Calgary Flames have drafted two Vancouver Giants.

Samuel Honzek was selected 16th overall by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2023 NHL entry draft , the Giants announced on June 28.

This past season, his first in North America, the 6-foot-3, 195 lb. left-shot forward from Slovakia finished second on the Giants in scoring with 56 points despite playing in only 43 regular season games.

鈥淭he entire Vancouver Giants organization is absolutely thrilled for Samuel and would like to congratulate him and his family on this achievement,鈥� Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta said. 鈥淭o be a first-round NHL selection is an incredible accomplishment and we are happy to see his hard work this past season pay off.鈥�

Giants Head Coach Michael Dyck added that Honzek鈥檚 player type, a 鈥榩ower forward with skill鈥� lends itself well at the next level.

鈥淗e鈥檚 explosive [and] has the ability to finish. Really competitive; really focused,鈥� Dyck said. 鈥淥ff the ice he鈥檚 really well respected by his teammates. No nonsense guy. Very driven鈥�he鈥檚 going to be a good pro.鈥�

Vancouver Giants have had at least one player selected in the NHL Draft in 18 of the past 22 years.

The next day, June 29, Giants announced 18-year-old forward Jaden Lipinski from Scottsdale, AZ was selected by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

This past season, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound centre finished third on the Giants in scoring with 51 points (19G-32A) in 66 games, a 34-point improvement from his rookie season. His breakout 2022-23 campaign consisted of a team-leading five game-winning-goals, eight power play goals (2nd on Vancouver) and a 51 per cent clip in the face-off circle (460 FOW).

He was also named the Bubl茅 Iron Man of the Year and Save-On-Foods High School Scholastic Player of the Year in 2022-23 with the Giants.

The right-shot forward has appeared in 134 career regular season games for Vancouver, having compiled 27 goals and 41 assists for 68 points. Additionally, he has played in 16 playoff games, registering four points (1G-3A).

鈥淭he Vancouver Giants organization would like to congratulate Jaden and his family on his selection by the Calgary Flames in the NHL Draft,鈥� Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta said. 鈥淗is improvement from day one to today speaks volumes to his work ethic and high upside. We look forward to working alongside the Flames to help further his development.鈥�

Giants Head Coach Michael Dyck added that Lipinski just kept getting better and better as the season went on.

鈥淗e鈥檚 got the ability to finish around the net,鈥� Dyck said. 鈥淩eliable both ways. Since he鈥檚 got to Vancouver, he has improved a lot.鈥�

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G-Men will begin their 23rd season on home ice against the Victoria Royals on Friday, Sept. 22 at the 91原创 Events Centre. It鈥檚 the only game they will play during opening weekend.

The team鈥檚 first road contest will be against last year鈥檚 Memorial Cup hosts, as they travel to face the Kamloops Blazers on Friday, Sept. 29.

The regular season will wrap up with a home-and-home against the Kelowna Rockets in late March. The Giants host the Rockets on Friday, March 22 in what will be their final home game, before closing out the 2023-24 campaign at Prospera Place in Kelowna on Saturday, March 23.

Giants will be playing 68 games during the 2023-24 WHL season.

This season, all Friday home games will begin at 7 p.m. instead of 7:30 like in years past.

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