The 2023-24 Vancouver Giants season is officially underway as Training Camp is in full swing. After a day full of practices, the 71 players were broken into four teams on Day 3. Each game was broken into two 25-minute halves, with each team playing two games. Here is a look at the results.
Game 1: Team Lucic (5) vs. Team Gallagher (0)
Team Lucic dominated Team Gallagher in the first game of the day. Less than a minute in, import forward Adam Titlbach opened the scoring after finding a loose puck in the slot. They would double their lead midway through the first thanks to 2007-born forward Caden Cail, who broke away from the defender and scored with a wrist shot from the faceoff dot. At the end of the first, Team Lucic had a deserving 2-0 lead and looked in full control of the game.
Like the first, Team Lucic once again scored early into the second as Skyler Bruce got on the board less than three minutes in. Connor Dale and Gavin Karl would add to the lead midway through the game, while goaltender Brett Mirwald stopped every stop he faced in the 5-0 victory. It was a great start for Team Lucic and one they hope to replicate in their next game against Team Kane.
3 Stars
1st Star- Forward Skyler Bruce (Team Lucic)
2nd Star- Goaltender Brett Mirwald (Team Lucic)
3rd Star- Defenceman Mazden Leslie (Team Gallagher)
Team Byram (3) vs. Team Kane (1)
Game two versus Team Byram and Team Kane was competitive and physical from start to finish. The game’s first goal was a beauty courtesy of Rockston Ror-Chow. The 2008-born forward left a perfect drop pass in the slot for Hudson Landmark, who beat Matthew Hutchison for the first goal of the game with seven minutes left in the first. Team Byram would double their lead late in the first as Colton Langkow’s point shot was tipped in front, making it 2-0 heading into the intermission.
The second was very similar to the first, with lots of chances but strong goaltending on either side. It took until just under seven minutes left for Team Byram to extend their lead thanks to a fantastic shot by Teo Lin. Jaden Lipinski would add a late goal for Team Kane off a scramble in front, but that was as close as they would come, falling 3-1. Despite the win, there will be little time to celebrate as Team Byram plays back-to-back, taking on an angry Team Gallagher, who fell 5-0 in their first game.
3 Stars
1st Star- Forward Teo Lin (Team Byram)
2nd Star- Forward Justin Ivanusec (Team Kane)
3rd Star- Goaltender Joshua Nuttall (Team Byram)
Team Gallagher (4) vs. Team Byram (2)
In their second and final game of the day, Team Gallagher took advantage of a tired Team Byram, winning 4-2. Team Gallagher jumped out to a quick lead as Ty Halaburda scored less than a minute and a half into the game. They would add to their lead thanks to goals from Mazden Leslie and defenceman Ben Feenan to take a 3-0 lead into the break.
After the intermission, it was clear that Team Byram found their legs as forward Max Malinousky broke the shutout less than five minutes into the second. Matthew Edwards would bring them within one with just under ten minutes to play, but that was as close as they would come as an empty netter by forward Tyus Sparks with ten seconds left sealed the 4-2 victory for Team Gallagher. As a result of the final, both teams finished the scrimmage portion of Training Camp with a 1-1 record.
3 Stars
1st Star- Defenceman Ben Feenan (Team Gallagher)
2nd Star- Forward Ty Halaburda (Team Gallagher)
3rd Star- Forward Rockston Ror-Chow (Team Byram)
Team Lucic (6) vs. Team Kane (1)
In the final game of the night, Cameron Schmidt put on a show for Team Lucic as they took care of Team Kane by a score of 6-1. It was a fast start as the two teams combined for three goals in the first five minutes. Adam Titlbach, Kai Anderson and Schmidt each scored within the first five minutes to make it 2-1 for Team Lucic. Schmidt would score once again in the period to help Team Lucic take a 3-1 lead into the break.
After the break, Schmidt kept up his scoring ways, potting his hat trick goal midway through the second. Team Lucic also received goals from defenceman Braydon Riggall and Tyler Thorpe, leading to their 6-1 victory. With the win, they became the only team to post a 2-0 record, while Team Kane went winless in their two contests.
3 Stars
1st Star- Forward Cameron Schmidt (Team Lucic)
2nd Star- Forward Adam Titlbach (Team Lucic)
3rd Star- Forward Tyler Thorpe (Team Lucic)
3 Players From Each Team That Stuck Out From Day 3
- Cameron Schmidt
- Adam Titlbach
- Skyler Bruce
- Rockston Ror-Chow
- Teo Lin
- Damian Palmieri
- Aaron Obobaifo
- Julian Cull
- Mazden Leslie
- Justin Ivanusec
- Mikhail Levaniuk
- Dylan Cai
Next up for the Giants will be the annual Quinn vs. Howe Legends Cup Game set for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2nd.