It鈥檚 been a big week for the Vancouver Giants 鈥� the team has clinched a playoff spot, and top scorer Ty Ronning has been signed by an NHL team 鈥� but that鈥檚 no reason to rest on their laurels.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good feeling,鈥� said head coach Jason McKee, of the 5-4 win over the Kamloops Blazers that put the team into the WHL playoffs. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 been there in a while.鈥�
But the team has worked hard this year, and it鈥檚 paid off with a winning record. And once they get into the playoffs, anyone can win, said McKee.
That鈥檚 why they won鈥檛 be letting up 鈥� the teams that will face them over the next week will not see the Giants slacking.
鈥淲e want to be playing playoff hockey before the playoffs start,鈥� said McKee.
He鈥檚 got a list of four areas he wants his team to work on during the next string of games: offensive, defensive, and neutral zone play, and special teams.
The fact that most of the string of games will be road games doesn鈥檛 bother McKee in the slightest.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be able to win on the road if you鈥檙e going to win championships,鈥� he said.
As for worrying about injuries, that鈥檚 something that McKee feels is entirely out of his control. He can鈥檛 think about it as the regular season winds down.
鈥淲e want our guys playing hard, and playing the right way,鈥� McKee said.
That tough play has payed off in spades for one Vancouver Giant.
Ty Ronning, son of former Canuck Cliff Ronning, is headed for the NHL after signing a three-year entry level contract with the New York Rangers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting for everyone,鈥� said McKee. 鈥淭y鈥檚 worked real hard here for the last few years.鈥�
