UBC baseball months away from beginning their season

I know UBC doesn't open their 2008 baseball campaign until mid-February (more on that in a second), but I was curious who would be coming back for the T-Birds, and Bob Broughton from the T-Bird fan site sent me the roster for the France trip in August, which most of the T-Birds went to.

There are a few players not on this roster, but most are.

Returning from last year's team, are SS Sammie Starr, INF/OF Craig Leebosh, LHP Andrew LaFleur, OF Nic Lendvoy, RHP's Greg Chong and Scott Webster (also at 1B), 2B Sean Everest, OF Matt Chester, LHP Kurt Schumacher, C Dave Dick, LHP Mark Hardy and Jordan Anderson, as well as American 1B Fletcher Vynne.

A sophomore from Richmond, UBC has a new SS in Alex White. The 5'11 175 lbs right-handed hitter will be entering his first year with the T-Birds, after spending his freshman year at Alan Hancock College in California. The former North Delta Blue Jay's old school didn't keep track of stats, but I'm looking forward to seeing what White has to offer, playing behind Sammie Starr and Sean Everest.

Bob Foerster is a name Vancouver baseball fans will have to get used to, because the Langley native will be starting the year at third base! Foerster will be entering his second year of eligibility for the NAIA if I understand correct (he's 19) and will be replacing Brett Murray. Foerster stands at 6'1 185, and is a left-handed hitter who throws with his right hand.

Now switching to the hill, Josh Brink will bring back some height that UBC lost with the departure of Jon Frest a few years ago. The 6'5 250 pound pitcher out of Abbotsford was at Western Nevada CC last season, before coming home to play north of the border.

Those are three new key players coming to UBC, and I will be profiling more of the rookies as the season edges closer.

Now onto the schedule, that will probably be shifted around a few more times during the season to accomodate Vancouver's rain.

NOTE: These are only a handful of UBC's season schedule - once the full one is available I will re-post it.

UBC will open the season on February 14th at Fresno Pacific showing Canadian love on Valentines Day, before travelling to the Master's for the second straight season, on the 15th.

They will head to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps the following Sunday, before back-to-back dates with Point Lama Nazarene and Fresno Pacific on the 19th and 20th.

UBC's first conference weekend will be the 8th and 9th of March against Concordia-Portland on the road. Their first scheduled home weekend will be the following, against Oregon Tech on the 15th and 16th. They'll play three (no double-header) games against Lewis-Clark State on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd before hosting the College of Idaho (formerly Allbertson) on the final days of March.

UBC will have a break during the month of April, but will host Lewis-Clark on the 25th, 26th and 27th of April. They will make their annual trek down the I-5 to play Washington (A division I NCAA team) on the 29th of April.

Giants fall to Cougars up north

So, I didn't read about this game day change that was announced two days before the original Giants at Cougars game, which actually took place last night. I was at the Canucks game, so didn't have anything to hear the Giants....here's the Giantsbeat.com recap, our next Road Kill Sports recap will come Saturday night, after Vancouver plays the Everett Silvertips at home, marking the WHL debut for new Giants forward (and former Giants prospect) 18-year-old Gary Nuun. Nuun should make a big impact on the Giants, and also score a handful of goals.

After building a 2-0 first period on goals from Mario Bliznak and Evander Kane the Vancouver Giants fell apart and the Prince George Cougars were more than happy to take advantage.

Kane opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the season coming just after a Cougars penalty had expired. The Giants outshot the Cougars 9-5 in the opening period and lead 1-0.

The Giants started the second period on the powerplay but were unable to generate any scoring chances or establish possession in the offensive zone. Bliznak's fifth goal of the year came at the 4:23 mark. From there however it was downhill.

Greg Gardner scored a powerplay goal for Prince George at 9:55 to bring the hometown squad to within one. In the final three minutes turnovers, combined with sloppy defensive zone play, lead to the Giants surrendering the lead. Jesse Dudas scored at 17:14 and only 57 seconds later Dana Tyrell put a slick move on Jon Blum before breaking in on Tyson Sexsmith who was beaten on the breakaway.

Blum would make up for his defensive misstep halfway through the third period when he scored the tying goal on a Giants powerplay with a blast from just above the face-off circle.

The 4-on-4 session solved nothing and the two teams went to a shootout were Alex Poulter and Ty Wishart scored on the Cougars' first two attempts while Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Mike Piluso were unable to beat Tommy Tartaglione.

For the game the Giants outshot the Cougars 29-08 and finished the night 1-for-4 with the man advantage. The Giants will now wait until Saturday when they host the Everett Silvertips at the Pacific Coliseum.

Giants go 1-1 in Alberta trip

Friday night, Vancouver opened up a two-game Alberta road trip in Lethbridge, facing Mike Wuchterl and the Hurricanes for the first time since 'Wucky' was released by Vancouver just after Canadian Thanksgiving. Neil Manning drew back into the lineup after breaking his wrist in early October, and Dillon Scholten was no where to be found, after being re-assigned earlier in the week.

Phil Gervais, James Henry and James Palazzo all sat this one out, with Tyson Sexsmith behind the pipes for Vancouver facing Juha Metsola, Lethbridge's back-up goaltender.

Garet Hunt and Luke Wiens dropped the gloves rather quickly, at 0:08 in the first period. This is Hunt's first fight since being suspended last week for a face-off fight with Brady Calla of Kamloops on November 11th.

Michael Repik found net behind Metsola with Mitch Versteeg in the box for the Hurricanes, for his 15th goal of 2007. Brent Regner and Spencer Machacek had assists.

Mid-way through the second, with the score still 1-0 Vancouver, Mike Berube dropped the gloves with Craig Orfino after Orfie kneed a Giant. Berube picked up the fighting major, as did Craig Orfino but the Hurricane also had to serve a two-minute powerplay.

Vancouver scored an even-strength goal late in the middle stanza, Mario Bliznak's 4th from Machacek and Neil Manning in his first game in almost two months.

A different line would have the only other goal in the hockey game - James Wright, Lance Bouma and the stud Craig Cunningham. Wright got the goal, with Jon Blum and Bouma taking the assists.

3-0 Vancouver was your final.

Road Kill Sports Three Stars:

1. Spencer Machacek, two assists in a good game for the Lethbridge native.
2. Michal Repik, the game-winner and a good solid game for Florida Panthers prospect.
3. Mitch Fadden, the Hurricane didn't have any points but he kept his 'Canes in the game.

Saturday in Medicine Hat, Vancouver was looking to head back into the Pacific Time Zone with two wins under their belt, but first they had to beat the Tiger team they defeated in the Memorial Cup final last season.

Stefan Schneider, James Henry and Craig Cunningham didn't suit up in this one for Vancouver.

Tomas Vosvrda was the goaltender for Medicine Hat, while Tyson Sexsmith got the start once again for the Giants.

Brother of former Vancouver Giant and current Tri-City American Shaun Vey, Linden Vey scored his 5th of the season for Medicine Hat in the early going, 1-0 home-team.

Yashar Farmanara, the West Vancouver native, scored his 11th of the year as an overager, thanks to the set-up by Brennan Bosch and Daine Todd, the Tiger captain. The goal was scored on the powerplay with Jon Blum in the box.

Vancouver responded 14 seconds later, with Michal Repik's second goal in two nights, 16th of the year. The Hyphen Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Brent Regner picked up assists.

Tyler Ennis didn't want his team up by only one going into the final period, so he erupted for his 17th of the campaign from Mark Isherwood.

The same went for the Hyphen, who certainly wanted to tie the game going into the final frame, as he scored his first career WHL goal 20 seconds after Ennis' marker. Mike Berube had an assist.

Craig Schira scored 23 seconds later to tie the game, on his 2nd goal as a Giant. Pierro-Zabotel and Michal Repik had assists.

Tie game 3-3 going into the third, after three goals were scored in the last 1:40 of the period, and in the final 3:35 of the middle frame, five goals were scored.

Unfortunately, Daine Todd scored the game-winner early in the third, on the powerplay and Vancouver would never tie the game up, 4-3 was your final in favour of the Tigers.

Road Kill Sports Three Stars:

1. Casey Pierro Zabotel, Vancouver: A goal and two assists in just his fifth WHL game.
2. Daine Todd, Medicine Hat: The Tigers captain really had a strong game, picking up the game-winner as well as an assist on Yashar Farmanara's goal earlier in the game.
3. Tyler Ennis, Medicine Hat: Ennis had an assist on the game-winner as well as a goal of his own late in the second.

Next up for Vancouver is a game in Prince George on Friday before returning home next Saturday, December 1st.

A comment was posted here about a potential trade involving Mitch Czibere and Phil Gervais to Portland for a first-round pick. Personally, I doubt it.

Gervais and Czibere need to be traded IMO, but in return for someone other than a draft pick. I don't know who would be available, but rumours have it that Swift Current Bronco scouts have been at Giants games recently - and that could be an indication of moves to come.

But to Portland for a first-rounder? Don't count on it.

Giants go 1-2 in sloppy weekend

Four days late, why? Whenever I save a draft (like I did Sunday morning before writing about Sunday night's game) it's deleted when i hit "Publish Post".

I'm going to make sure I do individual reports so this won't happen from now on, two weeks in a row...

After beating Chilliwack 2-1 Friday night in a shootout at home, they lost by the same score in Everett on Saturday, before losing 5-3 at home to Kelowna Sunday evening, where most Vancouver sports fans were feeling dejected after BC's disappointing loss to Saskatchewan in the Western Division Final, in front of 55 thousand fans at BC Place across town.

Vancouver hits the ice tomorrow in Lethbridge, after a few moves during the week.

Dillon Scholten was re-assigned, and IIRC he won't be back with the Giants (not just for now, for ever) if I read that correctly at another site.

Jon Blum and Spencer Machacek dropped the gloves in practice, and it wasn't to see which one was a better practice fighter, it was for real.

Go Giants.

Former C's added to 40-man roster; sign Todd Linden

MLB teams had until yesterday to add players to their 40-man roster, before the players would be available to all the other MLB clubs in the upcoming Rule 5 draft. Jay Marshall and Ryan Goleski were taken by the A’s last year (and are now out of the system) but a man was lost, and his name is Jared Burton, a member of the 2002 Vancouver Canadians.

Four former Canadians, and one future Athletic, were added to Oakland’s 40-man roster yesterday, keeping them in the system for the next few months. RHP Jeff Gray, SS Gregorio Petit, C Landon Powell, and OF Richie Robnett were selected to the MLB roster, as was fireballer Henry Rodriguez, who was with Kane County this season. Oakland now has two spots available on the 40-man roster.

Gray, a 2005 C’s alumnist, has had an excellent season, and is continuing his success in the Arizona Fall League, after spending 2007 with Sacramento in AAA. Rodriguez is an up-and-coming prospect with the A’s, and his speeds are Bobby Jenks-like. Petit spent ‘04 with the Red and Blue, and also played in AAA this season. Powell was injured with the Rivercats, giving him two injuries that have hampered his professional career (he was sidelined a few years ago, missing a full season of ‘ball). Robnett was a top pick in the 2004 draft (as was Powell) and reported to Vancouver in late July of that same year.

The additions aren’t too surprising, and with Powell being added you know it means he’ll be ready for the 2008 spring training, otherwise why bother?

The A’s also signed three minor-league free agents, including a name most C’s fans will recognize. Troy Cate, Todd Donovan and Todd Linden are members of Oakland’s system after being signed over the last few days.

Cate is a LHP who is in the Mexican Winter League as we speak, and played at Nat Bailey in 2002 as a member of the Everett Aquasox. His time in the Mariners system brought him to Tacoma in 2003, where he pitched in one game picking up the win, but after four years he was stuck in the California League and went over to the St Louis system. Side note, he was suspended for 15-games a few years ago for using steroids, hopefully that era of his life is over.

In 2006 he put up great numbers in Palm Beach (Single-A) and Springfield (AA, where he had an ERA of 0.57 in 10 games) but he couldn’t keep up that success in 2007, pitching out of Memphis in the PCL and St Louis in the Majors. In the bigs, he appeared in 14 games with no decisions, and an ERA of 3.38 coming out of the ‘pen. He started his career as a starter, but was a reliever in ‘07, and from what the stats say he’s one of those set-up men (ala Kiko Calero, Ricardo Rincon).

The mormon who is also a father, told Joe Weiss of Scout.com, that "I always knew I’d make it," in May of 2004 while still a member of the Mariners organization.

Turning 30 years old in August of 2008, Todd Donovan is not your typical outfielder. He started his career at the age of 20 with Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League 8 years ago, and has progressed to AAA since. A career .267 hitter, Donovan was picked up by the A’s last week after being let go by the Rangers. His career has brought him to stops like Ottawa, Akron, Bowie, Las Vegas, Mobile, and Fort Wayne to name a few. Most recently, he played for Frisco in the Texas League.

He’s played for six different organizations, with Oakland being the 7th, never making it to the show. He’s had chances, in Spring Training (and two stints in AAA), and with the big boys during the March training, he has a home-run, three doubles and a total of 9 hits in 36 at-bats. Batting .250 isn’t terrible but for spring training it could be much better. Let’s hope he shows Oakland what he’s really got, in what may be his final years as a pro ball player.

Todd Linden may not be a house-hold name to baseball fans, but his brother is in Vancouver baseball houses. Brother of 2007 Canadians colour-man Mark, Todd has been with the other Bay-Area team his whole career, in the minor leagues. Todd is 27 and a power-hitting outfielder. He has a total of 85 home-runs in six minor-league seasons, to go along with eight dingers with the San Francisco Giants, after 502 plate appearances.

He’s been anything but sloppy in the minors, with a career average of .289 but in the big leagues (and this is in a combined five years in the majors) he has batted only .231. AAA could be the next move for him (once again) and consider this - he started 2002 in AA and hasn’t been back there since that time with Shreveport (a now defunct AA team). That’s a long time between four clubs (Fresno - San Francisco’s AAA affiliate, San Francisco and the Florida Marlins who picked him up in the 2007 season, along with Albuquerque with whom he spent time with this year).

Potential Line Combos for tomorrow

Thanks to Giantsbeat.com, which has to be the best forum for Giants fans around - we have a slight idea of potential line combinations for tomorrow night's tilt against the Bruins at the Coliseum.

Casey 'The Hyphen' Pierro-Zatobel (I hope I didn't butcher that), was skating with Mike Piluso and Evander Kane at practice today, but personally I can't see Piluso playing with Zatobel...ever. It's more realistic to have a guy like Lance Bouma or Spencer Machacek (even if he has to switch positions for a few shifts).

Mario Bliznak was with the captain and Mike Reich/Phil Gervais, while James Wright, Craig Cunningham and Lance Bouma created the sophomore line once again. Mitch Czibere was skating with Garet Hunt and James Henry (along with Chris Cloud) but remember Hunt can't play tomorrow beacuse of his suspension. Michal Repik was dealing with paperwork in regards to his NHL contract, but should suit up tomorrow.

Potential Scratches up front:

Garet Hunt (Suspension)
Phil Gervais
James Henry

Giants acquire top forward

Don't know where my post recapping the weekend went - so I'll have to give a short recap. After beating Red Deer 5-1 Saturday night, they finished the weekend with another win against the Kamloops Blazers - this time 5-2. Garet Hunt was suspended after the Kamloops game, because of an opening facebook fight against Brady Calla of the Blazers. Therefore, Friday night when Vancouver plays Chilliwack, no Garet Hunt, in comes Casey Pierro-Zabotel.

A third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Casey is a 19-year-old forward who is committed to a hockey scholarship at Michigan Tech. He was unable to play there this season, due to poor test scores. He played in the BCHL this fall (for Gilbert Brule's former team the Merritt Centenniails), where he collected 15 goals and 12 assists in only 17 games.

After leading Canada West to gold at the Junior A Hockey Challenge (where he was captain), Pierro-Zabotel will join the Giants at practice tomorrow, and in the the Friday at home against the Bruins, wearing a famillar #17, that has been kept in the dressing room since Gilbert Brule joined the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.

C's add talented bodies to front office staff

The Canadians made the usual early off-season hirings to their front office last week, and one of the hirings was predicted for a while.

Allan Bailey, Spiro Khouri and JC Fraser are now permanent members of the Canadians front office, Bailey coming in as Assistant Ticket Manager, Khouri as Group Sales Manager (taking over for Ben Ekren) and Fraser as Ballpark Operations Manager.

Bailey joined the Canadians in the ‘07 season, and was seen in the Ticket Office, as well as the Will Call table outside Nat Bailey’s gates. He is a former McGill Red Bird, where he played baseball for five seasons. He played 3B and pitcher in his time in as a Red Bird, and was a reliever from the mound.

Fraser was an intern in 2007, helping with the Stadium Operations. A former advisor to the Nepal Tourism Board, he is certainly a great addition to the club.

Khouri was a Game Day intern this season, putting on the contests you all saw from the stands, which is a key part of your Nat Bailey experience. He is now the Group Sales Manager, hoping to attract groups of over 20 to our beautiful ballpark. His hiring has been expected for a few weeks, and the Canadians have to be happy that he will be staying on with the team.

Away from the switch: Giants on fire

It's been a 6 day break from the blog that I've taken - and it was due to busyness. Sorry I haven't updated since the Giants have gone on a tear as of late, but I'm back and ready for Giants hockey!

Last Saturday:

Chris Bruton, captain of the Spokane Chiefs, opened the scoring for hometown club Saturday night in Washington state, before Mario Bliznak tied the game early in the 3rd. Spencer Machacek and Michal Repik picked up assists.

Tyson Sexsmith made 25 saves on 26 shots in regulation, and Kevin Armstrong stopped 18 of the 19 bullets that came his way.

Into a shootout we went, where Craig Schira and Tyler Johnson failed to score as the first shooters.

Mike Piluso, the Giants rookie who is usually a healthy scratch, missed as well, but so did Drayson Bowman.

The Giants catch a break however, with Mario Bliznak's eventual shootout winner. Jared Spurgeon miseed, Giants win!!

Road Kill Sports Three Stars:

1. Mario Bliznak: A goal and the over time winner in a breakout game for the Slovak.

2. Tyson Sexsmith: 25 saves on 26 shots, including three more saves in the shootout. Great rebound performance aftere some short-lived games earlier in the week.

3. Kevin Armstrong: Blocking all but 2 shots all game, #31 had a stellar performance.

Sunday:

Stefan Schneider made his long awaited season debut for Vancouver after recovering from a leg injury in Chilliwack, and he didn't really do much.

Michal Repik opened up the scoring at 13:01 of the middle frame on the PP, with Blum and Bliznak picking up assists. Chilliwack answered back a while later with Chris Cloud and Schneider in the box, with Oscar Moller's 18th of the campaign from Campos and Santorelli.

Repik's 11th of the year was assisted by the same people early in the third, and Lance Bouma put the icing on the cake with a goal at 9:38 assisted by fellow sophomore James Wright.

3-1 Giants was your final.

Road Kill Sports Three Stars:

1. Michal Repik: Two goals, including the opener and the game-winner.

2. Mario Bliznak: Two assists for a guy who had two goals the night before.

3. Jon Blum: Two assists for the Californian d-man.

Wednesday:

Vancouver hosted Prince George in front of Western Canada on Shaw TV Wednesday night, and put on a scoring show.

I'm going to only highlight the goals as there were many on the night.

Lance Bouma scored a PP goal early in the game, assisted by Wright and Repik.

Ty Wishart responded with his 5th of the year assisted by WHL Player of the Week Dana Tyrell and Alex Poulter. Michal Repik had a goal of his own on the PP later in the 1st, with assists going out to Mario Bliznak and Spencer Machacek.

Chris Van Duynhoven had his first goal of the season assisted by Kalvin Sagert, a defenceman to make it a 2-2 game.

Brent Regner had a goal in the 2nd on the powerplay, thanks to Jon Blum and Spencer Machacek giving Vancouver the lead once again.

Greg Gardner found the net for the Cougars, tie hockey game.

After two periods of hockey, 3-3.

Lance Bouma wouldn't wait long, with linemates Evander Kane (who has been quit lately) and James Wright. At 1:01, Bouma scored from Berube and Wright.

10 seconds later Bouma found net again past former Giants goalie Tommy Tartaglione (who was hit in the nuts with a puck) for his 3rd goal of the game. First hat-trick of the year goes to Boomer!! Wright and Kane had assists.

Mike Piluso scored his 2nd of the season (and first since Thanksgiving) at 16:09 from Palazzo and Henry (another quiet rookie), Giants with a huge lead now 6-3.

Chris Van Duynhoven had his 2nd of the game/season at 19:45 for a late meaningless goal, and Craig Cunningham answered with 4 seconds left in the game for his 3rd of the year from Czibere and Schneider.

Road Kill Sports Three Stars:

1. Lance Bouma: A hat trick for the Alberta native, great way to show all of those watching on shaw what he can do (two years ago it was Machacek impressing on Shaw).

2. James Wright: Three assists, another great game for him.

3. Michal Repik: After a two goal performance Sunday, Repper responded with a goal and assist Wednesday night.

Giants go at it tomorrow against Red Deer (and JD Watt) at the Coliseum.

Couple of ex-C's done as pros?

Last week I passed on info from the Oakland Clubhouse on the A’s minor league free agents, and now I can tell you the other teams’ players who will be available to every MLB team.

There are five former single-A C’s, and a pair of AAA Canadians who weren’t re-signed, as well as a few notables.

From the ‘99 Canadians, Chad Harville (Arizona) and Frank Menechino (San Diego) are done with their respective teams. Harville was pitching in AAA Tucson this season, going 6-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 47 appearances.

The Selmer, Tennessee native last reached the MLB in 2006, and was a PCL Mid-Season All-Star this year.

Menechino was a fan favourite back in his days with the team, but his age has to be a factor in whether he’ll play pro ball again.

The soon-to-be 37-year-old split the year between Colorado (AAA) and the Portland Beavers (also AAA). His season ended early on August 5th, no word on if he retired or was injured. He had a .375 average this season with 3 dingers and 16 doubles in just 38 games.

2007 was a rebound year for the 5′8 infielder, after batting .193 in what might be his shortest year ever - playing in 18 games.

Two original single-A Canadians are free agents, RHP Marcus Gwyn and IF Marshall McDougall.

Gwyn has bounced around between teams in his career, and played with the LA Angels this season (appearing 3 times, accumulating a 11.81 ERA). He had 47 chances in AAA, and he capitalized going 2-1 with an ERA of 3.79.

McDougall has appeared in the farm systems for the Texas Rangers, Oakland A’s and most recently the LA Dodgers. He is currently in the Mexican Winter League, playing for Naranjeros de Hermosillo. Sporting number 50, he is batting .316 after 19 games. In the season, with AA Jacksonville and AAA Las Vegas, he batted .283 in almost 140 games.

Marshall is married and has a son Mason, so retiring might not be the last thing on his mind.

Matt Allegra is a minor league free agent for the 2nd time, this time after being let go by the Minnesota Twins. He batted .241 in 106 games for the AA New Britain Rock Cats. Allegra was a home-run hitting champ with the C’s, picking up all-star honours in 2001. I’m sure Rob Fai, who was media relations manager here during Allegra’s tenure, would agree he was a top Canadian.

The final player who is ‘free’ is Eduardo Sierra. Known for allowing a lot of hits and having a high ERA, Sierra is in the Dominican Winter League where after two games he hasn’t allowed an earned run. He’s still young (25) but he’s been shuffled a few times which may be concerning for GM’s.

Jamal Strong, a former Everett Aquasox top prospect, and Erubiel Durazo who was released at the start of the year by the A’s, were released by the Bronx Bombers. Durazo should stay on with another MLB team.

And now to my favourite part of the post - Mark Kiger baby! Kiger was sent packing by the Mets, and this follows a huge ‘argument’ between NFTN and Kigers’ family a few months ago.

It was really fun to watch (I let Chris feed the story) and no offence to the Kigers - but this can’t be a surprise. He was battling with John McCurdy and Brant Colamarino with the Canadians and I can’t say he stepped up to the challenge. I’m going to make an assumption - within two days his wife will come over here and yell at us for talking about him getting released.

According to her, he left under his own terms from the A’s system last year and made it seem like our fault that we didn’t know. When I see "Released: Mark Kiger" I don’t know why he was released or how but forgive me for not knowing, geez.

Giants get killed by Ams

In a Roberto Luongo like way, the Giants allowed 8 goals Friday night in Washington State against the Tri-City Americans, a night before they're supposted to battle the red hot Spokane Chiefs.

Giants scratches:

Neil Manning (Healthy)
Stefan Schneider (Healthy)
James Henry (Healthy)
Mike Reich (Healthy/Questionable?)

In the post Nolan Toigo era, the Giants got off to a good start. With Jason Gardiner in the box for the home team, the vissiting Giants capitalized with Michal Repik's 9th of the year from Spencer Machacek and Mario Bliznak, who was profiled in the Vancouver Sun Friday after Don Hay wanted the Slovak to step things up.

Garet Hunt took a penalty seconds later, and of course the Americans took advantage of #24 being off the ice, with Colton Yellow Horn's 5th of the year. The overager's goal was assisted by Kruise Reddick and Taylor Procyshen. After the play, Lance Bouma was given a 10-minute misconduct, keeping him off the ice until the near end of the first period.

James Palazzo dropped the gloves with Tyler Schmidt, both being sent off and given 5 penalty minutes.

That was it for the excitement in the first, but don't worry there was plenty of that later on...if you're from one of the Tri-Cities.

For the 2nd time all game, Garet Hunt was sent off with a minor penalty, and Tri-City would score. This time it was Centre Johnny Lazo's 7th of the season, assisted by Jarrett 'Tool' Toll and former Giant and reigning WHL player of theh week Jason Reese.

A minute after Lazo's goal, Drew 'Hassel' Hoff scored just his 2nd goal of the season, bringing Tri-Cities lead to 2 goals. 4-1 after Hoff's goal assisted by Blair Macaulay and Petr 'Scrumptious' Stoklasa.

This time with Craig Cunningham sitting in the sin bin serving a call, Jason Reese scored his 5th of the campaign. Toll and Adam Hughesman picked up assists on the PP marker. 4-1.

The game would become 5-1 with another former Giant, Shaun Vey scoring a goal of his own. His 8th of the yeare was assisted by Reese and Lazo at 17:55, with you guessed it - Garet Hunt - in the box (Even though there were other players serving penalties like Phil Gervais who fought with Tim's brother Kevin Kraus).

The Americans lead would grow even more with Taylor Procyshen reaching double-digits for his goal total of the year early in the third. Kruise Reddick and Colton Yellow Horn had assists.

Vancouver would get another goal in the game, Lance Bouma's 2nd from Craig Cunningham with one of their own in the box, but there was no hope of a comeback.

Jarrett Toll, with two assists already in the game, scored his 1sst of the year on the powerplay at 12:48 from Reddick and Scrumptious Stoklasa.

Tri Cities would add another a minute later, Lazo's 2nd of the game from Gardiner and Reese to close out the game.

Giants lose 8-2.

Now, I didn't mention it because this game was a sleeper just because it was a blowout, but Tyson Sexsmith was pulled after allowing five goals in two periods.

Kraymer Barnstable, who was scheduled to start tonight in Spokane, back-stopped the 3rd period but allowed three goals on 8 shots. Seriously, if Tyson leaves for the World Juniors, we're screwed.

Road Kill Sports Three Stars:

1. Jason Reese, Tri City: A goal and three assists for the Americans, after being named WHL Player of the Week earlier in the week.

2. Johnny Lazo, Tri-City: Lazo had two goals and an assist in the blowout.

3. Jarrett Toll, Tri-City: His 1st goal of the year to go along with two assists.

Giants sucked, to say the least, and they have to play better in Spokane tonight and Chilliwack tomorrow if they don't want to be skating laps all day Monday with coach Don Hay.

Nick Walters to stay a member of the A's organization

Remember Nick Walters? If you didn’t catch a C’s game in the first two weeks of the season, you’d scratch your head and ask yourself who he is. Well, Walters quickly moved up the A’s farm ladder this season, starting out in Vancouver, then going to Kane County, before quickly advancing to Stockton. He did get demoted to the Cougars, but he still had a great year after a couple of sour seasons with the White Sox organization.

Walters was about to be available to any minor league team - thanks to Minor League free agency - but according to the Oakland Clubhouse on Scout.com, that won’t happen. Along with Walters, Brad Ziegler the sidearm phenomenon and Danny Borrell will remain with the A’s, hoping to quickly progress to the Big Leagues.

The OC later released the names of players who are now open to finding contracts with any MLB team (most will get a minor league contract though). Players of interest to C’s fans are easy to be found. From the original 2000 C’s, to guys like Casey Myers who played in Vancity as recent as 2006 (on a rehab stint, after earlier playing here in 2001).

Those players are Myers, southpaw Ron Flores, 2002 closer Jeff Muessig and 2003 OF Luis Perez.

Myers was plagued with injuries throughout his career, while Flores progressed to the Majors, doing a pretty good job with the A’s. Flores finished 2007 with a 3.57 ERA with Oakland, and an even better 2.72 with the River Cats during his 40-game AAA stint this season.

Muessig’s story is some-what similar to Myers’, injury wise. He could’ve have bought a pad in Stockton, because he spent much of the last few seasons in the single-A city. He did reach Midland, but after struggling in the California League, his effectiveness was probably questioned.

Perez was one of the better hitters in C’s history - but injuries killed the Venezuelan who had spent 8 years in the A’s system. Playing with Dustin Majewski and Andre Ethier in the C’s outfield way back when, Perez wasn’t the better known player on the ‘03 roster but he certainly left his mark on the Canadians.