Former Vancouver Giant makes NHL debut

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Former Vancouver Giants forward Tristen Nielsen made his NHL debut on Tuesday night in the Colorado Avalanche’s 3-2 victory vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“When that moment hit, it was just a bundle of joy hitting me all at once,” said Nielsen about the call up.

“I’m trying to soak it all up and enjoy it, but I also know that I want to come here and make an impression.”

Wearing #57, he registered 5:25 of ice-time and logged four hits in his debut.

“I really liked his game (in pre-season). He was highly effective. He found a way to not only play physical in a straight line, but he also showed flashes of skill,” said Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, prior to Tuesday’s game.

Nicknamed “The Bulldog,” Nielsen appeared in 135 games for the Giants, recording 59 goals and 132 points across three seasons from 2018 to 2021.

But Nielsen’s ties to the Vancouver hockey pipeline didn’t end there.

The 25-year-old scored five goals in the Abbotsford Canucks 2025 playoff run that saw them win their first ever Calder Cup. The Fort St. John native scored 52 regular season goals for Abbotsford since joining the team in 2021.

Just a week after he signed a two-year contract with the Avalanche on Oct. 27, Nielsen was called up to Colorado after a strong showing with their AHL affiliate the Colorado Eagles. With the Eagles, he registered five goals and four assists in 11 games.