The Vancouver Giants dream season is over and the quest for junior hockey's most prestigous prize begins anew tonight in Portland.

Just last May the Vancouver Giants were skating around the Pacific Coliseum ice with the Memorial Cup trophy held high above their heads. It's now September and a number of those players have moved on to pro careers but the Giants are back and feel they have a team that can contend for the Western Hockey League title.

Gone are Wacey Rabbit, Kenndal McArdle, Cody Franson, Brendan Mikkelson, AJ Thelen, Brett Festerling, Mario Bliznak, Blaine Neufeld and JD Watt. Still, the Giants have made additions and should get increased production from youngsters James Wright and Lance Bouma.

Friday night the G-Men are in Portland to take on the Winter Hawks, a team that struggled last season and doesn't appear to have done enough re-tooling for the 07-08 season. The only key player the Giants will be missing is Captain Milan Lucic, who is still in camp with the Boston Bruins.

After the opener in Portland, the Giants travel to Everett for a Saturday night tilt with the Silvertips, the #4-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. The only key player missing for Everett will be Peter Mueller who is expected to stick with the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes.

Neither game is on television, but both games can be heard on Giants radio.

Listen Live: Friday vs. Portland
Listen Live: Saturday vs. Everett