Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Nowhere to Go Except Up

VANCOUVER GIANTS

2012-13 record: 21-49-2-0 (missed the playoffs)

The 2012-13 season was a miserable one for the Vancouver Giants, as they finished last in the league.  An alarming 299 goals were given up, and that ended up costing Glen Hanlon his job as head coach.  Don Hay takes over as coach, and this season, the growing pains the Giants endured (they were the youngest team in the league last year) should begin to bear some fruit, as their top two scorers Cain Franson and Jackson Houck are expected to return.  Leaving the Giants will be Wes Vannieuwenhuizen, Jason Trott, and Brendan Rouse, as all three were overagers last season.  Ales Kilnar and Marek Tvrdon are also leaving, as Dmitry Osipov and Andreas Eder were taken in the CHL Import Draft.  Payton Lee will likely be the starter next season, and he got a rude introduction to WHL hockey, as he posted a 3.51 GAA in 36 games, and that led the team.

Prediction: 7th in the West

For all of the troubles the Giants had last season, this season should see them return to the playoffs, as the younger players had a chance to gain meaningful minutes in games.

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