On the eve of back-to-back-to-back games against our friends down south Seattle, Everett, and Spokane, our exclusive Canucks Fanz Giants Insider posts his 5th update of the season on the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.

What a see-saw 2 weeks this has been. Gone from dropping games and points that they should have got, to taking down the #1 and #3 ranked teams in the CHL. Seems that Hayzer has a good chance to bag skate the boys and run drills with the new guys to get them into the play book. But there are 2 new boys in town to work in so lets hope *knock on wood* that there isn't another mini skid in the works.

Over age player shuffle
Giants have released gritty "Hunt-like" forward Mike Wuchterl. Some fans loved his style. Some hated some of his bone headed penalties. To me, could Scott Bonner not found even a 5th or 6th round pick for him? Would Edmonton not want a gritty Alberta born player since they can have 5 OA players? No matter what side of the Wuchterl fence you sat on, no one could question his heart. Mike went hard every night and that lead to him sometimes crossing the line and landing in the sin bin at bad times putting the team 2 men down. He filled a roll that was left in the team when Hunt went down and his service to the team marching to the Memorial Cup will forever be etched on that cup.

So now from that the Giants find themselves in a hurricane of controversy when they claim Ken Petkau who had "retired" from WHL hockey. Bonner takes a flyer on a player that had underachieved his whole WHL career up until his breakout season last year with the Bruins. Little did he know that both the team and Ken would be ordered by the WHL to not have contact until the league could investigate the situation. So really they want to see if the Giants had talked to Ken to get him to retire so the Giants could pick him up without giving up a player or a pick. But now Ken is saying that he didn't retire from hockey so much as he was POed with the Bruins GM Darrel May who promised him 2nd line minutes to come to the Whack, as well as trying to get him an NHL tryout. May contends that he contacted both co-owners of the Bruins Brian Burke and Glen Sather about tryouts with the Ducks and Rangers. May says he pulled all the strings that he has to pull...Petkau claims May punked out on him. As with any situation like this (and boy do Giants fans know about this from the Dustin Slade situation last year)there is one side, the other side, and in the middle you will find the truth. Petkau went from happy to be a Giant to wanting nothing to do with WHL political BS. So who knows if he will show up.

New D-Man
Giants acquired 18 year old D Justin Palazzo from the PA Raiders in exchange for a 6th round pick in the 2009 Bantam Draft. Palazzo is a Kamloops boy and was a 1st round pick in the 2004 Bantam Draft. But to this point has not lived up to his billing. Reports on his performance suggest that he is a stay at home DMan (sounds good), big size (6'4" at 202lbs) and not afraid to drop the mits (Sounds great! What is the catch?), foot speed somewhere between a Max Gordichuck and Scott Gabriel (Oh man...not another pilon). As far as I am concerned, as long as he is good in his own end, can make a pass, he will fill a hole that the Giants seem to have right now for a big blue liner. For someone to go 1st round they have to have skill. With a change in location and Don Hay to coach him, I am confidant that Justin will be an asset. Or at least am willing to give him and Bonner the benefit of the doubt.

Past 3 games see the Giants picking up a 4-3 shoot-out win against the #1 ranked Calgary Hitmen. Bout time they came out on the happy end of a shoot-out. A win is a win is a win...but I was not too crazy about the Giants giving up a 3-0 lead and holding on to make it to OT and then the shootout. But they showed some backbone to stop the bleeding and regroup. Then there was a 4-1 win against the #3 ranked Tri-City Americans in a big time return to Giants hockey. Hitting, working the corners, eliminating time and space. And then the 2nd shutout of the season for Tyson Sexsmith in a 4-0 road win against the Bruins. Again the boys build on the momentum from the Tri-City win and keep on with the game plan playing a perfect road game. Get a multiple goal lead, then shut it down.

Speaking of CHL rankings, the week 4 rankings are out:
1 Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (10-0-1-0) 2 4
2 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (10-2-1-0) 6 3
3 Calgary Hitmen (9-3-0-1) 1 4
4 Windsor Spitfires (8-1-0-1) 4 3
5 Tri-City Americans (7-3-0-0) 3 4
6 Kitchener Rangers (6-1-0-0) 8 2
7 Baie-Comeau Drakkar (8-3-0-1) 9 2
8 Niagara IceDogs (8-2-0-0) 10 2
9 Vancouver Giants (7-1-1-1) - 2
10 Halifax Mooseheads (8-3-0-0) - 2

Funny...don't see the Bruins on this sheet. If you listen to their fans you'd think that they are on their way to a WHL final this year for sure and are going to be better than the Giants.

So coming up this weekend we see the Giants have yet another 3 in 3 weekend where 1 of the games is on the road.

Giants @ T-Birds - Friday, 19th @ 7:35PM
Giants will have had time to have some quality practice time with the new guys. Birds are 3rd in the US Division but coming off a loss 6-2 to the hometown Bruins Wednesday. T-Birds were out shot 50-15 and only went 1/11 on the PP. They should have motivation to come out hard especially at home. But as the Giants proved last year they were dynamite on the road.

Remember Friday games can be heard on Evolution 107.9FM.

Tips @ Giants - Saturday, 20th @ 7:00PM
Most Giants fans had this game circled on their calendars the minute the WHL Schedule came out. To say these 2 teams hate each other would be a HUGE understatement. Last year the first home game for the Giants between these 2 teams was teddy bear toss night where now departed Tim Kraus started the flood of bears with a penalty shot goal But this year is different. The Tips...how do I put this...SUCK! Seems new coach John Becanic either isn't getting through to the guys, or Mueller was the whole team (I really doubt that part) or when faced with a challenge, the team lacks the grit and heart to battle through. I am putting my money on the 3rd point. You could just see last year, and when push came to shove in the playoffs, they just couldn't overcome. Couple that with WJHC gold medal winner even though he didn't see a since second of icetime Leland Irving not looking that great, it is not a surprise that the Tips are 4-5-0 and in 4th place only ahead of the flaccid Portland Winterhawks. However they have won 3 in a row. Time will tell, but man I hope the Giants smoke them to avenge the season sweep last season.

Come out to the game, bring a camera to the game either Saturday or Sunday and get your pic taken with the Memorial Cup! Game can be heard on CKNW AM980.

Chiefs @ Giants - Sunday, 21st @ 5:00PM
The Grabner-less Chiefs come to town sporting a record of 5-2-1-1 with 12PTS which is good enough for 2nd place in the US Division. They are also on a 2 game winning streak. Last year the Giants abused Spokane with a couple of blowouts. Should be interesting to see what this seasons Chiefs look like. They could very well be the team that flies under the radar and goes a long way. Of interest in this game is ex-Giant and Ladner native David Rutherford.

Like the night before, you can bring a camera to the Rink on Renfrew and get your pic with the Memorial Cup and the game can be heard on CKNW AM980.

Now I can hear some people saying "When is the next banner night"? Good question. That will be Oct. 26th when the the Moose Jaw Warriors come to town. The Giants will be handing out 2006 Western Conference Champs mini banners. That same night, Giants season ticket holders can bring in their vouchers and recieve this STH Memorial Cup rings. What's that? You aren't a STH but want a ring? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! Too bad!! Actually, maybe not. If you check out www.vancouvergiants.com. Seems that the Giants "sign up for season tixs before [insert date here] and get a ring" is no longer valid and if you sign up now you can get one. But please don't quote me on this. Call up the Giants office and make sure the details are accurate. Here is a quote from someone who has had a chance to checkout the rings:

"Last night I was given the opportunity to closely examine all three versions of the Memorial Cup rings. A players ring, the rings we were supposed to get on opening night and the ones we are supposed to get on the 26th.

The rings that the team refused to give to us are BRUTAL. The stamp that they used was terrible and they used a very light weight metal. The etching of the cup was about 3/4 visible and the writing on the sides was "smudged" for lack of a better way of putting it.

The rings that we are going to get on the 26 ( I saw the pre-production proto-type) are EXACTLY the same as the players rings, only a lighter weight metal (the players rings are quite heavy) and obviously there are no stones (diamonds and rubies). While the players rings have their names on it, we won't. I think even the harshest of critics will be quite happy with them."

If you have been on the fence getting season tixs...just do it! Seats starting at $13.50/game, discounted parking, keep your seat(s) for the playoffs and see NO PRICE INCREASES no matter how far the Giants progress. As well, get the inside of pre-sales to shows at the PC. No, I am not getting paid for this. But the more STHs the better.

See you out at the rink!

Discuss it in the "Giants Insider" sub forum!