Photo credit: Cole Bieksa/Instagram
The son of a former Vancouver Canucks fan favorite defenseman has landed a massive opportunity just weeks before he’s set to begin his career in the BCHL.
The hockey season is slowly getting underway across the globe and the latest to begin training camp are the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League, with numerous Vancouver Canucks prospects involved, one of whom, Riley Patterson of the Barrie Colts, has reportedly requested a trade.
As Vancouver Canucks prospects settle into their respective junior hockey camps this week, the WHL’s Vancouver Giants released their roster on Tuesday night and among them was a very familiar name to fans in British Columbia.
Son of former Vancouver Canucks defenseman lands big opportunity ahead of 2025-26 season
The Vancouver Giants haven’t had the best of luck in the Western Hockey League recently as in each of the last three seasons, the club has finished in third place in the B.C. Division and have been eliminated from the postseason in the first round.
With names like Cameron Schmidt – third rounder of the Dallas Stars in 2025, along with defenseman Ryan Lin, expected to play big roles for the club this season, the team is hoping to get over the hump and make a deep run in the playoffs for the first time since losing in the Final in 2019.
On Tuesday, the Giants released their 2025 training camp roster, which features a total of 81 players, all of whom will be hitting the ice starting on Thursday and among the names invited was Cole Bieksa, son of former Vancouver Canucks defenseman, Kevin Bieksa.
“Cole Bieksa, who is the son of former #Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa is headed to Giants camp.” Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News said.
The Giants will hold their annual training camp tournament, with their roster split into four teams, between Thursday and Sunday, before opening their preseason schedule on Wednesday, September 3rd against the Kelowna Rockets
Following their game against Kelowna, the Giants will have three more preseason contests as they’re set to face the expansion Penticton Vees on September 4th, along with a back-to-back against the Victoria Royals on September 9th and 10th.
Bieksa, a native of Vancouver, who signed with the BCHL’s Coquitlam Express for the 2025-26 campaign back in February and with them set to open up their own exhibition schedule on September 3rd, it’s unclear if the 17-year-old will suit up for any games with the Giants over the next couple of weeks.
In 47 games for Fairmont Prep in USHS-CA last season, Bieksa registered 63 points (26 goals, 37 assists), along with 63 penalty minutes.
Previously on CanucksDaily