Ostapchuk becomes first Giant to win gold, twice

(Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants)

Gold is starting to become a common colour in the life of Giants’ Captain Zack Ostapchuk. His WHL team dons black and white jerseys with gold trims for many games during the regular season and now he has helped Canada win back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior’s. With two gold medals, Ostapchuk has now won gold the most of any Giants’ player in team history.

Ostapchuk finished the night with one shot on goal and had a few decent looks offensively to help Canada defeat Czechia 3-2 in overtime. The gold medal is the second for Ostapchuk in a span of two years. The Ottawa Senators prospect also took part in the tournament last August in Edmonton, Alberta. The score and ending was the same for both gold medal games, but Canada faced off against Finland last summer instead of Czechia.
Ostapchuk was invited to Canada’s World Junior selection camp on December 5 and would go on to win gold one month later. The camp ran from December 9 – December 12 in Moncton, NB and Ostapchuk did more than enough to earn his spot on the team for another year.
Ostapchuk was the 12th Overall selection by the Giants in the first round of the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft. The left-shot forward began showing up on the scoresheet on a more frequent basis during the 2020-21 season when he picked up seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 22 games. Ostapchuk is the reigning Giants MVP and has 29 points in 21 games so far during the 2022/23 season. Ostapchuk was a 2nd round pick (39th overall) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Drafted by the NHL team in the capital of Canada, Ostapchuk played a lot of key minutes in front of what many will think of as the most energetic arena in Canada. The native of St. Albert, Alberta notched two goals and an assist for three points in seven games during the tournament. Ostapchuk was counted on to go up against the power play’s of opposing teams and had a few short-handed opportunities at the tournament.
Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta praises Ostapchuk for his leadership and work ethic, and is quick to point out the growth that he has experienced as a player. Playing with and against some of the greatest junior players in the world and to play the amount of minutes that he did will certainly continue to improve his skill and confidence as a player.
Justin Sourdif (2022), Bowen Byram (2020, 2021), Brendan Gallagher (2012), Evander Kane (2009), Cody Franson (2007), and Kenndal McArdle (2007) are all former members of the G-men who played for Canada.
Vancouver will play their next three games on the road against the Tri-City Americans, Spokane Chiefs, and Kamloops Blazers before returning home. Less than one week after playing the Chiefs on the road on January 7th the Giants will host them on Friday, January 13 at the first home game of 2023.