Played on Dec 5, 2025
Game Played in Langley Events Centre
General Game Notes: This tightly contested game came down to the final moments. With just ten seconds remaining, the Giants capitalized on a late power play, turning a costly Portland penalty into the game winning goal. In the end, the Giants star power took over when it mattered most, sealing the victory in dramatic fashion.
Ondrej Stebetak (G, L, 6’2″, 172, Portland Winterhawks, 07/19/2007)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Sometimes in a game that is low scoring, it can be tough to be relied on for sixty minutes. The fact that Stebetak was a the main factor his team stayed involved in the first place, and face a shootout attempt mid game, crowned him one of the better players on the ice, despite the loss. Maybe a couple second chances that he would have wanted back and some lanes he would have wanted to see better but Stebetak played well enough to win a game. He could work on getting out of his net to stop more rims and control the flow of the play.
Ryan Miller (LW, L, 6’0″, 178, Portland Winterhawks, 05/03/2007, Denver)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Miller is at his best moving his feet in the offensive zone and making small area passes. When he is dynamic in the offensive zone he is a solid two way player because his defensive play is already a clear strength. To take the next step, he needs to add more quickness to his stride and develop a bit more edge in his game. He relies on strong puck-protection skills and excellent work along the walls to compensate for his below average skating, but improving his mobility would unlock a much more complete version of his game.
Reed Brown (C, L, 5’11”, 161, Portland Winterhawks, 02/22/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Brown did a good job reading the play on a turnover that happened in the offensive zone. His first steps were to retreat and help out on the back check, as he recognized the turnover, he found ice in the slot where he showed off his catch and release. He was able to beat the goalie with a powerful shot from the tops of the circles. One of the better aspects to his game is how quick he is able to catch and release shots showing multiple times the skill set that takes confidence to do.
Nathan Free (RW, R, 5’10”, 163, Portland Winterhawks, 06/23/2006, Penn State)
Game Rating
B+
Nathan Free is an elite skater with exceptional acceleration and agility. He excels in creating chaos with his feet, often extending possession in the offensive zone and finding creative solutions to evade pressure. In his own end, he showcases impressive footwork, quickly stopping and turning to escape defenders. Free is a skilled hip-pocket handler with soft touch, able to break down opponents in space and manipulate them into turnovers. He demonstrates quick decision-making, adapting to pressure and using the width of the ice to his advantage. With his deceptive stance on rushes into the zone, he can freeze defenders and set up scoring opportunities. His agility allows him to think one step ahead, making him a formidable opponent on the ice.
1 Viewing
Comments: Free showed that he is a mobile skater who can generate offense in a flash, and his speed makes him a threat with the puck on the rush. But that same high pace style comes with a little risk. He forces plays that are not there, leading to turnovers, and his play away from the puck was a bit of a weakness. Defensively, he can be a liability, and he relies on line mates to win battles and handle the heavier, more physical aspects of the game, as board work is not where he thrives. If he can learn to manage the puck more responsibly and sharpen his defensive habits, his overall impact changes dramatically.
Alex Weiermair (C, R, 6’1″, 191, Portland Winterhawks, 05/10/2005, Denver)
Game Rating
A-
Weiermair showcases a strong work ethic and high defensive awareness, allowing him to effectively contribute to his team’s success. He excels at positioning himself for puck battles and securing loose pucks, making him a reliable presence in his own zone. His ability to read plays and react quickly enables him to capitalize on scoring opportunities in transition. Weiermair also possesses the agility to outmaneuver opponents, creating space for himself and his teammates to launch counterattacks.
1 Viewing
Comments: Weiermair scored a nice tieing goal with a bit of a lucky bounce batting one out of the air. It was the play leading up to the goal that was more impressive and how he was able to connect on a seam pass that had some zip on it. Weiermair plays a fast game and he is super agile with and without the puck. His first three steps are pretty explosive and when he feels pressure. Some of the bigger defenseman had a hard time controlling him in tight. If they chose the wrong way to contain, Weiermair was out in the open able to make plays. If they chose right, he was usually eliminated from the play due to his lack of physicality.
Burke Hood (G, L, 6’3″, 203, Vancouver Giants, 04/30/2007)
Game Rating
A
Burke Hood demonstrated strong athleticism and positioning skills in tonight’s game, allowing him to get from post to post with ease. His ability to cut angles down using his size is an asset in limiting shooter availability. Hood also showed poise on odd man rushes, popping out at the top of the crease to limit shooters’ options. While he can play the puck effectively, there are times where his size affects his ability to pick up rim shots. However, his overall skill set and positioning abilities make him a reliable goaltender.
1 Viewing
Comments: Hood was player of the game tonight for getting the win and seeing as many shots as he did. With forty one shots on net and making thirty nine stops, he was able to make some goal saving saves and be foundation that his team could lean on. One of the better parts about his game is how quick he is to recover and the battle level he competes with during second chance opportunities. When he does let out a rebound, he reacts quickly to get his body in position to get square to a puck.
Ryan Lin (D, R, 5’11”, 177, Vancouver Giants, 04/18/2008)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Lin is a smooth skating offensive defenseman who looks calm and collected when he is skating the puck up the ice. He quarterbacks in a couple different ways other than on the power play. He does a good job at attacking the middle of the ice, leaving both options to east or west open. He is able to facilitate by looking off option one, then option two, only to find option three with time and space. He does not panic with the puck, instead he embraces the pressure knowing that someone else can be open once he beats his guy. One knock is that he could improve his shot from the blue line, definitely a pass first and pass second type of player.
Ty Halaburda (LW, R, 5’11”, 190, Vancouver Giants, 04/22/2005, Colorado College)
Game Rating
A
1 Viewing
Comments: The hero in tonights game Halaburda was a productive force. He scored a nice goal just getting net front and burying home a rebound that popped out to the top of the crease. He is not the biggest player at the net front, and whether it was rotation or movement within the power play, he found himself in the dirty areas and fought for his position. One of the better aspects about his game is that he wants to be first on the puck, and if he is not, he battles hard to win it back. Little small area skill passes under pressure is what set him apart from other players tonight. It is why Halaburda has sixteen goals on the season.
Tobias Tomik (LW, L, 6’0″, 196, Vancouver Giants, 12/18/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Tomik plays a pesky, high-energy style and shows occasional flashes of unexpected offensive creativity. His biggest drawback is his skating and while he brings the desirable qualities of an agitator who can spark his team, his mobility needs significant improvement for him to be more reliable in his own zone. What never wavers, though, is his effort. He is a relentless worker whose shifts are consistently fueled by compete and determination who was able to create multiple turnovers on the back check. Had a chance with a shootout attempt that he was unable to convert.
Adam Titlbach (C, L, 5’9″, 164, Vancouver Giants, 02/15/2006)
Game Rating
B+
This player exhibits strong spatial awareness, consistently checking his surroundings before initiating play to ensure time and space to execute a move. They are well-positioned around the net for their size, contributing to a notable number of goals this season. Defensively, they prioritize tight gaps and clever puck control over brute force, demonstrating a willingness to adapt and outmaneuver opponents.
1 Viewing
Comments: Despite being undersized, Titlbach drives play with a dynamic blend of speed, instincts, puck skills, being a shot threat, and playmaking vision. Whenever he is on the ice, he tilts the game toward the offensive zone. His off puck play still needs to have more awareness, and he can sometimes fall into the habit of investing far more energy in generating offense than in defending. But when the puck is on his stick he can be one of the more dynamic players on the ice. His offensive creativity pairs itself with a risk level that can be high at times.
Ethan Mittelsteadt (D, L, 6’0″, 186, Vancouver Giants, 12/18/2005, Princeton)
Game Rating
B
Mittelsteadt’s game showcased his ability to drive plays forward with his aggressiveness, allowing his forwards to maintain possession in the opponent’s zone. He demonstrated good initial instincts, securing loose pucks and delivering crisp passes from the point. However, there were moments where he could have taken more control of the puck, rather than passing it off. To improve, Mittelsteadt needs to develop confidence in holding onto the puck under pressure, even if it means taking a few extra seconds to make a play.
1 Viewing
Comments: Mittelsteadt showed tonight that his hands and playmaking instincts are impressive, but his game away from the puck limits how consistently he can drive offense through transition. That said, he brings ideal size and pairs it with mobility that is rare for a defenseman of his frame, especially one who defends as well as he does in his own end. His puck moving ability is a key driver of his overall impact, often dictating whether he is having a strong game. Defensively, he plays with intelligence and poise, showing tonight that he can eliminate chances through smart stick work, sound positioning, and sharp reads, rather than relying solely on his size to overpower opponents.
Marek Howell (D, L, 6’3″, 207, Vancouver Giants, 05/19/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Howell is a gig man defenseman for the Giants who scored a nice goal getting the puck on the wall, taking it to the middle of the ice, and sniping over the glove from a bit of a distance. It was a nice goal in the sense that he had to coral the puck from his backhand, get it quickly to shot position, and pick a corner. Howell has solid mobility for being one of the bigger defenseman on the ice and showed that when he is able to put his power behind his shot, it can be dangerous.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images