The Northwest Giants are back in a share of first place following the B.C. major midget all-star weekend in Langley.
Giants’ rookie Justin Szeto scored two goals, including his 20th of the season to lift the Burnaby-based club to a 4-1 win over the North Island Silvertips on Saturday.
Defenceman Dante Fabbro counted a four-point effort on Sunday to pace the Giants to a 7-2 win in the weekend series rematch.
Fabbro also tallied a pair of goals for Team White in the league’s annual all-star showcase matchup at the George Preston rec centre in Langley on Jan. 17.
The wins, coupled with the Okanagan’s 4-3 upset loss to Fraser Valley, drew the Giants even with the Rockets in the standings, both with identical 12-4-1 records.
League scoring leader, Colton Kerfoot, got the Giants out to an early first-period lead in the opening game. Szeto potted what proved to be the eventual game-winner from Quinn Thompson just minutes later with his first of back-to-back markers. Thompson assisted on the Giants’ first three goals of the game.
In the later game, Fabbro, who leads all defencemen in overall league scoring, scored his 14th goal of the campaign while adding three helpers as the Giants silenced a 2-2 first-period scoreline with five unanswered goals.
“We didn’t get the outcome I thought we deserved (at the Mac’s tournament). I think that’s why (the players) came back with a spark,” said Giants coach Clint Thornton.
The Giants are at the Burnaby Winter Club on Saturday against third-place Valley West Hawks. Puck drops at 7:45 p.m.
The two teams go at it again on Sunday at the Langley Events Centre at 3:30 p.m.
