Giants’ struck gold in St. Patrick’s game

(Photo credit: Langley Events Centre)

The Vancouver Giants downed the Everett Silvertips 3-0 in front of an announced crowd of 3,515 fans. It was the 63rd game of Vancouver’s regular season and their 26th victory in the campaign. The win was a complete effort for Vancouver, with multiple players certainly earning themselves a mug of that grassy beverage.​

It felt like Everett was putting lots of pressure on the Giants, but the G-men stayed in control of the game. Tonight’s 3-0 victory is the second consecutive home win at the LEC dating back to last Sunday’s 3-2 overtime winner against Prince George. 

Jaden Lipinski (19), Colton Roberts (2), and Ty Thorpe (35) all had goals for the G-men. Vancouver’s first two goals bounced off Everett’s defenceman and in the net. Vancouver’s head coach, Michael Dyck, believes that “some of those bounces were the luck of the Irish.” It was Ty Thorpe’s goal that sent the crowd into a frenzy. You won’t find a much more gritty or hardworking play than Ty Thorpe’s goal to give Vancouver a 3-0 lead.

Some players had to wear different jersey numbers tonight to accommodate the Pat Quinn uniforms. One of those players was Vancouver’s goaltender Jesper Vikman who rocked #31 instead of his usual #30.

Vikman was Vancouver’s four-leaf clover tonight, earning his first shutout of the year and being named the game’s first star of the night. The Vegas Golden Knights prospect has four shutouts in 79 regular season games and one shutout in 11 playoff games. The Swedish goaltender was full-value for Vancouver in the game. “I couldn’t be happier for Jesper Vikman. It’s his first of the year and really well deserved,” Michael Dyck added.

A player who bravely helped Vikman earn his shutout was 20-year-old defenceman Dylan Anderson. The Silvertips had snuck the puck past Vikman, but Anderson put his face in front of the puck to keep the Silvertips off the board. Anderson’s save was evidenced by a puddle of blood in Vikman’s crease. The blood would be cleaned up, and Anderson would need stitches. Michael Dyck praised Anderson by claiming that “he’s the hardest player we have physically. He brings it every game. That’s just the kind of guy he is.” Jesper Vikman also had high praise for his defenceman, “it’s an amazing play. I’ve never seen anything like it, and it shows the character he’s made of. I think I owe it to him.” Anderson did not return to the game.

Vancouver has done a great job this year of ignoring the score on the scoreboard and trying their best to only focus on the game and just play. The team was up by a goal near the midway mark of the first period, but they continued to push and look to add more goals.

“I thought we were really good. In the third, we did what we had to to lock it down,” Michael Dyck.
Everett has a really good forecheck. The Giants did well getting the puck out of their own zone tonight. Getting pucks out of the zone has been inconsistent for Vancouver this season. The team did a good job tonight and hopes to do the same tomorrow.

“We know that building, and we know this team well. They’re not going to change anything. We’re just looking at the next game right now,” Michael Dyck said.

Some players' maturity from September to this point in the season has been tremendous. The Vancouver Giants are not a perfect team, but their lineup and how they have been playing lately make them a team to keep an eye on down the stretch. Vancouver will have an excellent idea of who they will play in the playoffs as the season continues to shake out as it draws to an end.

Vancouver will play their next three games (Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday) down South against Everett, Tri-City, and Portland. The G-men will host Kelowna on Friday for the last regular season game at the LEC. The regular season will then conclude the following day from Kelowna.

Jesper Vikman was a big fan of Quinn’s blue jerseys and wouldn’t mind seeing the team wear theirs a few more times this season. Those same jerseys can be found on the team’s online auction.

The Big Irishman would certainly approve.