Malc
07-24-2009, 01:54 PM
By Gregg Drinnan
When last season ended, the Vancouver Giants were looking at a rather depleted defence before another season arrived. But, all of a sudden, the Giants’ blue-line brigade is looking rather stellar. Gone from the Giants’ season-ending roster are Mike Berube and Craig Schira, both of whom were 20-year-olds, Jonathan Blum, who will play in the Nashville Predators’ organization, Nick Ross, who is ticketed for the Phoenix Coyotes’ organization, and Brent Regner, who will be in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ organization.
But the season wasn’t long over before Vancouver GM Scott Bonner acquired a couple of WHL veterans, getting D Matt Strong, 19, from the Chilliwack Bruins for a 2010 eight-round bantam pick and D Ryan Funk, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades for a 2009 fifth-rounder.
Then the Giants landed David Musil, 16, in a swap with the Kootenay Ice, giving up first- and fifth-round picks in exchange.
And now D Kevin Connauton has told the Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen that, yes, he is leaving Western Michigan U to play for the Giants. Connauton, 19, was a third-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL’s 2009 draft. Ewen writes that Connauton “said that the Canucks agreed that he would progress better in the WHL than in college”. Connauton is said to be a strong skater with terrific offensive skills. And, just like that, the Giants’ defence looks like it may not miss a beat.
http://gdrinnan.blogspot.com/2009/07/thursday_23.html
When last season ended, the Vancouver Giants were looking at a rather depleted defence before another season arrived. But, all of a sudden, the Giants’ blue-line brigade is looking rather stellar. Gone from the Giants’ season-ending roster are Mike Berube and Craig Schira, both of whom were 20-year-olds, Jonathan Blum, who will play in the Nashville Predators’ organization, Nick Ross, who is ticketed for the Phoenix Coyotes’ organization, and Brent Regner, who will be in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ organization.
But the season wasn’t long over before Vancouver GM Scott Bonner acquired a couple of WHL veterans, getting D Matt Strong, 19, from the Chilliwack Bruins for a 2010 eight-round bantam pick and D Ryan Funk, 20, from the Saskatoon Blades for a 2009 fifth-rounder.
Then the Giants landed David Musil, 16, in a swap with the Kootenay Ice, giving up first- and fifth-round picks in exchange.
And now D Kevin Connauton has told the Vancouver Province’s Steve Ewen that, yes, he is leaving Western Michigan U to play for the Giants. Connauton, 19, was a third-round pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL’s 2009 draft. Ewen writes that Connauton “said that the Canucks agreed that he would progress better in the WHL than in college”. Connauton is said to be a strong skater with terrific offensive skills. And, just like that, the Giants’ defence looks like it may not miss a beat.
http://gdrinnan.blogspot.com/2009/07/thursday_23.html