Official 2006-07 Vancouver Giants/WHL Season Thread

[Robbie]

Some 570 good pictures of before, during, and after the championship game.

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prs ... &password=

[Lions_Fan_4_Life]

Surprised no one's posted this yet...the G-Men acquired forward Chris Cloud from Saskatoon a couple weeks ago. Cloud is a gritty player who hasn't found the scoresheet as much as he'd like, but he hasn't sucked. We gave up a Bantam pick.

And in the Expansion draft we avoided Edmonton picking who they wanted from us, so we traded Cam Reid the other way to the Oil Kings. He is a 16-year-old scoring type and will fit in great in Edmonton.

[Soundy]

Well, looks like the Watt-haters (and I know there are plenty of them out there) will be happy:

By Joey Kenward (Voice of the Giants)

The Vancouver Giants have traded 20 year-old forward J.D. WATT to the Red Deer Rebels. In exchange the Giants receive 19 year-old defenceman MIKE BERUBE and a 2008 conditional WHL bantam draft pick.

Berube will be entering his 4th season in the WHL. The 6'1", 215lbs. blue-liner from Edmonton, Alberta is coming off his most productive campaign, collecting 20 points in 66 games for the Rebels. Originally drafted into the WHL by the Prince George Cougars in 2003, Berube has played 189 regular season games.

"Mike will be a welcome addition to our defence corps as we expect to lose a handful of d-men from our championship run this spring," says Giants General Manager Scott Bonner. "He's a solid, puck-moving defenceman that we expect to provide leadership to our team, both on and off the ice."

Originally a 6th round pick by the Giants in the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft, Watt went on to play 197 regular season games in Vancouver. Last season, the Cremona, Alberta native set career highs in goals, points, and plus minus and was named the club's Most Improved Player. Watt was a 4th round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and signed a contract with the club earlier this year.

"J.D. has established himself as one of the top power forwards in the WHL the past few seasons," adds Bonner. "He has a bright future ahead of him in pro hockey and the Giants organization wishes him the best in his future career."

In a separate transaction, the Giants have acquired the rights to forward TYLER PISTONE from the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for the rights to forward WACEY HAMILTON. Pistone, a 5'11", 160lbs right winger from Nanaimo, BC has just completed his first year in the BCHL with the Nanaimo Clippers. In 49 games as a 16 year-old, Pistone had 8 goals, 10 assists, and 19 penalty minutes.

[Lionut]

Note he said that Watt has a bright future in "pro" hockey, not necessarily the NHL. Anytime a kid is still playing junior hockey at age 20, it tells you that no professional organization sees him as a top tier prospect. If they did, he would be playing in the AHL in 07-08. The ECHL is littered with guys who were playing junior as 20 year olds, then couldn't stick with an AHL club the year after...

[Toppy Vann]

"The Vancouver Giants have traded 20 year-old forward J.D. WATT to the Red Deer Rebels. In exchange the Giants receive 19 year-old defenceman MIKE BERUBE and a 2008 conditional WHL bantam draft pick."

Great move for the Giants as I heard one of the Bonners say on Team 1040 last night that they didn't expect to see him in Vancouver next year. Reading between the lines this meant that they'd not want him back (likely given his age and the few of them they can have).

The trade is good for them as the conditional pick will come to them IF he plays for Red Deer next season. Bonner said that Red Deer felt their guy needed a change (Mike Berube). Even one for one this looks good for Giants as they lose four top D this season. Great hockey name, not sure of any lineage to other hockey playing Berubes.

[smphantom]

Not sad to see Watt leave. He has talent, but took way too many dumb penalties.