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Vancouver Giants: Taking part in within the center could possibly be entrance and centre for Samuel Honzek

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His efforts as a left winger acquired Honzek picked within the first spherical by the Calgary Flames on the NHL Draft, however Giants coach Manny Viveiros would like him at centre

Revealed Sep 07, 2023  •  Final up to date 16 hours in the past  •  4 minute learn

Samuel Honzek
Samuel Honzek skates throughout Calgary Flames growth camp at Winsport in Calgary on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Picture by Jim Wells /Postmedia

It seems like Samuel Honzek would possibly discover himself entrance and centre for the Vancouver Giants this upcoming season.

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Giants coach Manny Viveiros says that he likes the thought of shifting Honzek from left wing to the center of the ice.

Honzek will probably be Vancouver’s finest participant — he was the Calgary Flames’ first-round decide, No. 16 general within the NHL Draft in June — and taking part in centre may have the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Slovak dealing with the puck extra and much more of an element defensively.

Have in mind it’s nonetheless early days. Viveiros has been on the job for simply two weeks, a late rent to exchange Michael Dyck when he jumped to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. And the Giants open their four-game WHL pre-season slate on Friday (7 p.m.), taking up the Prince George Cougars on the Port Coquitlam Group Centre. The Giants host the Victoria Royals Sunday (4 p.m.) at their Ladner Leisure Centre dwelling base.

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Viveiros will discuss extra with the Flames about their visions of Honzek’s growth path. And there are sure to be factors this season the place it’s going to be tempting for Viveiros to load up a line and play Honzek alongside centre Jaden Lipinski, who was Vancouver’s different NHL Draft decide this summer season as a fourth-round Flames choice. 

All that mentioned, a change in place for not less than parts of the yr seems very a lot in play for Honzek. 

“For me, I would like him to play at centre,” Viveiros mentioned. “I feel he has the talent set. 

“I feel he’s expert sufficient, good sufficient, cellular sufficient and large enough to have the ability to do each (centre and wing). We’re clearly going to take into accounts the place Calgary desires him, as a result of we wish to give him the very best alternative to play within the Nationwide Hockey League. However I additionally assume that he may benefit from having the ability to play each positions.

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“With how we’re going to play, he’s going to be that rather more concerned within the recreation.”

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Viveiros is preaching extra of a puck-possession recreation than Dyck, who favoured a heavy forecheck type in his time with Vancouver. Dyck, oddly sufficient, had additionally talked about shifting Honzek to centre this season earlier than taking the Marlies’ job.

Ty Thorpe was Vancouver’s No. 1 centre final season, taking part in with Honzek and a bunch of different wingers. Thorpe, who had 37 targets and 71 factors final season, aged out of the league on the finish of the yr.

Honzek had 23 targets and 56 factors in 43 common season video games. He missed 20 video games halfway by the season attributable to a gash to the again of the leg after he was stepped on by an opponent whereas taking part in for the Slovaks on the world juniors.

Viveiros desires to “sprinkle the wealth over the place” on the ahead strains and attempt to maintain the assault balanced.

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Among the many gamers within the combine for top-six minutes is 16-year-old rookie Cameron Schmidt, who was a 2022 WHL Draft first rounder, No. 7 general, by Vancouver. He confirmed off flashy offensive expertise in three video games with Vancouver as an underage call-up final season, highlighted by scoring a objective in Jan. 6 street recreation towards the Tri-Metropolis Individuals.

He had 25 targets and 38 factors in 33 video games final season with the RINK Kelowna Beneath-18 Prep crew.

“I don’t see why we couldn’t play a 16-year-old within the prime six. They’re going to inform us in the event that they’re prepared or not, since you’re going to get the opposite groups prime pairings for those who’re taking part in within the prime six,” Viveiros mentioned. “In the event you’re fast sufficient and also you’re expert sufficient, I don’t see why not.”

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Giants basic supervisor Barclay Parneta mentioned Wednesday that the crew had 19 forwards, 12 defencemen and three goalies nonetheless in camp.

For a number of causes, it’s laborious to provide you with a closing roster quantity and timeline to get there.

Vancouver is about to lose 5 gamers for various levels of time to NHL camps — Honzek and Lipinski to the Flames and free-agent invitees defenceman Mazden Leslie (Toronto Maple Leafs), winger Ty Halaburda (Boston Bruins) and winger Tyler Thorpe (Ottawa Senators).

There are additionally 5 gamers in camp of their 20-year-old seasons — goalie Brett Mirwald, winger Skyler Bruce and defencemen Logen Hammett, Carson Haynes and Brenden Pentecost. Vancouver will solely have the ability to maintain three on their closing roster. The 20-year-old cut-down day hasn’t been finalized by the league workplace, however it’s traditionally round Oct. 10. 

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That might be 4 video games into Vancouver’s season. They kick off league play Sept. 22, internet hosting the Victoria Royals on the Langley Occasions Centre.

Parneta mentioned the Giants mind belief had prolonged discussions about getting defender Chloe Primerano into an exhibition recreation however ultimately opted towards it, and she or he’s returned to the RINK Kelowna Beneath-18 Feminine Prep squad to prepare for his or her upcoming season. She is going to stay on the Giants’ 50-player protected listing, in keeping with Parneta, which leaves her within the combine to play with the membership someplace down the road. 

Primerano turned the primary feminine skater ever absorb any of the three main junior drafts when the Vancouver chosen her of their thirteenth spherical in 2022. This was her second coaching camp with the Giants. 

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A feminine skater has by no means performed in a significant junior recreation. There have been 5 goalies.

@SteveEwen

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