The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 42

GIANTS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2010 GMtM ft mm Vancouver forward: Former Lethbridge Hurricane is starting to score as he meets his old team tonight BY MARC WEBER TTTJT SPORTS REPORTER 1 A42 I SPORTS I THEPROVINCE.COM in It I I Jordan Martinook proved something to his head coach last week. Tonight's about proving something to the opposition. "I want to show them they made a mistake by letting me go and that I'm better off here," the Vancouver Giants' forward said of facing the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the first game of a three-game road trip. The Hurricanes cut Martinook, an 18-year-old from Leduc, during training camp in 2008 and '09. They took him off their 50-man protected list midway last season and Vancouver picked up his rights.

Don Hay called the 6-foot, 210-pounder the most pleasant surprise at camp, but the Giants' head coach wasn't enthused about Marti-nook's regular-season play until last weekend. The whole third line, in fact, with centre Greg Lamoureux and right winger Michael Burns, made an impression on Hay, who tapped them to start the second and third periods and set the tone. Martinook scored both Friday and Saturday night in wins over Brandon and Everett, including the winner Saturday. "I thought last week was a real positive step for Jordan and for that line," said Hay. "Friday they were good for one period and Saturday they were good for three periods.

They really played in the other team's end, which is what you're looking for. "Each game Martinook has showed improvement and he showed confidence, and with confidence comes better play." Perhaps Martinook has also learned that locker-room fodder can't help his cause. Or maybe he just wanted to tone down his comments considering he's struggled to find consistency early in the season. 7 earlier this season, jason payne plus. Martinook had 2 1 goals and 40 points in 59 games with the Drayton Valley Thunder of the Alberta Junior A league last season.

He has three goals and one assist in 15 games this season and was a plus-4 over the weekend. "I'm kind of coming out of a slump I hope I'm fully out of it," he said. "I thought our whole line played well Saturday, we were checking and kept it simple, stayed well positioned." Vancouver has an impressive histo Giants' Jordan Martinook (left) watches his shot go against Chilliwack png files ry of adding free agents, or list play4 ers as they are known in the WHLl Milan Lucie, Spencer Machacek and Cody Franson were all acquired that way. -i ft Martinook might have a little Lucie in him if he can consistendy play as big as he looks. He moves well for his size, so he has the ability to hammer opponents.

"When I play physical," he said, "usually I have a good game." He's not lacking motivation to throw his weight around tonight. a 3 Tonight, 6 p.m. PT Vancouver Giants (8-5-1 -1 at Lethbridge Hurricanes (5-4-0-3) Radio: AM 650 "It's pretty exciting he said. "If something happens, something happens." Hay said he's still not sure whether he likes Martinook better as a winger or a centre, but his versatility is a Either way, lie was far more subdued speaking about Lethbridge on Monday than he was six weeks ago when he said: "I can't wait Lots of kids who I think I'm better than played on that team last year and I want the coach, Rich Preston to see just what he's missing out on." Monday, Martinook suggested it was just like every other game and that it wasn't really on his mind perhaps somewhere way at the back before he relented and admitted the obvious. Take The Province with you, wherever you go.

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