward with good awareness around the net who has made impressive strides since we drafted him in 2023,” Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta said. “We look forward to seeing his continued growth this season."

After scoring 19 goals and adding nine assists for 28 points in 39 games with the U18 Winnipeg Wild last season, Pura has already recorded 17 points (6G-11A) in the first nine games of the year.

Thirteen of his 17 points have come at even-strength and he is currently riding an eight-game point streak.

"I would like to thank my family, friends, current coaches and past coaches for their support throughout my journey," Pura said. "I am very excited for the opportunity to be part of the Vancouver Giants organization and can't wait for what's to come."

 

 

 

 



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