The Sea-to-Sky Boner Report: Feb 22nd, 2014
By Rhys Jessop
10 years ago
The last time we checked in on the Vancouver Giants, they were fresh off a loss against division rival Victoria, but just a game removed from a 10-0 blowout of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (despite having lost their captain and #1 defenseman Dalton Thrower to a reported ankle injury).
Since then, times have been tough for the G-Men as they stared down one of the toughest stretches of the season without their best player. The wins have stopped coming, goaltending has struggled, and the possession numbers have slipped.
More importantly, Vancouver has lost ground in the all-important race to stay out of 7th in the WHL. They sit just 4 points up on the 7th place Everett Silvertips, and with just 10 games remaining in the regular season, it’s definitely scoreboard-watching time. For a look at how the rest of the season is shaping up, read past the jump.
Vancouver has won two games in a row, but both of those are against the absolute bottom-feeders of the WHL in Kamloops and Lethbridge. Before that, they had just 3 wins in the previous 10 games, and had suffered big losses at the hands of Calgary, Portland and Edmonton. The 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Oil Kings in particular was a particularly poor effort, as the Giants managed just 16 shots on goal over the entire game, which was a season low.
The presence of Dalton Thrower is being missed throughout the lineup, as his absence affects all facets of Vancouver’s game. Since suffering a lower body injury on January 24th, the Giants are a middling 4-5-2-0. Their powerplay has been operating at 17.5%, and their possession numbers have fallen by roughly two percentage points, down to sixth in the WHL from fourth:
| Rank | Name | 2p SF | 2p SA | 2p SF% | SF | SA | Total SF% | GF | GA | Sh% | Sv% | PDO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 1453 | 982 | 59.67% | 2161 | 1508 | 58.90% | 242 | 140 | 11.03% | 90.78% | 101.81% |
| 2 | Medicine Hat Tigers | 1446 | 1092 | 56.97% | 2194 | 1735 | 55.84% | 210 | 159 | 9.41% | 90.84% | 100.24% |
| 3 | Portland Winterhawks | 1556 | 1192 | 56.62% | 2300 | 1887 | 54.93% | 287 | 184 | 12.44% | 90.39% | 102.83% |
| 4 | Everett Silvertips | 1263 | 992 | 56.01% | 1861 | 1555 | 54.48% | 171 | 180 | 9.09% | 88.48% | 97.57% |
| 5 | Kelowna Rockets | 1440 | 1185 | 54.86% | 2180 | 1781 | 55.04% | 250 | 150 | 11.31% | 91.78% | 103.09% |
| 6 | Vancouver Giants | 1373 | 1146 | 54.51% | 2021 | 1746 | 53.65% | 205 | 203 | 10.05% | 88.53% | 98.58% |
| 7 | Regina Pats | 1344 | 1179 | 53.27% | 2035 | 1845 | 52.45% | 203 | 206 | 9.66% | 88.98% | 98.64% |
| 8 | Prince Albert Raiders | 1328 | 1282 | 50.88% | 1968 | 1937 | 50.40% | 188 | 211 | 9.41% | 89.20% | 98.61% |
| 9 | Spokane Chiefs | 1194 | 1170 | 50.51% | 1854 | 1715 | 51.95% | 198 | 189 | 10.53% | 89.08% | 99.62% |
| 10 | Kootenay Ice | 1263 | 1254 | 50.18% | 1876 | 1907 | 49.59% | 196 | 170 | 10.26% | 91.18% | 101.44% |
| 11 | Swift Current Broncos | 1376 | 1369 | 50.13% | 2049 | 2060 | 49.87% | 151 | 174 | 7.28% | 91.82% | 99.10% |
| 12 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 1314 | 1314 | 50.00% | 2020 | 1994 | 50.32% | 216 | 219 | 10.60% | 89.11% | 99.71% |
| 13 | Calgary Hitmen | 1267 | 1299 | 49.38% | 1996 | 1912 | 51.07% | 238 | 168 | 11.79% | 91.36% | 103.15% |
| 14 | Victoria Royals | 1236 | 1320 | 48.36% | 1868 | 1960 | 48.80% | 200 | 152 | 10.52% | 92.39% | 102.90% |
| 15 | Prince George Cougars | 1413 | 1531 | 48.00% | 2083 | 2245 | 48.13% | 214 | 264 | 10.06% | 88.44% | 98.50% |
| 16 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 1223 | 1344 | 47.64% | 1907 | 2041 | 48.30% | 201 | 175 | 10.30% | 91.56% | 101.87% |
| 17 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 1159 | 1289 | 47.34% | 1857 | 1917 | 49.21% | 151 | 225 | 8.03% | 88.54% | 96.57% |
| 18 | Tri-City Americans | 1113 | 1317 | 45.80% | 1669 | 2011 | 45.35% | 203 | 209 | 12.06% | 89.74% | 101.80% |
| 19 | Kamloops Blazers | 1201 | 1456 | 45.20% | 1771 | 2178 | 44.85% | 151 | 253 | 8.47% | 88.51% | 96.98% |
| 20 | Red Deer Rebels | 1201 | 1491 | 44.61% | 1816 | 2192 | 45.31% | 176 | 193 | 9.59% | 91.32% | 100.91% |
| 21 | Saskatoon Blades | 1193 | 1626 | 42.32% | 1809 | 2468 | 42.30% | 175 | 252 | 9.67% | 89.90% | 99.57% |
| 22 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 1133 | 1659 | 40.58% | 1759 | 2460 | 41.69% | 145 | 295 | 8.14% | 88.12% | 96.25% |
This deficiency in puck possession can be a symptom of a few things, namely difficulties turning pucks over and exiting the defensive zone – two areas where Thrower excelled. Mason Geertsen has tried to fill-in in the captain’s absence, and while he’s done an admirable job, the 18 year old simply does not possess Thrower’s offensive talent. Not surprisingly, the Giants’ top offensive weapons have also had troubles scoring since Thrower has been out of the lineup.
Between the Jan 24th game against Lethbridge and the most recent game against the woeful Hurricanes, leading scorers Carter Popoff and Brett Kulak both had 0G-4A in 11 GP. Jackson Houck had 0G-0A in 10 games, and Dominik Volek had 3G-1A over the same time. Cain Franson and Joel Hamilton posted much more respectable numbers, but again, the majority of their offense came in two games against the basement-dwelling Kamloops Blazers.
Unfortunately, Thrower isn’t expected back in the lineup for another two to three weeks, and Vancouver’s schedule doesn’t get any easier. Four of their 10 remaining games come against the CHL-leading Kelowna Rockets, and two more still come against who I consider to be easily the WHL’s two best teams in the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Portland Winterhawks. By contrast, the Everett Silvertips face Seattle and Tri-City for 6 of their remaining 13 games, and elite teams just 3 times over that span. Vancouver will need some drastically improved play and some good luck to stay in 6th and avoid a 1st round matchup with the powerhouse Winterhawks, who are 15-0-0-0 since receiving Mat Dumba from the Minnesota Wild.
Wins, expected wins, and special teams:
| Rank | Name | GP | Wins | Ewins | Diff | SOW | SOL | PP% | PK% | STI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelowna Rockets | 58 | 46 | 43 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 21.70% | 86.80% | 108.50% |
| 2 | Portland Winterhawks | 60 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 28.50% | 82.50% | 111.00% |
| 3 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 57 | 41 | 43 | -2 | 4 | 1 | 20.80% | 85.20% | 106.00% |
| 4 | Victoria Royals | 61 | 41 | 39 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 21.40% | 82.10% | 103.50% |
| 5 | Calgary Hitmen | 60 | 39 | 40 | -1 | 3 | 3 | 22.60% | 83.90% | 106.50% |
| 6 | Medicine Hat Tigers | 59 | 36 | 37 | -1 | 4 | 0 | 19.70% | 80.30% | 100.00% |
| 7 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 59 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 20.90% | 80.40% | 101.30% |
| 8 | Kootenay Ice | 59 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 24.80% | 78.80% | 103.60% |
| 9 | Regina Pats | 59 | 31 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 19.30% | 72.90% | 92.20% |
| 10 | Spokane Chiefs | 60 | 29 | 31 | -2 | 3 | 2 | 22.10% | 78.00% | 100.10% |
| 11 | Everett Silvertips | 59 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 20.10% | 77.20% | 97.30% |
| 12 | Vancouver Giants | 60 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 2 | 3 | 22.40% | 81.10% | 103.50% |
| 13 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 60 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 2 | 2 | 23.90% | 75.50% | 99.40% |
| 14 | Tri-City Americans | 61 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 2 | 3 | 18.10% | 81.70% | 99.80% |
| 15 | Red Deer Rebels | 60 | 28 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 19.70% | 82.30% | 102.00% |
| 16 | Prince Albert Raiders | 59 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 25.30% | 77.60% | 102.90% |
| 17 | Swift Current Broncos | 59 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 23.00% | 76.80% | 99.80% |
| 18 | Prince George Cougars | 63 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 17.60% | 74.70% | 92.30% |
| 19 | Saskatoon Blades | 60 | 16 | 20 | -4 | 0 | 3 | 22.20% | 74.40% | 96.60% |
| 20 | Moose Jaw Warriors | 58 | 15 | 18 | -3 | 2 | 6 | 19.10% | 77.50% | 96.60% |
| 21 | Kamloops Blazers | 60 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 1 | 3 | 15.80% | 71.20% | 87.00% |
| 22 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 61 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 19.20% | 71.30% | 90.50% |
Around the B.C. Division:
Kamloops Blazers: Are a league worst 1-9-0-0 in the last 10 games…F Chase Suoto is out for 1-2 more weeks with an upper body injury, while F Luke Harrison, F Tyson Ness and G Justin Myles are all out indefinitely…F Cole Ully leads the team in scoring with 62 points in 57 games.
Kelowna Rockets: Sit 1st in the WHL with a 47-8-0-4 record…Ranked 1st overall in the CHL Top 10 rankings once again…Second leading scorer F Tyson Baillie will miss 4-5 weeks with a broken leg, while D Jesse Lees is day-to-day.
Prince George Cougars: Have moved to 2 points back of Tri-City for the final playoff spot in the WHL’s west, but Tri-City has 3 games in hand…20-year old F Todd Fiddler was named WHL player of the month for January after 16 goals and 13 assists in just 14 games. Fiddler has 73 points in 43 games since joining Prince George…Forwards Jari Ericsson, Chase Witala and Alex Forsberg remain day-to-day with injuries, F Brett Roulston is out for 2 weeks, F David Soltes is out 4-6 weeks, and G Brett Zarowny is day-to-day.
Victoria Royals: Clinched a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history with a 3-2 OT win against Tri-City…Have won 7 games in a row and are 9-0-1-0 in their last 10…Are ranked 10th in the CHL Top 10 for the 2nd week in a row.
Other WHL News and Notes:
- Portland has won 15 games in a row since Mat Dumba has returned from Minnesota, and are unbeaten in 19 straight games. With Dumba in the lineup, they have outscored their opponents 94-31, or an average of 6.3-3.1 per game.
- Portland F Nic Petan now leads the WHL in scoring with 102 points in 51 games, and is 2nd in the entire CHL behind Erie’s Connor Brown, although Brown has played 6 more games.
- Spokane F Mitch Holmberg still leads the WHL in goals with 51 in 60 games.
- Amid a tumultuous season, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have fired assistant coach Brad Lukowich after he left the team, due to suspected differing philosophies with head coach Drake Berehowsky. Lethbridge is 12-45-2-3 on the season, with a league worst 147 goals for, and a league worst 300 goals against.
- The Hurricanes also have the misfortune of being completely broke and are averaging fewer than 700 fans per game. Alumnus Kris Versteeg is rumoured to have interest in buying the team.
- Seattle and Tri-City took part in a line brawl earlier this month, the second recent one that Seattle has been involved in. Both teams received fines from the WHL for secondary altercations.
- Recent suspensions have been to Swift Current’s Dakota Odgers (1 game) and Bobby Zinkan (3 games), Moose Jaw’s Scott Cooke (2 games), Calgary’s Jaynen Rissling (2 games), Lethbridge’s Macoy Erkamps (1 game) and Carter Amson (2 games), Brandon’s Colton Waltz (3 games), and Tri-City’s Jesse Astles (7 games, the longest suspension this season).
- The CHL and Sportsnet announced a new 12-year television deal that will see Sportsnet air more than 50 CHL games each year. The exposure is definitely good for the CHL, but by no means is this the beginning of massive mainstream exposure for the Junior hockey circuit in Canada. Segmented markets don’t really make regional cable coverage viable, so don’t expect to see hundreds of nationally televised games on your T.V. anytime soon.
- The WHL plays of the week are here, featuring some pretty nice passing plays this week.
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