The Northwest Giants took a double whammy at the hands of the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.
The Giants were swept in their weekend series 4-1 and 5-2 last week by the eighth-place Thunderbirds.
The loss was also the Giants’ third defeat to Fraser Valley this season.
The losses, coupled with a recent forfeited game to the Greater Vancouver Canadians, tumbled the Giants into a tie for fourth place with the Valley West Hawks in the 11-team loop.
“We just can’t buy a break right now,” said Giants head coach Clint Thornton. “We’re one depleted roster right now.”
With injuries and illness piling up, the Giants dressed just 13 skaters in the 5-2 loss in Abbotsford on Sunday.
Justin Wilson scored the Giants’ only goal on a power play in Saturday’s 4-1 loss in Squamish.
Nic Ponak tallied a pair of goals for the T-Birds, who took a 2-0 lead with a two-goal middle period and never gave up the lead.
In Abbotsford, the Giants jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals by Wilson and Will Warm, but Fraser Valley played shutout hockey for the remaining 50 minutes to post just its eighth goal of the season.
Brett Clayton led the Thunderbirds with three points, including a pair of back-to-back goals in the final frame. Brice Sharp also garnered three points for the winners.
Next up for the ailing Giants are the second-place Okanagan Rockets.
“We’re going to follow the process and continue to grow,” said Thornton. “We’re going to drop a bit in the standings, but we have to look ahead and try and stay healthy. Our plan is to be ready for the playoffs.”
This weekend, the Giants conclude the 2014 schedule by hosting the Rockets at the Burnaby Winter Club on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. and Sunday morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
