Disney couldn’t have written a better script, on their home ice in front of 16,000 plus fans
waving white towels the Vancouver Giants brought home their first ever Memorial Cup in franchise history.
Mario Bliznak brought the puck from behind the net and beat Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Matt Keetly on the wrap-around between the pads at near the fifteen minute mark of the third period which stood to be the winner in a 3-1 Giants win.
“Its just unbelievable,” said Vancouver Giants majority owner Ron Toigo. “I don’t have any words for it and I can’t remember the last time I was lost for words.”
Toigo spent literally a whole day in front of the board of the WHL convincing them to allow him to expand to the lower mainland market and just six short years its paid off.
“We weren’t very good the first couple years and [the fans] still came out and supported us,” recalled Toigo. “They continued to do that, and what a crowd today. Wow!”
Mario Bliznak opened the scoring in the second period when he pounced on a rebound off an A.J. Thelen shot and beat Keetly. The Tigers responded just over nine minutes later when Darren Helm picked up a marker of his own on the power play.
However, Sunday was not Medicine Hat’s night Repik gave the Giants the one goal advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the third, and then with under a minute remaining Spencer Machacek deposited the puck into the empty net to seal the deal.
Boston Bruins prospect Milan Lucic was named the tournament MVP after collecting two goals and adding 5 helpers in five games.
The win is even more special for those 20 year-olds in the Giants line-up who, last night, saw their junior hockey careers come to an end.
“There’s nothing better, I was pretty much in tears when I was on the ice for that last goal,” said Kenndal McArdle, a Burnaby native who was acquired at the deadline in exchange for Jason Reese. “I can’t even explain how it feels to try for something your whole junior career, and then finally get it.
“I know for the older guys its something we’ve worked hard for and I know every single guy is going to remember this for a long time.”
Added captain Brett Festerling:
“I’m speechless it feels amazing to do it with this group of guys. It’s that much sweeter after last season – it’s that much sweeter after the playoffs I think – guys really hurt when we didn’t win the WHL and the guys were really determined to get the win tonight.”
Vancouver fans who want one last glimpse of their Memorial Cup Champions will have the chance to do so tomorrow after noon as Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan as declared May 29 as Vancouver Giants Day. The players, coaching staff, management and ownership group will be on hand at the Vancouver City Hall for all the festivities beginning at noon.
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May 31, 2007 at 5:30 pm
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September 20, 2007 at 1:27 pm
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