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Christopher Vose
The Giants opened the season with a three game winning streak at the Coliseum, but lost in Kelowna on Wednesday. Which team would appear tonight? Well, one without Tyler Benson, who was ejected from their last match with the visitors up by three. They would eventually lose by two.
And the League poured more salt on the wound by giving the 16-year old a one match suspension, meaning he was forced to sit out tonight's match with the Broncos.
Giants majority owner Ron Toigo was candid about his thoughts on the matter, "I completely disagree with it 100%. I don't think it was a suspend-able offence by any means, but respectfully, the league has a say on what it is. It was a good hit, and it was unfortunate the Kelowna player was hurt."
Jesse Lees, a 19-year old defender did not return after being checked from the front by Benson, which sent Lees tumbling awkwardly into the boards.
"I don't think Tyler did anything wrong, and I don’t think it warranted a two-minute penalty," Toigo added. "It is unfortunate. Accidents happen and people get hurt. But, at the end of the day, we just have to roll with it. My biggest concern is that if something happens down the road, now he's a repeat offender, and maybe he gets another suspension because of this suspension."
"Even though Tyler is only 16 years old, we're a better team with him in the line-up so it hurts us." Considering how much the Giants are promoting the youngster, we wonder if it might be better for him if he were allowed to develop in his own time.
In the Western Hockey League, even the officials have their supporters.
"You don't want to put too much pressure on the kid, but it’s awful hard not to throw the accolades his way. He’s as complete a 16-year-old as I’ve ever seen." So much for that thought.
But, even without their budding superstar, the Giants still have a talented squad. After going up two goals in the first period, thanks to Alec Baer and Matt Bellerive, the Broncos came back to take the lead, but the Giants would tie them in the second, and after another goal from the visitors, they would tie the game early in the third period.
What really did them in were the penalties. They spent eight minutes on the penalty kill, and none on the power play. The Broncos may have only scored one power play goal, but that was their margin of victory, and more than that, for those eight minutes, the Giants were defending, and not thinking about scoring chances.
When one comes, that's how you get a shorthanded goal, but they usually depend on luck, or mistakes by those with the man advantage. On Friday night, the Giants weren't so lucky.
They'll get their chance soon enough. And this time, they'll have Tyler Benson back in the line-up when they play host to the Prince George Cougars at 5:00 PM on Sunday.
Coda Gordon scored two goals and assisted on a third in a Man of the Match performance against Vancouver.
MATCH DETAILS
Man of the Match: Coda Gordon
Referees: Jason Cramer and Dexter Rasmussen
Attendance: 4,780
Scoring Summary:
9' - VAN - Alec Baer (Joel Hamilton)
10' - VAN - Matt Bellerive (Thomas Foster and Jackson Houck)
18' - SWI - Jake DeBrusk (Coda Gordon and Jay Merkley)
19' - SWI - Dillon Heatherington (Colby Cave and Jay Merkley)
22' - SWI - Coda Gordon (Jake DeBrusk)
36' - VAN - Thomas Foster (Jackson Houck)
40' - SWI - Glenn Gawdin (Dillon Heatherington and Colby Cave)
42' - VAN - Carter Popoff (Joel Hamilton and Alec Baer)
50' - SWI - Coda Gordon (Cavin Leth and Glenn Gawdin)
Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 30 - Swift Current 30
Saves: Vancouver 25 - Swift Current 26
Power Plays: Vancouver 0 - Swift Current 4
Penalty Minutes: Vancouver 30 - Swift Current 10
We're not too sure why Ayrton Nikkel was carrying his helmet, but he sure looks happy about it.
Minors:
17' - VAN - Vladimir Bobylev (Hooking)
25' - VAN - Too Many Men (Served by Alec Baer)
37' - VAN - Clayton Kirichenko (Unsportsmanlike Conduct)
48' - VAN - Tyler Morrison (High Sticking)
60' - VAN - Joel Hamilton (Slashing)
Majors:
3' - SWI - Tanner LeSann (Fighting)
3' - VAN - Arvin Atwal (Fighting)
37' - SWI - Dakota Odgers (Fighting)
37' - VAN - Clayton Kirichenko (Fighting)
Ejections:
37' - VAN - Clayton Kirichenko (Game Misconduct)
Vancouver Giants
31. Ryan Kubric (35. Cody Porter); 4. Clayton Kirichenko (22. Dmitry Osipov, 20. Arvin Atwal); 5. Tyler Morrison (44. Mason Geertsen, 15. Shaun Dosanjh); 8. Alec Baer (27. Jackson Houck, 19. Jesse Roach, 24. Jack McClelland); 42. Carter Popoff (16. Thomas Foster, 9. Dalton Sward, 12. David Brumm); 39. Joel Hamilton (14. Matt Bellerive, 47. Vladimir Bobylev, 37. Brendan Holterhus)
Swift Current Broncos
30. Landon Bow (31. Travis Child); 5. Brycen Martin (4. Brett Lemout, 7. Stephen Shmoorkoff); 2. Dillon Heatherington (27. Max Lajoie, 24. Ayrton Nikkel); 12. Jay Merkley (28. Coda Gordon, 29. Tanner LeSann, 20. Luca Leone); 10. Colby Cave (15. Glenn Gawdin, 25. Zac Mackay, 17. Tyler Steenbergen); 19. Jake DeBrusk (13. Cavin Leth, 23. Dakota Odgers, 26. Andreas Schumacher)