Vancouver Giants have their first victory of the 2020-21 WHL season, and it came in convincing fashion Sunday night, March 28, in Kamloops with the 黑马磁力-based team earning a 6-0 victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
A night Mazden Leslie won鈥檛 soon forget..
鈥� Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants)
Tristen Nielsen paced the Giants attack with a three-goal first period, while 15-year-old defenceman Mazden Leslie scored twice in his WHL debut, and the final goal of the game came courtesy of Adam Hall.
Trent Miner turned aside all 20 shots he faced in his first start of the season in goal.
Fishbowl and all! Congrats to underager Mazden Leslie on scoring his first goal in his first WHL game, and even adding a second!
鈥� Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants)
It was a big change from their first game, a 7-3 loss to Kamloops on Friday.
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The difference, according to Giants Associate Coach Keith McCambridge, was the players 鈥渨ere on our toes.鈥�
鈥淲e played a more aggressive game,鈥� McCambridge elaborated.
鈥淎 lot of things that gave us trouble in our opener, we felt we were able to correct and play the game on the right side of the puck.鈥�
McCambridge called Neilsen 鈥渙utstanding.鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 the type of dynamic player who can make a big difference.鈥�
Leslie has 鈥渟uch raw talent,鈥� McCambridge observed, and teammates were happy to see him get two goals in his first WHL outing.
鈥淭he guys were smiling ear-to-ear.鈥�
Giants Senior Vice President Dale Saip told the 黑马磁力 the team will be able to make more use of the under-age player than usual during the COVID-compliant season.
鈥淚f this was a regular season, he would only be allowed about five games,鈥� Saip explained.
RECAP: A five-point night from and an unforgettable debut from helped lift the G-Men to a 6-0 victory Sunday against Kelowna.
鈥� Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants)
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After his three-goal, five point night, Nielsen was quick to share credit.
鈥淚 hit the net tonight. That was huge. I was able to capitalize on my opportunities, but most importantly my linemates tonight were awesome,鈥� Neilsen observed.
Nielsen becomes the first Giant to record five points in a game since Bowen Byram did so against Kamloops on January 12th, 2019.
Five points and a natural hat-trick later, here鈥檚 .
鈥� Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants)
A happy Mazden Leslie said D-partner Tanner Brown was 鈥渁 huge help鈥� in making a memorable debut.
鈥淲e played an all-around great game.鈥� said Lesie, who becomes the first under-ager to score a goal for the Vancouver Giants since March 20, 2015.
For his first goal 鈥淚 just picked up the rebound,鈥� Leslie recalled, then scored a second time in the same period, calling it a 鈥渒ind of back door鈥� goal. 鈥淚 did even know it went in until the light went on.鈥�
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Two of Trent Miner鈥檚 five career WHL shutouts have now come against Kelowna. His other shutout against the Rockets came on October 3, 2018.
READ ALSO: Trent Miner returns to play goal for Vancouver Giants
Neilsen, Leslie and Miner were named three stars of the game.
Highlights of the Sunday game can be viewed by clicking .
Giants take on the Victoria Royals Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
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