Vancouver Giants Await Import Duo as Floris and Botka Pursue Professional Careers in Europe

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Vancouver Giants general manager and coach Michael Dyck confirms that the two Slovak defencemen drafted this summer intend to remain in Europe and compete in professional leagues rather than join the WHL club.

Floris, listed at 6-foot-3 and 194 pounds, was selected ninth overall, while Botka, at 6-foot-2 and 171 pounds, was chosen 70th in the CHL Import Draft.

Floris is currently with Lukko in the Finnish league and was drafted fourth round by the Nashville Predators in June. Botka, eligible for next year’s NHL draft, improved his stock with a strong performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton and plans to play with HK Nitra in the Slovakian league.

Dyck faces a reshaped blue line, as top defenceman Ryan Lin departed for the University of Denver and Will Sharpe moved to NCAA ranks with St. Cloud State University.

Vancouver opens training camp this week, with a pre‑season contest against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sept. 4 in the Everett tournament, and the regular season kicks off Sept. 19 hosting the Kelowna Rockets at the Langley Events Centre.

Both players are represented by The Sports Corporation, the Edmonton agency led by former Giants GM Scott Bonner. The firm has a strong track record with Vancouver imports, having previously guided players such as Marek Schwarz, Andrej Meszaros, Michal Repik and Mario Bliznak, and currently represents NHLers Brendan Gallagher and Brett Kulak.

Vancouver’s established relationship with Sports Corporation certainly strengthens its case, though import draft positioning typically blends connections with on‑ice talent.

“Both guys have committed to pro contracts and will go through the agency process. They’ll start their seasons in September and give it their best shot, but if they aren’t playing meaningful minutes, they’ll come and play for us,” Dyck said at the Giants’ season‑opening golf tournament at Tsawwassen Springs on Monday.

Among the team’s defensive additions is 6-foot-5, 205‑pound left‑shot Rhys Pederson, who turns 20 next month and brings 183 regular‑season games, four goals, 26 points and 133 penalty minutes.

Derek Thurston, 20, a 6-foot-1, 195‑pound left‑shot defenceman, has 131 regular‑season games with 10 goals, 22 points and 162 penalty minutes, missing much of last season due to illness but is expected to be fully ready for this campaign.

Rounding out the Vancouver blue line: Kaleb Hartmann, 19, acquired from Seattle at the January deadline; Lance McCloskey, 18, a rookie who trained at Anaheim’s Kevin Bieksa academy; Braydon Riggall, 18, who appeared in 46 games as a rookie; and Crosby Mateychuk, 16, Vancouver’s first‑round pick 13th overall in the 2025 WHL Draft.

By Steve Ewen

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