Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Erie Otters goaltender Troy Timpano is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 30 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962.
Troy Timpano of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Timpano made 51 saves in two games backstopping the Otters to a pair of victories for a share of the Midwest Division lead with 21 points (10-3-1-0) in 14 games. On Thursday night he made 24 saves as part of a 5-2 win over the Barrie Colts, then earned first star honours Saturday with a 27-save performance recording his second shutout of the season by a 6-0 score over the Saginaw Spirit. The victory extended Timpano’s personal win-streak to a perfect eight games to start the 2016-17 campaign.
An 18-year-old from Pickering, ON, Timpano is playing in his fourth career OHL season and first with the Otters after being acquired in the off-season from the Sudbury Wolves where he was a second round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection. Through eight games he leads the league with a 1.88 goals-against-average, and has the second best save percentage with a mark of .931.
Watch video highlights of Timpano and the Otters against the Colts and Spirit.
Honourable mention for the award this week goes to Bobby MacIntyre of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds who recorded seven points in three games including two goals and five assists climbing to a tie for second overall in the OHL scoring race with 27 points. Also considered was Vancouver Canucks prospect Brett McKenzie of the North Bay Battalion with six points in three games including three goals and three assists, and the Otters’ Brett Neumann with five points in two games including two goals and three assists.
2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Max Jones (London Knights)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Matt Luff (Hamilton Bulldogs)
The Kitchener Rangers selected Greg Meireles in the first round, twelfth overall in the 2015 Ontario Hockey League’s Priority Selection.
Despite being a first round pick, Meireles would play the 2015/2016 season with the Ottawa Jr Senators of the CCHL. He appeared in 48 games for the Jr Sens scoring 7 goals and adding 28 assists. He would suit up for 16 playoff games while scoring twice to go along with 6 assists.
After committing to the Rangers following the draft, Rangers’ GM Murray Heibert had this to say:
“Although he won’t join our team immediately, we see this as a move that is going to strengthen our hockey club in the future. Greg will be available to play games as an affiliate player and we look forward to having him join the team on a full time basis next season. This is a special player that excels at both ends of the ice. He possesses good hockey sense and the ability to make quick decisions at high speeds.”
Rangers’ fans had a glimpse into Meireles’ future when he appeared in 7 games for Kitchener. They were not disappointed with what they saw as he put up two goals and three assists in those seven games.
Internationally, Meireles suited up for Canada White at the 2016 World Hockey Challenge Under-17. In six games he scored once and assisted on another as Canada White won gold at the event. He also played for Team Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup but was held off the score sheet in four games.
Meireles has been red hot to date this season having 14 points (4 goals and 12 assists) through his first dozen games while leading all rookies in assists, points and penalty minutes. He’s been everything the Rangers’ wanted him to be and more and I named him the OHL draft eligible player of the month for September.
Greg Meireles of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Meireles plays the game with intensity and with an extremely high level of energy and combines those tangibles with an excellent work ethic. He applies those traits in all three zones with the same intensity in his own zone as he does in the offensive zone.
Despite being 5’10 and 173 pounds, Meireles battles fiercely along the walls for pucks, often against bigger players, and comes away with the pucks in those battles more often than not. He’s brought an element of physicality to his game that can only improve with added bulk to his frame. His speed, anticipation and work ethic make him relentless on the forecheck.
Meireles is a very good skater with excellent speed and a first step that rockets him to top speed. Combined with his abilities to anticipate, he can get into lanes quickly often taking away attempted passes. He has very good vision and playmaking skills and while he projects as a playmaker first, he possesses an above average shot that can beat goaltenders. He has an extremely high hockey IQ and thinks the game one or two steps ahead.
Mike Farwell, the play by play radio voice of the Kitchener Rangers on 570 News and host of the Post Game show on Rogers Television shared his thoughts with OHLW:
Greg is a highly skilled hockey player. Fast, with good hands and vision. What has impressed me the most is how strong he is. He doesn’t shy away from anything and will go anywhere to get a puck. I haven’t often seen that kind of tenacity from a first year guy.
OHLW also had the opportunity to speak with Gwen Meireles, Greg’s mother, on a variety of topics regarding his path.
OHLW: So I have to ask right from the start, since Ottawa is your hometown, is it safe to assume that the Senators are the family’s favorite team, and Greg’s?
Gwen: Yes, the family has been Sens fans from the beginning. Greg’s first hockey game was playing for the Little Sens AAA spring team. He played defence and wore #6. He was a Wade Redden fan at the time.
OHLW: When did Greg first get involved in hockey and how long has he been dreaming of being an NHL player?
Gwen: I believe we first had him on the ice around 4 years old. He loved it. My husband felt he should learn how to skate before putting a stick in his hands so we put him in public skating during the summer and we built a backyard rink in the winter where he’d spend a lot of his time. I think it was around a year later where we put a stick in his hands. I don’t think early on he dreamed of being an NHL’er. He just loved playing the game.
OHLW: Who was Greg’s favorite player growing up and did he ’emulate’ him?
Gwen: His first favorite player was Wade Redden. He later liked Alex Ovechkin. He liked his skill and his physical play. Greg doesn’t have the same physical body as Alex Ovechkin but he still emulates his physical play.
OHLW: Was Greg (and the rest of the family) involved in other sports growing up and did he have any thoughts of pursuing them or was it always hockey?
Gwen: Greg played a lot of soccer and tennis as well growing up. The whole family played tennis. Actually I met my husband on the tennis court. Greg was an accomplished tennis player and won the U10 city championship when he was 9 years old. At this point we felt that he should concentrate on one sport more but still play multiple sports. We left it up to him and he chose hockey.
OHLW: Greg had an excellent season with the Ottawa Jr 67’s that led to being the 12th overall pick in the 2015 OHL Draft by the Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers are an excellent organization as are the 67’s. Ottawa was picking four spots later. Was there any hoping that he’d be there for the 67’s so Greg could play for his hometown team?
Gwen: Deep down my husband and I wanted him to play in Ottawa but Greg just wanted to play on a team that really wanted him. We were all excited and pleased that an organization such as the Kitchener Rangers selected him.
OHLW: After the OHL draft Greg went on to play a season with Ottawa Jr Senators of the CCHL. What was the thought process for taking that route instead of going directly to the OHL?
Gwen: We just thought that Greg was not quite ready to leave home at such a young age. Another year home gaining size and maturity would help him transition into next year. The Ottawa Jr Sens really wanted him and we felt Greg would develop more here than in Kitchener where all their forwards were returning. Kitchener was going to call him up for some games so we thought that would be the best for Greg. It took some arm twisting but Greg agreed.
OHLW: Was any consideration given to going a different route entirely over the OHL?
Gwen: There were several offers from prestigious NCAA schools but Greg wanted to play in the OHL especially after Kitchener drafted him.
OHLW: We often hear from players in their draft years saying they “try not to think about the draft” or “it’s there in the back of their minds”. How do you help him keep focused on the task at hand or do you leave that to his coaches in Kitchener?
Gwen: We have been driving down to Kitchener every weekend thus far. We talked to him about it last weekend but he says he really doesn’t think about it. He just tries to prepare for each game and play the best he can. We will leave this to his coaches.
OHLW: The NHL is changing, and we’re seeing smaller players that can skate and have skill be more successful. That gives Greg an advantage but he plays much bigger than his 5’10” frame. As a mother, it’s only natural to worry. Do you try to get him to ‘tone it down’?
Gwen: I do worry but he likes to play a physical game. It is tough to watch because many players are taller and heavier but it’s how he likes to play. He works really hard in the gym and I know he is in good physical shape so that helps a bit.
OHLW: At the start of every NHL season, as we are watching Hockey Night in Canada, a player scores his first NHL goal and immediately the cameras turn to his parents sitting in the stands. As you watch that happen, do you ever think about you and your family there as Greg nets his first NHL goal?
Gwen: Yes. We had 11 family members down to watch Greg’s first game this year. The team won, Greg had 1 goal and 2 assists and was named first star. We were so excited and proud. I just can’t explain how proud I was. I know the NHL is a long ways off and may never happen but we would be so proud of him after all these years of him working so hard.
I want to thank Gwen for taking the time out to talk to me and I am sure the readers will greatly appreciate the time as well.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week six edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2016-17 season. The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
BOUCHERVILLE, Wednesday, October 26, 2016 – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens and the Baie-Comeau Drakkar announced today the roster composition of the QMJHL all-star team to play Team Russia as part of the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series.
The Saguenéens will host the first game of the series to be held at the Georges-Vézina Centre, Tuesday, November 15, while the Drakkar host the second game to be presented at the Henry-Leonard Center on Thursday November 17.
Dominique Ducharme, General Manager and Head Coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, will work as Head Coach behind the bench for both games of team QMJHL. Yannick Jean, head coach of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens will support Ducharme as assistant coach. Martin Bernard, head coach of the Drakkar, will also assist Ducharme for the two games.
Dominique Ducharme won a gold medal as an assistant coach of the National Men’s Summer Under-18 team at Canada’s 2013 Memorial Tournament of Ivan Hlinka. Ducharme joined the Voltigeurs after spending the last five seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads, who led the team to its first MasterCard Memorial Cup championship in 2013. Ducharme played seven seasons of professional hockey from 1995 to 2002 particularly in the ECHL, AHL and in Europe.
The three CHL leagues selected a committee who worked hard with Hockey Canada to select the players. A total of 21 players have been chosen. The starting roster for each games will be announced on a future date.
Here is the complete lineup for the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series of the CHL :
Defencemen (8): Frederic Allard (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Simon Bourque (Rimouski Oceanic)
Guillaume Brisebois (Charlottetown Islanders)
Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Jeremy Lauzon (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Nicolas Meloche (Gatineau Olympiques)
Philippe Myers (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Jeremy Roy (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Forwards (12): Alex Barre-Boulet (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Jean-Christophe Beaudin (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres)
Alex Dostie (Gatineau Olympiques)
Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Gabriel Fontaine (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Alexandre Fortin (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Julien Gauthier (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Brandon Gignac (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Pascal Laberge (Victoriaville Tigres)
Mathieu Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs)
Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
The 2016 CIBC Canada Russia series is supported by title sponsor and Official Bank of the CHL, CIBC, and CHL associate sponsors Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams. All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Monday November 7 at Prince George, BC
Game 2 – Tuesday November 8 at Edmonton, AB
Game 3 – Thursday November 10 at North Bay, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 14 at Hamilton, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday November 15 at Chicoutimi, QC
Game 6 – Thursday November 17 at Baie-Comeau, QC
For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit www.chlcanadarussia.ca.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Los Angeles Kings prospect Kale Clague of the Brandon Wheat Kings is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 23 after scoring one goal with five assists for six points in two games along with a plus-minus rating of plus-5.
Clague recorded back-to-back multi-point performances for just the second time in his WHL career helping the Wheat Kings earn a pair of victories. The defenceman returned from injury to make his season debut Friday night and scored a shorthanded goal and two assists as first star of a 6-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. On Saturday he picked up three assists and was named the game’s third star helping the Wheat Kings shutout the visiting Spokane Chiefs by a 6-0 score.
An 18-year-old from Lloydminster, AB, Clague is playing in his third season with the defending league champion Wheat Kings who selected him sixth overall in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft. The second round pick of the Kings in the 2016 NHL Draft will also represent Team WHL in the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series November 7 in Prince George and November 8 in Edmonton.
Also considered for the award this week was Nashville Predators prospect Samuel Girard of the Shawinigan Cataractes with a goal and five assists for six points in three games, and Anaheim Ducks prospect Max Jones of the London Knights who scored two goals and five assists for seven points in two games.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Reilly Pickard of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 23 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.67 and save percentage of .946.
Pickard stopped 88 of the 93 shots he faced last week between-the-pipes for the Titan who earned a trio of victories moving into sixth place in the overall league standings. His week included a pair of road victories in the Maritimes Division beginning Wednesday night earning first star honours in Saint John with 37 saves in a 3-1 win over the Sea Dogs, and Friday night in Moncton with 23 saves in a 4-1 win over the Wildcats. He finished his week with a 28-save performance earning second star honours in a 5-3 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
An 18-year-old from Halifax, NS, Pickard is playing in his third QMJHL season and second full season with the Titan after being acquired in 2014-15 from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar where he was a second round pick in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft. So far this season Pickard carries a 7-3-1-1 record with a goals-against-average of 2.96 and save percentage of .906.
Also considered for the award this week was Michael Herringer of the Kelowna Rockets who posted a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.99 and save percentage of .924, and 2017 NHL Draft prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires who went 1-1-0-0 with a shutout victory posting a goals-against-average of 1.01 and save percentage of .967.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Canadian Hockey League, the North Bay Battalion, and the Hamilton Bulldogs hockey clubs today announced the Team OHL rosters for the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series.
Team OHL will compete against the Russian National Junior Team in Game 3 of the series in North Bay on Thursday November 10, with Game 4 to be played in Hamilton on Monday November 14. The series also includes two games in the Western Hockey League prior to both OHL games, and ends with two games hosted by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
25 players will represent the OHL in the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series including eight players who received invites to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase. Among that group is Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mitchell Stephens of the Saginaw Spirit who represented Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship last season in Finland. The group also includes Spirit netminder and New Jersey Devils prospect Evan Cormier, along with Lightning prospect Matthew Spencer of the Peterborough Petes and New York Islanders prospect Mitchell Vande Sompel of the Oshawa Generals on defence. At forward, Summer Showcase invites on Team OHL include Lightning prospect Anthony Cirelli of the Generals, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Graham Knott of the Niagara IceDogs, Devils prospect Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads, and Boston Bruins prospect Zachary Senyshyn of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Both 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series hosts will be represented by hometown players including Vancouver Canucks prospect Brett McKenzie of the North Bay Battalion, and Montreal Canadiens prospect Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Behind the bench for Team OHL in North Bay will be Canadian National Junior Team assistant coach and 2016 OHL Coach of the Year Kris Knoblauch of the Erie Otters alongside Battalion head coach and Director of Hockey Operations Stan Butler who won gold with Canada’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and previously served as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2001 and 2002 IIHF World Junior Championship. In Hamilton, Knoblauch will be joined behind the bench by Canadian National Junior Team head coach Dominque Ducharme of the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs.
The Team OHL rosters were assembled by a Selection Committee that includes Attack General Manager and member of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence Management Group Dale DeGray, and Storm General Manager Mike Kelly. Both DeGray and Kelly worked in consultation with Hockey Canada Director of Player Personnel Ryan Jankowski.
In 13 years of competition against the Russian National Junior Team, the OHL has a record of 22-3-1 in this series following 2015 victories of 3-0 and 2-1 in Owen Sound and Windsor respectively.
Kyle Capobianco (Sudbury Wolves)
Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Matt Spencer (Peterborough Petes)
Logan Stanley (Windsor Spitfires)
Mitchell Vande Sompel (Oshawa Generals)
Forwards (11):
Will Bitten (Hamilton Bulldogs)*
Anthony Cirelli (Oshawa Generals)
Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)*
Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers)*
Brett McKenzie (North Bay Battalion)*
Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)*
Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit)*
Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Staff:
Head Coach – Kris Knoblauch (Erie Otters)
Assistant Coach – Stan Butler (North Bay Battalion)
Athletic Therapist/Equipment Manager – James Borrelli (North Bay Battalion) Assistant Equipment Manager – Daryl Ashenden
Team OHL Roster – Hamilton – November 14
*players competing in both games
Goaltenders (2):
Evan Cormier (Saginaw Spirit)*
Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack)
Defencemen (5):
Jacob Friend (Owen Sound Attack)
Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Garrett McFadden (Guelph Storm)
Victor Mete (London Knights)
Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack)
Forwards (11):
Will Bitten (Hamilton Bulldogs)*
Graham Knott (Niagara IceDogs)
Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)*
Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers)*
Brett McKenzie (North Bay Battalion)*
Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters)
Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)*
Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit)*
Staff:
Head Coach – Dominique Ducharme (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
The CHL Canada Russia Series has been an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada for the past 13 years prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The event features a team of CHL All-Stars representing each of the three regional leagues competing against the Russian National Junior team.
The 2016 CIBC Canada Russia series is supported by title sponsor and Official Bank of the CHL, CIBC, and CHL associate sponsors Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams. All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Monday November 7 at Prince George, BC
Game 2 – Tuesday November 8 at Edmonton, AB
Game 3 – Thursday November 10 at North Bay, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 14 at Hamilton, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday November 15 at Chicoutimi, QC
Game 6 – Thursday November 17 at Baie-Comeau, QC
For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit www.chlcanadarussia.ca.
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Anaheim Ducks prospect Max Jones of the London Knights is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 23 after scoring two goals and five assists for seven points in two games along with a plus-minus rating of plus-4.
Max Jones of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Jones extended his season-long point-streak to six with a pair of multi-point performances last week for the Knights who have now won three-straight games. On Thursday night he collected three assists in a 5-4 comeback win over the Kitchener Rangers including a helper on Victor Mete’s last minute game-winner. Then on Friday night, Jones had the best offensive game of his career with two goals and two assists as first star of a 5-1 win over the Saginaw Spirit. Following a 7-2 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday, the Knights now carry a 7-2-1-1 record for 16 points in the Midwest Division.
An 18-year-old from Orion, Michigan, Jones is playing in his second career OHL season with the Knights after being a first round pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. Jones scored 28 goals with 24 assists for 52 points in 63 games as a rookie before being chosen 24th overall by the Ducks in the 2016 NHL Draft. In August the power forward was signed to an entry-level contract before attending his first NHL Training Camp with Anaheim.
Watch video highlights of Jones and the Knights against the Rangers and Spirit.
Also considered for the award this week was Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters who scored four goals and three assists for seven points in three games, and Bobby MacIntyre of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with two goals and five assists for seven points in three games. In goal, 2017 NHL Draft prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires went 1-1-0-0 with a shutout victory posting a goals-against-average of 1.01 and save percentage of .967.
2016-17 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Max Jones (London Knights)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Brown (Windsor Spitfires)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Joseph Raaymakers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Matt Luff (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Toronto, ON – The Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, Prince George Cougars, Edmonton Oil Kings and Hockey Canada, announced today the roster for Team WHL, which will compete against Team Russia at the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series.
Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 1 of the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series in Prince George, B.C. on Monday, November 7th, before continuing on to Edmonton for Game 2 on Tuesday, November 8th. The Ontario Hockey League will host Games 3 and 4, while the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will welcome the festivities surrounding Games 5 and 6.
Team WHL’s roster is laced with NHL prospects yet again this season, including 10 players who were selected in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft. Highly-touted 2017 NHL Draft prospects Nolan Patrick and Cal Foote also cracked the roster for Team WHL as players look to move closer to earning a spot on Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in December.
Prince George Cougars forward Jansen Harkins, a second round pick of the Winnipeg Jets, will have the opportunity to suit up for Team WHL in front of a hometown crowd when the series opens in Prince George on November 7th.
When the series shifts to Edmonton on November 8th, a total of five local players will suit up against Team Russia including Edmonton native and Oilers prospect Tyler Benson. Giorgio Estephan (Edmonton, AB), Sam Steel (Sherwood Park, AB), Brendan Guhle (Sherwood Park, AB) and Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, AB) will also have the opportunity to take to the ice in front of family and friends.
TEAM WHL ROSTER:
Goaltenders:
Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers)
Defencemen:
Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Cal Foote (Kelowna Rockets)
Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders)
Connor Hobbs (Regina Pats)
Noah Juulsen (Everett Silvertips)
Parker Wotherspoon (Tri-City Americans)
Forwards:
Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants)
Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets)
Giorgio Estephan (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Jansen Harkins (Prince George Cougars)
Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets)
Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Ty Ronning (Vancouver Giants)
Deven Sideroff (Kamloops Blazers)
Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)
Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
Austin Wagner (Regina Pats)
Each of the three CHL member Leagues assembled a selection committee, working closely with Hockey Canada, to select the players for this year’s series. This year, Team WHL will be coached by Tim Hunter (Moose Jaw Warriors) who will also serve as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. Edmonton Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton will serve as assistant coach for Team WHL.
The six-game series features regional league teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team. For the third straight season, the event will open with two games in the WHL.
Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 54-18-6 against Team Russia. The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years with four of the last six series decided in the final game. Russia earned their first series victory in 2010 and have since alternated annual series victories with the CHL who earned the 2015 title by a 12-3 margin in points.
The event is an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Canada was represented at this season’s World Junior in Finland by 21 CHL players who competed in this series in 2015, while 13 members of Team Russia’s series entry also competed in Helsinki earning a second straight silver medal.
The 2016 CIBC Canada Russia series is supported by CHL associate sponsors Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams. All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Monday November 7 at Prince George, BC
Game 2 – Tuesday November 8 at Edmonton, AB
Game 3 – Thursday November 10 at North Bay, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 14 at Hamilton, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday November 15 at Chicoutimi, QC
Game 6 – Thursday November 17 at Baie-Comeau, QC
For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit www.chlcanadarussia.ca.
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week five edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2016-17 season. The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
OHL Writers 