The Vancouver Giants training camp began Thursday morning at the Ladner Leisure Centre, featuring notable connections to former NHL player Kevin Bieksa. Bieksa, who played for the Vancouver Canucks, coached the Fairmont Academy Under-18 team in Anaheim last season. Among the players trying out for the Giants are his son, Cole Bieksa, and teammate Lance McCloskey, both of whom are approaching their 18th birthdays.

Cole Bieksa is attending the camp on a free-agent invite. Last season, he scored 31 goals and recorded 78 points in 52 games, making him the third-leading scorer for Fairmont. He stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds. McCloskey, who was added to the Giants' protected list last season, was Fairmont's second-leading scorer with 30 goals and 83 points in 54 games. He is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 190 pounds.

In February, the BCHL's Coquitlam Express announced they had signed Cole for the upcoming season. The BCHL operates at a level below the WHL. McCloskey has also signed with the Junior A Victoria Grizzlies.

This year's Giants training camp is the largest in recent memory, with 81 players participating, including 40 forwards and 33 defensemen. The team has a new general manager, Hnat Domenichelli, and a new head coach, Parker Burgess. The camp will run through the weekend, culminating in the annual Legends intrasquad game at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Vancouver returns eight forwards from last season, led by Cameron Schmidt, who scored 40 goals. New additions include Slovak player Tobias Tomik, 2024 WHL Draft first-rounder Blake Chorney, and Leonardo Domenichelli, who played in Switzerland last year and is the son of the new GM. The defense will feature five returning players, including projected 2026 NHL Draft first-rounder Ryan Lin, along with newcomer Jan Skok from the Czech Republic.

Kevin Bieksa was instrumental in founding the Fairmont program four years ago. Under his guidance, the team reached the U.S.A. Hockey High School Triple A national championship game in Irvine, California, last spring, where they narrowly lost 3-2 in overtime to the renowned Shattuck-St. Mary’s program from Minnesota.