Vancouver Giants face Victoria Royals in WHL season opener

While National Hockey League owners and players spin their wheels in a lockout that's going nowhere, junior hockey takes centre stage here in town tonight as the Vancouver Giants open their 12th season in the Western Hockey League.

The G-Men play host to the Victoria Royals in a 7:30 p.m. puck drop Friday (September 21) at Pacific Coliseum. The teams will meet again tomorrow night in the provincial capital.

The Giants managed just one win in six preseason games, but are hoping for a better showing now that the games matter in the WHL standings. The club will be wearing special alternate jerseys tonight as the Giants pay tribute to the 1945-56 Vancouver Canucks who were inducted in the BC Sports Hall of Fame last night.

Last season, Vancouver was 40-26-2-4 while the Royals were 24-41-3-4 in their first season in Victoria after relocating from Chilliwack.