Vancouver Giants Hockey Club
100 North Renfrew St
Vancouver, BC
V5K 3N7
Phone 604-444-2687
The following players were selected by the Vancouver Giants in the expansion draft:
Brandon - Defenceman, Mark Ardelan
Calgary - Goaltender, David Leneveu
Kamloops - Forward, Pat Brandreth
Kelowna - Defenceman, David Selthun
Kootenay - 3rd pick in 2002 Bantam draft
Lethbridge - Forward, Darren Lynch
Medicine Hat - Forward, Tyson Mulock
Moose Jaw - Forward, T.J Mulock
Portland - Forward, Nick Marach
Prince Albert - Forward, Nick Tarnasky
Prince George - Forward, Adam Stefishen
Red Deer - Defenceman, Shane Grypuik
Regina - Goaltender, Donald Choukalos
Saskatoon - Forward, Jeff Coulter
Seattle - Defenceman, Jeff Beatch
Spokane - Forward, Scott Henkleman
Swift Current - Forward,Paul Deniset
Tri-City - Defenceman, Andrew DeSousa
2001-2002 SEASON PREVIEW
Goal: Donald Choukalos '81, David Leneuveu '83.Choukalos will give Vancouver good goaltending, but his tendency to give up the odd weak goal could end up turning some games into blowouts. Donald will likely play in Vancouver, but I look for the Giants to play a younger guy for at least 30 games so that they don't go into year number 2 starting over in goal.
Defence: Jeff Beatch '81, David Selthun '82, Mark Ardelan '83, Andrew DeSousa '83, Shane Grypiuk '83, Tyson Marsh '84, Reed Pettinger '85.
Beatch, Selthun, Ardelan and DeSousa all have WHL experience, but none were goto guys on their former teams. Ardelan and Selthun will be capable powerplay guys and they're okay in their own zone, but both are smaller guys. They are not a real physical group, although DeSousa can be at times and will need to be so on a consistent basis in Vancouver. Grypiuk and Marsh should also add somewhat of a physical presence on the backend. On the plus side is the fact that all these guys should be happy to finally get the chance to be regulars and will likely play hard every shift.
Forwards: Nick Marach '81, Scott Henkelman '81, Paul Deniset '81, Adam Stefishen '82, Darren Lynch '83, Tyson Mulock '83, Jeff Coulter '82, Jeremy Jackson '82, Aaron Winterholt '82, Andrew Davidson '83, Pat Brandreth '84, Robin Big Snake '84, T.J. Mulock '85, Nick Tarnasky '84.
With Jeremy Jackson a big question mark the Vancouver roster certainly lacks scoring punch, but does possess a lot of punch of the fistic variety. This will be a very robust group with Stefishen, Coulter, and 17 yr old Pat Brandreth likely to lead the way physically. Marach, Henkelman, Deniset and Winterholt all have offensive skills with Henkelman being probably the biggest offensive weapon. Deniset and Henkelman will likely form a solid penalty-killing tandem up front as both have speed and are tenacious checkers.
Europeans: The Giants, I'm sure, will look for pure goal scorers in the Euro draft as their expansion draft and list are filled with checkers and grinder. Look for the Giants to go after top end skill.
Overagers: I believe the Giants are far from settled on their overage spots as they will likely pursue others, and some teams will certainly pursue the character and leadership of current Giants Scott Henkelman and Nick Marach
