James Wright Returning to Giants from Tampa Bay Lightning

Press Release

The Vancouver Giants will welcome back 19 year old centre James Wright to the Giants roster next week. Wright has been assigned to the Giants by the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL. Wright, 6’3’’ 196 lbs, played 48 games for the Lightning recording 2 goals, 3 assists and 5 points, along 18 minutes in penalties. With the Giants, over parts of 4 seasons, Wright has played 181 games scoring 39 goals and 95 points. Last season was his best with 21 goals and 47 points.

Giants General Manager Scott Bonner says “Adding James to our group will clearly make us a better team, he is an NHL calibre player with very good size and skill he is also the kind of player who makes other players better by playing with him.”

In a release from the Lightning, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton said “We are excited for James to get back to junior to continue his development. We feel the 20-plus minutes a night he receives there will be the best for his long-term growth,” Lawton said. “He has made strides far greater than we projected this soon in his career and we look forward to seeing him continue that growth.”

Drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL draft, Wright of Saskatoon was also selected by the Giants, 9th overall in the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft in 2005. He will join the Giants next week for practise, and is expected to be in the Line up for next Friday’s game in Kamloops.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)