Two Vancouver Giants players were drafted by NHL teams in Las Vegas.
Defenceman Colton Roberts, from Maple Ridge, was selected 131st overall by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, and forward Tyler Thorpe, from Richmond, was selected 130th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Held June 28–29, 2024, at the Sphere in Las Vegas, the draft saw the players become the 37th (Thorpe) and 38th (Roberts) Giants players ever picked by the NHL.
Roberts who awaited the draft results in Vegas with his family at his side, called the experience an "emotional roller-coaster" and thanked his family during a post-draft NHL media availability interview shared by the WHL Giants.
Roberts, 18, finished second in points among Giants defencemen this past season with 27 points in 62 games, including seven goals.
Giants General Manager Barclay Parneta called the player an "extremely driven individual with an impressive work ethic and rare skill set, not to mention his high character.
Giants Head Coach Manny Viveiros said Roberts has the potential to be a solid, two-way defenceman at the highest level.
“He’s a guy that can make a good first pass, defend in his own zone, develop into a really good penalty killer, but also has that ability to jump into the play and make plays in the offensive zone,” Viveiros said.
Thorpe had 23 goals last season, despite only playing in 51 games. His 44 points included two shorthanded goals and 11 power play points.
Parneta said "the steps that Tyler has taken over a short amount of time with us has been incredible to witness and there is still so much room for him to grow."
Thorpe has been described as a prototypical power forward, a much-needed type of player in today’s NHL.
“It’s a heavy, physical game along the boards and in front of the net,” Viveiros said. “He has that ability – the strength – to position himself in those areas and win those puck battles, especially along the wall, where the majority of the game is played."
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