Articles, Hockey

Vancouver Giants book those dreaded spring tee times

Defensemen Mason Geertsen (#44) and Brett Kulak (#2) stand in front of goaltender Jared Rathjen during the final weekend of WHL action. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Defensemen Mason Geertsen (#44) and Brett Kulak (#2) stand in front of goaltender Jared Rathjen during the final weekend of WHL action. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

The WHL season is now in the books, and the playoff matchups set for next weekend. Readers in BC, check here for the schedule for games on TV.

For the first time since their inaugural season in 2001-02, the Vancouver Giants find themselves on the outside looking in. While it’s tough for these young men to swallow right now, the Giants and their fans have enjoyed a remarkable run the past 12 years. They earned five consecutive BC Division banners from 2005-06 to 2009-10, and had at least 75 points every season between 2003-04 and 2011-12, including two Memorial Cup appearances (and one win). Numerous Giants alumni now pepper NHL rosters, including Milan Lucic, Cody Franson, Gilbert Brule, Jonathan Blum and now Brendan Gallagher.

Vancouver Giants forward Jackson Houck emerged as a scoring threat this season, putting up a lion's share of the team's offence. He got 57 points in 69 games to lead the team. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Vancouver Giants forward Jackson Houck emerged as a scoring threat this season, putting up a lion’s share of the team’s offence. He got 57 points in 69 games to lead the team. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

So yes, this year’s team had a tough go, coming up dead last in the WHL with just 44 points. But for an impressive three weeks at the end of the year, they had woeful stats at both ends of the ice, at even strength and on special teams. And things were just plain weird. Injury ended the top scorer’s season — Marek Tvrdon suffered a blood clot in his shoulder back in November. Retirement took a veteran goaltender — Liam Liston just hadn’t been the same since suffering a concussion two years and three teams ago, and after a rocky start he decided to hang ’em up at Christmastime.

Still, there were positives. Mason Geertsen, a defensive stud eligible for the 2013 draft, was brought in from the Edmonton Oil Kings to anchor the blue line; he logged a ton of minutes and cleared a lot of pucks out of the danger area against the other teams’ top lines. He’ll in all likelihood be back next year after getting a look at training camp.

North Vancouver product Jackson Houck nearly tripled his offensive output from last season, and led the team with 57 points in 69 games. After being chosen in the fourth round by the Calgary Flames last year, defenseman Brett Kulak emerged as a legitimate scoring threat; he tallied 12 goals and 44 points in 72 games. And underage property Jakob Stukel scored four points in six games — incredible given he’s just 15, playing against a league full of 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds.

Over the course of the WHL playoffs, I’ll be posting some pictures from Giants action this season that haven’t yet seen the light of Pucked. I hope y’all enjoy.