Vancouver Giants remain undefeated in preseason after Tyus Sparks scores four goals in a 7-4 victory over the Victoria Royals in Ladner.
Victory in Ladner
The Vancouver Giants extended their undefeated preseason run Tuesday night, defeating the Victoria Royals 7–4 at the Ladner Leisure Centre. The win marked Vancouver’s third straight exhibition victory, building momentum ahead of the WHL regular season opener.
Sparks Ignites the Offense
Draft-eligible forward Tyus Sparks delivered a standout performance, scoring four goals — including the game-winner — and adding an assist for a five-point night. He also recorded eight shots on goal and finished with a +5 rating. Sparks’ explosive play was the driving force behind Vancouver’s high-scoring win.
Supporting Cast Delivers
Ethan Mittelsteadt opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, while Louis-Oscar Holowaychuk tallied his first preseason goal to tie the contest later in the first period. Blake Chorney secured the win with an empty-net marker in the final seconds. Ryan Lin contributed three assists, and Cameron Schmidt added two helpers in their preseason debuts.
Royals Push Back
Victoria’s offense was led by Caleb Matthews, who scored twice, with Layne Schofield and Owen McCarthy also finding the back of the net. Despite outshooting Vancouver 32–18, the Royals were unable to contain Sparks’ offensive surge, which repeatedly swung momentum back in the Giants’ favour.
Special Teams Factor
The Giants capitalized on two of their five power-play opportunities, while the penalty kill proved strong, shutting down nine of ten Victoria chances. The special teams edge helped Vancouver control key moments in the fast-paced contest.
What’s Next
The Giants close out their preseason schedule tonight in Port Coquitlam with a rematch against the Royals at Jon Baillie Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Vancouver will then shift focus to its regular-season opener on Saturday, September 20, when they host Penticton at the Langley Events Centre.
This article is original and written specifically for Surreyspeak.com
