Brett Mirwald’s outstanding play in the Vancouver Giants crease continued on Saturday night, Jan. 6, as he backstopped the Giants to a 4-0 shutout win over the Brandon Wheat Kings with a 48-save performance on the road.
With the win, Vancouver’s record improves to 15-21-2-0 this season and hopped them back into eighth place in the Western Conference standings. Brandon falls to 19-14-4-1.
Click below to watch the full highlights from tonight's 4-0 shutout win over the Brandon Wheat Kings!#GiantNewEra pic.twitter.com/NRBveNzw1O
— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) January 7, 2024
While Mirwald has already recorded 50 or more save in a game twice this season, this is the most saves he has recorded in a win in his WHL career. Over his last six starts, Mirwald is 4-2 with a .948 save percentage and 1.99 goals-against-average.
Providing the offence for the Giants on Saturday was London Hoilett (scoring his first in a Giant uniform), Justin Ivanusec, Tyler Thorpe and Ty Halaburda.
The Giants found the twine first in this one, in the dying seconds of their first power play of the game. With under seven minutes left in the period, Aaron Obobaifo spun off the far side boards and into the middle of the ice, where his wrist shot was blocked by a skate, but London Hoilett was able to make contact with the puck right out of mid-air, potting his first goal in a Giants uniform and third of the season.
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Less than two minutes later, the Giants extended their lead to 2-0 after Ivanusec deposited the rebound following a save on Cameron Schmidt’s breakaway. It was Ivanusec’s third tally of the season.
The second period was almost entirely controlled by the Wheat Kings, who fired 29 shots on goal, but Mirwald stopped each and every one.
Additionally, the Giants got an insurance marker, as Jaden Lipinski made a deft pass to Thorpe in front of the net, who made no mistake for his team-leading 18th goal of the season.
After two periods, Vancouver held a 3-0 lead, but were being outshot 37-13.
The third period saw the Wheat Kings with the majority of possession, but Vancouver did a very good job of keeping them to the outside. In fact, the Giants were shorthanded twice in the third period, and even so held Brandon to 11 shots on goal in the final frame.
Ty Halaburda would add an empty-net goal – his 14th of the year – with just under three minutes remaining to put the icing on the cake and make it a 4-0 final score.
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All three stars of the game were Giants – Mirwald, Lipinski and Hammett.
Tonight's 3 Stars:
⭐ Mirwald – VAN – 48-Save SO
⭐⭐ Lipinski – VAN – 2A, 2 SOG, +2
⭐⭐⭐ Hammett – VAN – 1A, 2 SOG, +2#GiantNewEra pic.twitter.com/hPtchh97RX— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) January 7, 2024
Giants continue their five-game road trip through the Prairies, with their next game happening on Tuesday, Jan. 9 in Prince Albert against the Raiders. They’ll face off against Saskatoon on Wednesday, Regina on Friday and Moose Jaw on Saturday.
Next home game is Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at Langley Events Centre against the Kelowna Rockets.
