‘BE VANCOUVER’ SLOGAN CONTINUES TO WORK FOR G-MEN

The Vancouver Giants got their season started on a high note thanks to a 4-1 performance over the Victoria Royals. Both teams were missing players due to NHL Training Camps, making it an even more impressive game.

(Vancouver Giants / Twitter)

"The kids played really well this evening. There was a little bit of nervousness, but I thought we settled in. Once we got concentrated on what we needed to do to win the game, I thought we played really well," said Giants head coach Manny Viveiros.

Goals came off the sticks of Tyler Thorpe, Adam Titlbach, Cameron Schmidt, and Colton Langkow. Titlbach's first goal in the WHL was off a beautiful backhand move on a penalty shot at the 3:17 mark of the second period. Schmidt scored his first goal in the league to give the Giants a 3-0 lead and their first power-play goal of the year. Deegan Kinniburgh snapped Mirwald's shutout performance with forty seconds left in the game.

Brett Mirwald is one of five 20-year-old players on the Vancouver Giants. The team can only keep three and must cut two by early October. Mirwald saw the puck from all angles tonight but made some solid saves and did an excellent job with his rebound control. 

Mirwald was calm, relaxed, and collected. "That's what you expect from a 20-year-old goaltender like that. The way he conducts himself within the room and on the ice. He's a calming influence for our group," added the bench boss. Mirwald stuck to his game and kept his team together, which allowed them to get their feet under them. 

Mirwald will likely be one of the team's three 20-year-old players. "I don't see why not. He's a stabilizer back there. Our plan going in is for him to be with us. He's looked like the number one goaltender in the league for a number of years," added Viveiros.

Lead by example. It's more than what you do on the ice but what you do off the ice. Those are the words Vancouver's head bench boss has for his players as they begin another campaign in the Western Hockey League.

Tonight's victory was the first for Vancouver's new bench boss, Manny Viveiros. It was also a significant victory for the club, who played without some of their top players.

Mazden Leslie (Toronto Maple Leafs), Jaden Lipinski, and Sam Honzek (Calgary Flames) were absent for the home opener as the trio is away at NHL Training Camps. Viveiros is unsure when they will return but recognizes the value of those players getting that experience. "That experience that these kids are getting is invaluable, so I think they will be even better when they get back," exclaimed Viveiros.

Legendary Giants coach Don Hay used to say that if things are going well for your team, you can take the will to win away from your opponent. The effort will be there, but the opponent will begin to lose their drive, and that's what the Vancouver Giants were able to do against Victoria tonight.

The Giants will have fitness testing tomorrow before taking the day off on Sunday. Vancouver will then participate in a few practices before playing against the Blazers for their first road game of the season. The trip to Kamloops should bring the team closer together and will be an excellent way to see how the G-men look in a hostile visiting rink.

Vancouver's next home game is on Sunday, October 1, when they host the Wenatchee Wild. The Wild have many players who have aged out of the Western Hockey League but should still be a dominant team, with Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie getting set to lead them for another season.

Last year, the Giants were a team with hopes of a brighter future, and tonight, the squad showed that their time is now.