Photo: @Fedyck_Fotos

After a relatively quiet first half of the 2019-2020 season, Washington Capitals forward prospect Eric Florchuk was traded from the Saskatoon Blades to the Vancouver Giants on Thursday, January 9th. The move came after Florchuk had recorded 11 goals and 13 assists in 33 games with the Blades. On Friday night, Florchuk would record a hat trick with his new team, just eight days after being traded to the Giants. The hat trick was his second of the season and the second of his career.

Florchuk was moved from his usual center position to right wing on the top line on Friday night. Florchuk was primarily a center for Saskatoon, with some experience at left wing.

Line Combos:

C. Shepard – Roman – Florchuk
Ostapchuk – Nielsen – Preziuso
J. Shepard – Katzalay – Kvasnica
Plummer – Kohle

Byram – Bafaro
Kannok Leipert – Horning
Brown – Gendron

Tendeck
Miner

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) January 18, 2020

Fellow Capitals prospect Alex Kannok-Leipert was moved to the second defensive pair with the return of Bowen Byram from the World Juniors tournament.

Florchuk’s first goal as a Giant came in the first period of Friday nights tilt with the Victoria Royals, the first team he played for in the WHL. The tally came from the high slot off a corner feed from Milos Roman. Cole Shepard also assisted on Florchuk’s first goal as a Giant.

🚨FLORZY GETS HIS FIRST AS A GIANT💪 pic.twitter.com/R1CBcmtZKR

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) January 18, 2020

Florchuk struck again for Vancouver at 14:03 of the second period. Once again it was Milos Roman who stole the puck off a Royals defender behind their net before centering a pass to the front of the net for Florchuk.

FLORZY HAS 2 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/VS9nJkKjVb

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) January 18, 2020

Florchuk would complete the hat trick with an empty net goal with 14 seconds left in the game, as the Giants sealed the 4-1 victory.

Florchuk now has three goals and three assists in three games with the Giants. He met with the media following the game.

Fresh off a hat-trick, here’s @Capitals prospect Eric Florchuk after his first star performance and a 4-1 Giants win. pic.twitter.com/b4yUGfMx43

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) January 18, 2020

Originally selected by the Victoria Royals with the 13^th overall pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Eric Florchuk has suited up in 226 career WHL games (Victoria/Saskatoon).

Few hats hit the ice for Eric Florchuk. First ⁦@WHLGiants⁩ hatty since October 2018 pic.twitter.com/ktqKCdpcT1

— Chris Wahl (@wahlsy) January 18, 2020

Florchuk recorded a natural hat trick earlier this season for the Saskatoon Blades on October 14th at the Saddledome in Calgary. All three goals came in the first period of the Blades 9-3 victory over the Calgary Hitmen. It was his first career hat trick.

The 6’2”, 182-pound center registered 51 career goals along with 82 assists for 133 points prior to joining the Giants. He’s added 100 penalty minutes and a +11 rating.

🎥 WHL Highlight of the Night 🎥
January 17, 2020@Capitals prospect Eric Florchuk of @WHLGiants! #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/VIbxZ1XaJo

— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 18, 2020

Florchuk has appeared in 12 additional playoff games, notching two goals and two assists in that span. This season with Saskatoon, Florchuk had posted 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 33 games. He now has 14 goals and 16 assists in 36 games played so far this season.

Florchuk was the second star of the night in the WHL.

In June 2018, Florchuk was selected by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round, 217^th overall, the very last player in the 2018 NHL Entry draft.

By Jon Sorensen