Justin Szeto’s seven-point weekend propelled the Northwest Giants back into a share of top spot in the B.C. major midget hockey league.
Szeto posted a five-point evening in the Giants’ 9-3 victory over the Cariboo Cougars in the opening game of a weekend series at the Burnaby Winter Club last Saturday. The Burnaby rookie scored two third-period goals, while registering three assists, including a helper on Quinn Thompson’s eventual game-winner in the middle frame.
Szeto also had a goal and an assist in the Giants’ come-from-behind 6-4 win over Cariboo in the Sunday morning rematch.
Szeto’s point tally lifted him to a share of fourth place in overall scoring.
On Saturday, Giants’ defenceman Dante Fabbro scored back-to-back markers between the second and third periods that put the home team up by 6-1.
The following day, Fabbro, Quinn Benjafield and Keyvan Mokhtari of Burnaby all counted a goal and an assist in the third period to rally the Giants to their 16th win this season.
“We’ve had a couple of good weeks. We’re trying to score more. … I just felt we had no jam going to the net,” said Giants head coach Clint Thornton.
The twin victories boosted the Giants back to a first-place tie with the Okanagan Rockets, both with identical 16-3-1 records.
Placement atop the 11-team league should be temporary for the Giants, who earn a bye this weekend.
Back in November, the Giants dropped a pair of games to Okanagan in Kelowna, scoring a total of just two goals on 40 shots.
Since then, the Burnaby-based club is averaging seven goals a game.
“That was the game we used as an example,” Thornton said.
Colton Kerfoot moved to the top of the major midget scoring parade with 34 points, including the game-winning goal in the comeback win over the Cougars. Thompson chipped in with three assists, including a helper on Kerfoot’s winner. Ty Shultz also had a pair of third-period helpers.
The Giants are back at it the following weekend, travelling to Vancouver Island for a two-game stint against the South Island Royals.
The club closes out the first half of the season against the Greater Vancouver Canadians.
Over the Christmas break, the Giants will compete at the Mac’s AAA midget world invitational.
