Vancouver Giants fined $5K over ‘inappropriate’ comment during draft

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The Vancouver Giants junior hockey team has been fined by the WHL after a scout made an “inappropriate” remark to a reporter during the draft last week.

The WHL announced the team was fined $5,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league” on Saturday.

During the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Show on Wednesday, reporter Cami Kepke congratulated head scout Terry Bonner on the Giants’ third overall pick—defenceman Eli Vickers from Surrey, B.C.—and asked what made him a good fit for the team.

“Well thank you very much, you good-lookin’ girl,” Bonner responded, with a laugh.

A repost of the moment on social media has since garnered 2.5 million views.

“Accountability is a cornerstone value of our league – that includes both players and staff,” WHL commissioner Dan Near said, in a news release announcing the fine. “In this instance, regardless of intent, the remarks are not reflective of the organization’s standards of respect and inclusion