It’s been a tough season for the Vancouver Giants, but there are a few silver linings head coach Jason McKee found, even as the Giants lost to Victoria in three straight games.
The Royals visited Vancouver’s home turf at the Langley Events Centre on Feb. 24, taking a 6-4 victory.
Vancouver headed to Victoria for two more games Feb. 25 and 26, losing by scores of 3-1 and 3-2, respectively.
Some players did well, and managed to keep the games close, including new defenceman Austin King-Cunningham.
“He’s a quality kid,” said McKee. “A hard-to-play-against defenceman.”
Victoria has high-end players and King-Cunningham successfully handled them over the weekend, McKee said.
Other players also put in a good effort over the last three games, said McKee, describing the whole team as a committee.
“I though the guys competed very hard, and we had a chance both nights,” Mckee said of the games in Victoria.
Calvin Spencer, who scored the lone goal against the Royals Saturday night, is a relatively recent addition to the Giants lineup, traded from the Swift Current Broncos in early January.
“He’s just a big, strong guy,” McKee said of Spencer. As one of the older players on the team, he’s providing some experience to a team that has lost a large number of players to long-term injuries or illness in the back half of the season.
“The best thing he does is lead by example,” said McKee.
The coach said that despite what’s working right, the basement-dwelling Giants still need to rebuild.
“Obviously we’re not getting the results we’re hoping for,” he said.
The team is coming together, he said.
“They want to get better. They know there are better days ahead.”
