Vancouver Giants acquired two left-handed players, a defenceman from San Jose, CA and a forward from Chandler, AZ Wednesday (March 25th) during the 2020 WHL U.S. Prospects Draft.

Giants used the seventh overall pick to select 2005-born defenceman Philippe Blais-Savoie, who checks in at 5鈥�10鈥� and 150 pounds. He played for the San Jose Jr. Sharks 14U team in 2019-20 and scored 11 goals along with 11 assists for 22 points in 29 games. Nine of his 11 goals were scored five-on-five. He added 32 penalty minutes.

Giants GM Barclay Parneta called Blais-Savoie 鈥渁n offensive-minded defenceman that plays like a fourth forward. He can make plays happen off the rush.鈥�

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With their second pick (38th overall), the 91原创-based Giants chose 2005-born forward Duncan Shin.

Shin, is 5鈥�10鈥� and 155 pounds. In 2019-20 he played with the Shattucks-St. Mary鈥檚 Sabres 14U team and potted 25 goals along with 40 assists for 65 points in 58 games while adding 18 penalty minutes. In 2018-19 he managed 34 goals and 40 assists for 74 points in 57 games with the LA Jr. Kings 13U program.

Giants Scouting Director Daryl Anning described Shin as an 鈥渆lite talent.鈥�

鈥淗is hockey IQ is exceptional,鈥� Anning commented.鈥�

鈥淗e鈥檚 a skilled player that plays a strong 200-foot game. He doesn鈥檛 back down from physicality and has put up some excellent numbers over the past few seasons.鈥�

WHL playoffs were cancelled a few days before the draft on Monday, March 23rd due to the COVID-19 pandemic.鈥�

Before the viral crisis, the Giants appeared well positioned for the playoffs, second in their division, coming off an 11-game winning streak that matched their longest-ever regular season winning streak, and clinching their third playoff spot in a year.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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