Career-high four goals in one game for Vancouver Giants forward Cameron Schmidt definitely help secure the hockey team’s latest victory over Victoria on Thursday night.
During their road trip to Vancouver Island, for the first of back-to-back, home-and-home games, the G-Men faced off against the Royals, again – the third time this month and the second time in less than a week.
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And again they were victorious, this time by the score of 7-4.
That follows other recent triumphs. Last Friday, Dec. 12, the Giants were in Victoria and defeating the Royals with a 5-4 shootout victory. The next night, Dec. 13, the two teams played again, this time at Langley Events Centre, where the Giants defeated the Royals, 3-1.
Now, this most recent victory has lifted the Giants to 9th out of 12 teams in the Western Hockey League’s western conference, one spot above Victoria.
In Thursday’s game, Schmidt opened the scoring just 90 seconds in. Victoria tied it up a few minutes later. Then, the Giants went up 2-1 after 20 minutes, and held a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes.
Victoria cut Vancouver’s advantage to one goal early in the third period, before the G-Men rattled off three straight goals to put the game to bed, putting a smile on the face of assistant coach Gaelan Patterson.
“It was a solid team game from start to finish; something that we’ve definitely been looking for. There were some plays that for sure you want back within the game, but overall just a solid team effort for 60 minutes. And some really good individual performances as well,” Patterson said.
Schmidt scored two even-strength goals, one power-play goal, and one shorthanded goal, and was named the game’s first star, while also increasing his point streak to 14 games (10G-12A).
The Dallas Stars prospect now has 22 goals this season – tied for third-most in the WHL.
Schmidt also has 94 career goals, now tied with teammate Ty Halaburda for fifth in franchise history.
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His teammates Tyus Sparks, Brett Olson, and Aaron Obobaifo each found the back of the net for Vancouver, who also got 35 saves from Kelton Pyne.
The Giants have one more game before the holiday break, tonight (Friday, Dec. 19) against – you guessed it – Victoria. Puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Langley Events Centre.
After that, their next games are Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 27 and 28. They take on the Rockets in Kelowna on the first night, then host an afternoon game at home Sunday against the Kamloops Blazers. Tickets can be ordered online.