(Rob Wilton/Vancouver Giants) It’s been a busy week for Zack Ostapchuk. Earlier this week he helped Canada win back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior’s and he now finds himself a member of the Winnipeg ICE. Drafted by the NHL team in the capital of Canada in 2021, 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.
Upon completion of the World Junior’s, news came out regarding the trade of Zack Ostapchuk. Vancouver acquired a trio of first-round draft picks (2024, 2025, 2026), 2003-born forward Skyler Bruce (Winnipeg, MB), 2005-born forward Connor Dale (St Albert, AB), prospects Owen Brees (2022 5th Rounder) and Hudson Landmark (2022 8th Rounder), and a 2024 5th round draft pick in the exchange. Trading Skyler Bruce was the most difficult player for the Thunderbirds to give up according to ICE President and General Manager Matt Cockell. Bruce is a 2003-born forward listed at 5 ’11” and 176 lbs. The right-shot forward was drafted in the second round by the ICE in 2018 and totalled 70 points in 136 games. Connor Dale, a 2005-born forward, is in his first season in the WHL. Like Zack Ostapchuk, Dale is a native of St. Albert, Alberta. Dale has many years left in the WHL and adds size and strength to Vancouver’s offence, checking in at 6 ‘2” and 172 lbs. Dale has 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points in 24 games as a WHL rookie this season. 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 was 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. Ostapchuk and Savoie look to guide the way against the Seattle Thunderbirds who will visit Winnipeg for their lone regular season appearance this Wednesday. The ICE sit first in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a record of 29-5-0-0 in 34 games while the Thunderbirds are first in the Western Conference 28-5-1-1 having played 35 games. Trading captains near the trade deadline is nothing new for Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta. Parneta shipped off Justin Sourdif to the Edmonton Oil Kings on January 17, 2022. Ostapchuk went on to replace Sourdif as the team’s captain and that spot is now void. In the trade, the Giants received two first-round draft picks (one in 2022 and another in 2025) and, at the time, 19-year-old left winger Jacob Boucher from the Oil Kings. Boucher had six points in 15 regular season games with Vancouver and an assist in three playoff games. The G-men are on the road in Kamloops this Wednesday for a 7:00pm puck drop. The team will then return home for games on Friday and Sunday against Spokane and Tri-City.
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January 2024
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