Hub Hockey may provide a roller-coaster ride

Tristen Nielsen - Shoot the Breeze photo

 

• Can someone explain to me why Tristen Nielsen is back in the WHL for his 20 year-old season? The Vancouver Giants forward is simply dominating. Undrafted, Nielsen is obviously using this platform to remind NHL scouts that he indeed has the potential to play pro hockey next season - should he choose. In a 6-0 win over the Kelowna Rockets Sunday night in Kamloops, Nielsen was the best player on the ice. Playing determined hockey, the G-Men's leading scorer from last season found the back of the net three times and assisted on two other goals in the lopsided win. A 30 goal scorer last season, Nielsen has four goals in the Hub. If he keep this pace up, and plays in all 24 games, he will end up finding the back of the net 30 times in just 15 games. Realistically, he won't be able to keep up that pace, but heck, he is arguably one of the better older players participating in this abbreviated season.
• What we learned last night in Kamloops was the Giants older players made a major impact. All three 20 year-old's were not innocent bystanders. Alex Kannok Leipert was solid and played hard. Nielsen was electric and Eric Florchuk was consistently good. Justin Sourdif had a three assist game and was also noticeable. Clearly on this night, the Giants top end players were better than the Rockets top end guys.
• Before we get too excited, one day looking like a world beater and the next game looking like a has-been will happen. We've seen it several times out East, where a team is hammered one night and then bounces back and looks completely different the next. It's about making quick adjustments, but it is also about having what the coaches call a 'short memory' from game to game. Don't get too high when you win and don't get too low when you lose.
• It is hard to determine who was good in a lopsided loss. I will say Turner McMillen stood out for me. The rookie had a grade A scoring chance in the second period and just missed. I also thought Steel Quiring was noticeable. The 18 year-old had a team high three shots on net and led the team with 19 face-offs taken. That said, both players were on the ice for three goals against. I liked Jake Lee. Lee was involved in a second period scrap. I just think he plays a calm game out there and his poise with the puck is improved.  
• After the Rockets d-score had an impressive 15 shots on net in a 5-0 win over Victoria on Friday, the blue-line could muster only 6 shots on Giants goaltender Trent Miner. The reason? While the Giants did a better job of getting into shooting lanes, they also had the puck more.
• While the Giants have lost Bowen Byram to the NHL, is his replacement 15 year-old Mazden Leslie? A first round bantam pick from 2020, Leslie scored twice in his WHL debut. His first career goal was the result of joining the rush, while his second goal was a bit of a softy that was on the ice that Rockets goaltender Roman Basran overplayed. A memorable night for him regardless. Watch this player closely. In a couple of years, if not sooner, he will providing headaches for opponents every time they see #47 out on the ice. A cold sweet would occur every time Bowen Byram's #44 was seen carrying the puck.
• Ex-Rockets forward Dallon Wilton had a memorable game. The 19 year-old picked up an assist against his old team and had a breakaway where he almost scored, but was shutdown by the blocker of Basran. Wilton was acquired on waivers by the G-Men when the Rockets let him go.  
• The Giants allowed the fourth fewest goals against in the WHL last season, so shutting out the Rockets shouldn't come as a surprise. They are typically fairly clean in their own zone. Head Coach Mike Dyck wouldn't stand for anything less. 
• Last season the Giants shut out the Rockets 4-0 in the second road game of the season. 4-0 was the final score. The game was played at the Langley Events Centre. 
• When was the last time the Rockets were shut out in their first road game of the season? It happened October 1st, 2010 in a 1-0 setback against the Tri City Americans. Drew Owsley made 34 saves in the victory. 
• Nice to see WHL VP Richard Doerksen at both games over the weekend. Always a friendly smile, even though I couldn't see it through the mask he was wearing. 
• A great setup in Kamloops as one of two Hubs in the BC Division. No complaints. Visually the arena looks great despite the lack of fans in the building. I called last night's game from the broadcast booth where Blazers play-by-play man Jon Keen hangs his hat. Oh how the world has changed my friends. Sharing is caring. Hard to believe I will be back there again this Friday when the Rockets face the Prince George Cougars.