Tuesday, May 09, 2006
WHL: Giants are the Champs!
With a 6-3 win against the Moose Jaw Warriors tonight, the Vancouver Giants completed the series sweep and roll into the Memorial Cup on the heels of their first ever WHL Championship.
Gilbert Brule added two more assists as the Giants got a balanced effort in their series clinching victory. Somehow, the three stars of the game all ended up being Moose Jaw players. How the hell does that work?
Anyway, tonight is all about celebrating and anticipating the Memorial Cup, in which the Giants have to be one of the favourites. The Giants lost only 2 games this entire playoffs, finishing an astonishing 16-2 and sweeping the last two opponents rather handily.
Gilbert Brule - 16 goals and 14 assists in 18 games with a +14 to lead all WHLers. Brule was also named WHL Playoff MVP and finished with 5 goals and 12 points in the 4 game series against Moose Jaw. Can you say 'clutch'?
Cody Franson - led all defensemen with 5 goals and 20 points and also finished +14.
Mitch Bartley - The last season for our beloved 20-year old saw Mitchell finish with 8 goals and 7 assists and +12.
Dustin Slade - Played every minute for the Giants, finished 16-2 with a 1.31 GAA and 93.8SV%.
Who needs the unmotivated Canucks? Hockey is alive and well in Vancouver this spring and will be next year when we host the Memorial Cup. Good times, indeed!
What kind of a player could Brule become in the NHL? Is he a 60-70 points per season guy or a potential superstar with points near the hundreds?
He has a lot of Jeremy Roenick's game in him, without the mouth, and with more of a penchant to shoot the puck. I think he can have a similar and successful career to Roenick's.
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