Spitfires’ Aaron Luchuk named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending October 29 with nine points in three games including four goals and five assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Luchuk recorded a pair of multi-point performances last week elevating him into a tie atop the OHL’s overall scoring race while taking over the league lead in goals and helping the Spitfires earn a pair of road victories.  After a tough 4-0 loss to the North Bay Battalion on Thursday, Luchuk and the Spitfires rebounded Friday in Sudbury where the team produced a season-high seven goals including three from the captain in the 7-2 win over the Wolves.  This marked the first career hat-trick for Luchuk who also contributed two assists for a career-high five-points earning first star honours.  Luchuk was also named first star of Sunday’s contest finding the back of the net for the 15th time this season while adding three assists in a 5-4 triumph over the Owen Sound Attack.

A 20-year-old from Kingston, Ont., Luchuk is playing in his fourth full season with the Spitfires who chose him in the fourth round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.  The overage forward was named team captain to start the 2017-18 campaign after helping the club capture their third Mastercard Memorial Cup title scoring the game-winning goal on home ice last May.  His 28 points in 15 games so far this season bring his offensive totals to 163 points in 221 career games and are currently tied with last week’s award recipient Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting for the league lead.  Luchuk is the second member of the Spitfires to earn the weekly honour following goaltender Michael DiPietro who was recognized for his opening week play

Watch video highlights of Luchuk and the Spitfires against the Wolves and Attack

Kyrou was also considered for the award again this week after scoring four goals and two assists for six points in two games helping the Sting extend their winning-streak to 13.  Fellow St. Louis Blues prospect Robert Thomas of the London Knights finished the week right behind Luchuk in points with seven including four goals and three assists in three games as another candidate for recognition.  In goal, 2018 NHL Draft prospect Jacob Ingham backstopped the Mississauga Steelheads to three straight wins stopping 78 shots and posting a goals-against-average of 1.32 and save percentage of .951.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)
Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)
Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

OHL Announces Disciplinary Action

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Press Release

Game of Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 – London at Mississauga

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of a review of an incident which took place in a game played in Mississauga on the 22nd of October, 2017, involving the Steelheads and the visiting London Knights Hockey Club.

The incident reviewed was a match penalty for checking to the head assessed to player Alex Turko of the London Knights Hockey Club.

Based on a review of the incident, it is the position of the League that player Alex Turko shall be suspended for ten (10) games effective immediately.

Game of Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 – Guelph at Sault Ste. Marie

The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of a review of an incident which took place in a game played in Sault Ste. Marie on the 22nd of October, 2017, involving the Greyhounds and the visiting Guelph Storm Hockey Club.

The incident reviewed was a game misconduct for checking to the head assessed to player Zach Poirier of the Guelph Storm Hockey Club.

Based on a review of the incident, it is the position of the League that player Zach Poirier shall be suspended for ten (10) games effective immediately.

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO AND RATIONALE FOR THE TURKO AND POIRIER SUSPENSIONS

 

CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top 10

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week six edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2017-18 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 6

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Sarnia Sting (12-1-0-0) 2 3
2 Swift Current Broncos (9-1-1-0) 3 3
3 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (8-1-1-2) – 1
4 Moose Jaw Warriors (10-3-0-0) 9 4
5 Portland Winterhawks (9-3-0-0) 1 6
6 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (9-2-2-0) 6 6
7 Drummondville Voltigeurs (9-3-1-0) – 2
8 Quebec Remparts (9-3-1-0) 4 4
9 Victoria Royals (10-3-1-0) 5 4
10 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (8-3-1-0) 7 6
Honourable Mention:
Brandon Wheat Kings (9-3-0-1) – 0
Barrie Colts (8-3-0-1) – 0
Niagara IceDogs (7-2-2-0) – 0

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Screaming Eagles’ Drake Batherson named CHL Player of the Wee

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Ottawa Senators prospect Drake Batherson of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 22 after recording 10 points in three games including seven goals and three assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Batherson recorded a trio of multi-point performances last week extending his personal point-streak to 13 games and helping the Screaming Eagles earn five of a possible six points.  The QMJHL’s leading scorer began his week on Wednesday with two goals including the overtime winner earning first star honours in a 4-3 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.  His week continued Thursday by recording a career-high two goals and two assists where he was named third star despite a 7-6 overtime loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes.  Batherson’s week wrapped up with a second straight four-point effort on Sunday tallying his first career hat-trick which included another overtime winner as first star of a 6-5 triumph over the Saint John Sea Dogs.

A 19-year-old from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Batherson is playing in his third season with Cape Breton after being selected in the sixth round of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.  He currently leads the QMJHL with 24 points including 15 goals and nine assists in 13 games and is quickly approaching his 2016-17 marks of 22 goals and 36 assists for 58 points in 61 games.  Batherson was a fourth round pick by the Senators in the 2017 NHL Draft and recently signed his entry-level contract with the club in October.

Also considered for the award this week was Arizona Coyotes prospect Tyler Steenbergen of the Swift Current Broncos who scored five goals with three assists for eight points in two games, and St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting who scored four goals with four assists for eight points in three games

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Tyler Soy (Victoria Royals)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets)

Huskies’ Samuel Harvey named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Samuel Harvey of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 22 after posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.33 and save percentage of .962.

Harvey stopped an impressive 100 shots last week between-the-pipes for the Huskies who collected a trio of victories and moved into a first place in the QMJHL standings in winning percentage with a mark of .792 powered by a 8-1-1-2 record.  On Tuesday night his 35-save performance earned second star honours and preserved a 5-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.  His strong play continued into the weekend including a Friday night win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan making 31 saves as first star of the 4-1 win, and Saturday against the Gatineau Olympiques with 34 saves as second star of the 3-1 victory.

A 19-year-old from Alma, QC, Harvey is playing in his fourth season in Rouyn-Noranda after being chosen by the Huskies in the second round of the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft.  So far in 2017-18 his personal record stands at 8-0-1-1 with a goals-against-average of 1.88 and league-best save percentage of .938.  Harvey will represent Team QMJHL at the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series November 14 in Charlottetown and November 16 in Moncton.

Also considered for the award this week was Dawson Weatherill of the Spokane Chiefs who posted a 2-0-0-1 record including one shutout stopping 72 shots for a goals-against-average of 0.97 and save percentage of .960.  In the OHL, Justin Fazio of the Sarnia Sting made 78 saves in two wins posting a goals-against-average of 2.03 and save percentage of .951 while setting a new franchise record for career wins with 64.

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranada Huskies)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Logan Flodell (Swift Current Broncos)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Cole Kehler (Portland Winterhawks)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Dereck Baribeau (Quebec Remparts)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

CHL Leagues

Sting’s Jordan Kyrou named OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting is the OHL ‘On the Run’ Player of the Week for the week ending October 22 with eight points including four goals and four assists in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Kyrou led the league in scoring as the Sting extended their franchise record winning-streak to 11 games following a trio of road victories last week to improve their first overall standing to 12-1-0-0.  He began the week with his top performance of the season scoring his first career hat-trick while adding an assist as first star of an 8-2 win over the North Bay Battalion.  The next night he scored the game-winning goal in a 5-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves, then wrapped up the road trip Saturday in Barrie with three assists as part of a 7-2 victory over the Colts.  Kyrou is the second straight member of the Sting to earn Player of the Week honours following NHL Draft prospect Brady Hinz.

A 19-year-old from Toronto, Ont., Kyrou is playing in his fourth OHL season in Sarnia after being chosen by the Sting in the second round of the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.  He is currently second in league scoring with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points in 11 games after finishing the 2016-17 campaign sixth overall with 94 points in 66 games powered by 30 goals and 64 assists.  The second round pick of the Blues in the 2016 NHL Draft has now surpassed two OHL milestones in recent weeks with his career games played mark now at 205 and career points at 203.  He will compete for Team OHL in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series on Thursday November 9 in Owen Sound.

Watch video highlights of Kyrou and the Sting against the Battalion, Wolves, and Colts.Battalion

Also considered for the award this week was Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters with a goal and four assists for five points in two games, and Anaheim Ducks prospect Max Jones of the London Knights with four goals in two games.  In goal, Justin Fazio was solid between-the-pipes for the Sting making 78 saves in two games posting a goals-against-average of 2.03 and save percentage of .951 while setting a new franchise record for career wins with 64.

2017-18 OHL ‘On the Run’ Players of the Week:

Oct. 16 – Oct .22: Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: Brady Hinz (Sarnia Sting)

Oct. 2 – Oct. 8: Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)

Sept. 25 – Oct. 1: Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)

Sept. 21 – Sept. 24: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

Team QMJHL Roster for 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, in association with the Canadian Hockey League, the Charlottetown Islanders, the Moncton Wildcats and Hockey Canada, announced today the QMJHL’s roster which will compete against Team Russia as part of the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Canada Russia

The Islanders will play host to the fifth game of the series, held at the Eastlink Centre on Tuesday, November 14, while the Wildcats will host the last game of the series, presented at the Moncton Coliseum on Thursday, November 16. The Western Hockey League is set to host Games 1 and 2, while the Ontario Hockey League will welcome Games 3 and 4.

Hockey fans in Charlottetown and Moncton will have the chance to see NHL prospects that 11 include players who were selected during last June’s NHL entry draft in Chicago and last year in Buffalo. Team QMJHL will feature players chosen in the first two rounds, such as Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Arizona, 1-23), Maxime Comtois (Anaheim, 2-50), Zachary Lauzon (2-51) and Antoine Morand (2-60), who will all be showcasing their talent in November.

The team also includes top prospects for the upcoming 2018 NHL Draft as Jared McIsaac (Halifax), Noah Dobson (Bathurst), Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Halifax) and Joe Veleno (Saint John) will be hitting the ice in Charlottetown and Moncton.

The three CHL regional leagues created committees which worked closely with Hockey Canada to select the final roster.

Here is the complete lineup ahead of the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series:

Goaltenders: Evan Fitzpatrick (Sherbrooke Phoenix) Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)

Defencemen: Simon Benoit (Shawinigan Cataractes) Jocktan Chainey (Halifax Mooseheads) Antoine Crête-Belzile (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) Noah Dobson (Acadie-Bathurst Titan) Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes)* Zachary Lauzon (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) Jared McIsaac (Halifax Moosheads) Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Charlottetown Islanders)

Forwards: Peter Abbandonato (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) Drake Batherson (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) Shawn Boudrias (Gatineau Olympiques) Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres) Mike Cyr (Moncton Wildcats) Pierre-Luc Dubois (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)* Arnaud Durandeau (Halifax Moosheads) Nicolas Guay (Drummondville Voltigeurs) Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) Pascal Laberge (Victoriaville Tigres) Antoine Morand (Acadie-Bathurst Titan) Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Halifax Moosheads) Joel Teasdale (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) Joe Veleno (Saint John Sea Dogs)

*if returned from NHL clubs

Team QMJHL will once again be coached by Dominique Ducharme, who is in his second season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, will also be returning to Canada’s National Junior Team staff for a third consecutive year, his second as a head coach. Last year, in Montreal and Toronto, Ducharme led Canada to a silver medal following a dramatic shootout loss against the United States in the World Junior Championship final.

As Team QMJHL head coach in the CIBC Canada Russia Series, Ducharme carries a 3-1 record against Team Russia. This year, he will be assisted behind the bench by Islanders head coach Jim Hulton and Wildcats head coach Darren Rumble.

The CIBC Canada Russia Series has been an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada for the past 14 years prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.  Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 58-19-1-6.  The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years with four of the last seven series decided in the final game, and with Russia earning three series wins since 2010 compared to the CHL’s four series triumphs over the same period including last season by a 13-5 margin in points.

The 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Cooper Tires and Sherwin-Williams.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:

Game 1 – Monday November 6 at Moose Jaw, SK

Game 2 – Tuesday November 7 at Swift Current, SK

Game 3 – Thursday November 9 at Owen Sound, ON

Game 4 – Monday November 13 at Sudbury, ON

Game 5 – Tuesday November 14 at Charlottetown, PE

Game 6 – Thursday November 16 at Moncton, NB

For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.

CHL Announces Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top 10

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week five edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2017-18 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Portland Winterhawks (8-1-0-0) 5 5
2 Sarnia Sting (9-1-0-0) 8 2
3 Swift Current Broncos (8-1-0-0) 2 2
4 Quebec Remparts (8-2-0-0) 4 3
5 Victoria Royals (8-1-1-0) 1 3
6 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (7-1-2-0) 6 5
7 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (7-2-0-0) 7 5
8 Owen Sound Attack (6-1-0-2) – 4
9 Moose Jaw Warriors (7-2-0-0) 9 3
10 Peterborough Petes (7-2-0-1) – 1
Honourable Mention:
Brandon Wheat Kings (7-2-0-1) – 0
Barrie Colts (7-2-0-1) – 0
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (6-1-1-2) – 0

Team OHL Roster Announced for 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, Owen Sound Attack and Sudbury Wolves Hockey Clubs, and Hockey Canada, announced today the rosters for Team OHL, which will compete against Team Russia in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Canada Russia

Team OHL faces the Russian National Junior Team in Game 3 of the series in Owen Sound on Thursday November 9, with Game 4 to be played in Sudbury on Monday November 13.  The series will begin with two games in the Western Hockey League and will wrap up with two games played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

28 players will represent the OHL in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series including 11 players who will compete in both games.  A total of 16 players are listed on Team OHL rosters that received invites to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase led by returning World Junior silver medalist Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters.  The rosters feature 24 players who have been selected in the NHL Draft including first round picks Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack (Vegas Golden Knights, 13th in 2017), Logan Stanley of the Kitchener Rangers (Winnipeg Jets, 18th in 2016), Robert Thomas of the London Knights (St. Louis Blues, 20th in 2017), and Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (Philadelphia Flyers, 27th in 2017).

Suzuki will be one of three Attack players to compete before the hometown crowd on November 9 alongside Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonah Gadjovich and Los Angeles Kings prospect Markus Phillips.  In Sudbury on November 13, the host Wolves will be represented by forward Macauley Carson.

The Team OHL rosters were assembled by a Selection Committee that includes Attack General Manager Dale DeGray and Ottawa 67’s General Manager James Boyd in consultation with Hockey Canada Head Scout Brad McEwen.

In 14 years of competition against the Russian National Junior Team, the OHL has a record of 23-4-1 in this series following a 4-3 loss in North Bay and 5-2 victory in Hamilton last season.

Team OHL Roster:

Game 3 – Thursday November 9 – Owen Sound

Goaltenders:

Jacob Ingham (Mississauga Steelheads)

Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)

Defencemen:

Evan Bouchard (London Knights)*

Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)

Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack)

Jordan Sambrook (Erie Otters)*

Logan Stanley (Kitchener Rangers)

Conor Timmins (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*

Forwards:

Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)*

Will Bitten (Hamilton Bulldogs)*

Alex Formenton (London Knights)*

Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)*

Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*

Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers)

Cliff Pu (London Knights)*

Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters)

Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)*

Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)*

Robert Thomas (London Knights)

*players competing in both games

Staff:

Head Coach: Trevor Letowski (Windsor Spitfires)

Assistant Coach: Todd Gill (Owen Sound Attack)

Athletic Therapist/Equipment Manager: Andy Brown (Owen Sound Attack)

Assistant Athletic Therapist: Brandon Downing (Owen Sound Attack)

Assistant Equipment Manager: Trevor Castonguay (Owen Sound Attack)

Game 4 – Monday November 13 – Sudbury

Goaltenders:

Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)

Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

Defencemen:

Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)

Evan Bouchard (London Knights)*

Keaton Middleton (Saginaw Spirit)

Jordan Sambrook (Erie Otters)*

Conor Timmins (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*

Forwards:

Jonathan Ang (Peterborough Petes)*

Will Bitten (Hamilton Bulldogs)*

Macauley Carson (Sudbury Wolves)

Alex Formenton (London Knights)*

Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

Jonah Gadjovich (Owen Sound Attack)*

Boris Katchouk (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*

Cliff Pu (London Knights)*

Nate Schnarr (Guelph Storm)

Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)*

Jack Studnicka (Oshawa Generals)

Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack)*

*players competing in both games

Staff:

Head Coach: Trevor Letowski (Windsor Spitfires)

Assistant Coach: Cory Stillman (Sudbury Wolves)

Athletic Therapist/Equipment Manager: Dan Buckland (Sudbury Wolves)

Assistant Athletic Therapist: Shawn Charron (Sudbury Wolves)

Assistant Equipment Manager: Brandon Grace (Sudbury Wolves)

The CIBC Canada Russia Series has been an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada for the past 14 years prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.  Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 58-19-1-6.  The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years with four of the last seven series decided in the final game, and with Russia earning three series wins since 2010 compared to the CHL’s four series triumphs over the same period including last season by a 13-5 margin in points.

The 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Cooper Tires and Sherwin-Williams.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:

Game 1 – Monday November 6 at Moose Jaw, SK

Game 2 – Tuesday November 7 at Swift Current, SK

Game 3 – Thursday November 9 at Owen Sound, ON

Game 4 – Monday November 13 at Sudbury, ON

Game 5 – Tuesday November 14 at Charlottetown, PE

Game 6 – Thursday November 16 at Moncton, NB

For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.

54 CHL PLAYERS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT CANADA AT 2017 WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Puck drops Nov. 5 on the international showcase in Dawson Creek & Fort St. John

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced its 66-player roster selected to represent Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Nov. 5-11 in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, B.C,

Hockey Canada

The 66 players will be divided into three teams representing Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, and Team Canada White when they compete against the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States in their quest for a gold medal

CHL Players on Canadian Teams:

Goaltenders: Luke Cavallin (Flint Firebirds) Taylor Gauthier (Prince George Cougars) Jonathan Lemieux (Val-d’Or Foreurs)

Defencemen: Justin Barron (Halifax Mooseheads) Jaxon Bellamy (Moncton Wildcats) Evan Brand (Kingston Frontenacs) Mitchell Brewer (Oshawa Generals) Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants) Maxence Guenette (Val-d’Or Foreurs) Thomas Harley (Mississauga Steelheads) Christopher Inniss (Rimouski Oceanic) Colton Kammerer (Sarnia Sting) Kaedan Korczak (Kelowna Rockets) Noah Laaouan (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) Jake Lee (Seattle Thunderbirds) Christopher Merisier-Ortiz (Baie-Comeau Drakkar) Rhett Rhinehart (Prince Albert Raiders) Matthew Robertson (Edmonton Oil Kings) Braden Schneider (Brandon Wheat Kings) Nathan Staios (Windsor Spitfires) Jackson va de Leest (Calgary Hitmen)

Forwards: Logan Barlage (Swift Current Broncos) Alex Beaucage (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) Tag Bertuzzi (Guelph Storm) Connor Bouchard (Tri-City Americans) Joe Carroll (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) Graeme Clarke (Ottawa 67’s) Brandon Coe (North Bay Battalion) Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge Hurricanes) Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades) Hayden Fowler (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) Ethan Keppen (Flint Firebirds) Peyton Krebs (Kootenay ICE) Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic) Nathan Legare (Baie-Comeau Drakkar) Connor McMichael (Hamilton Bulldogs) Dawson Mercer (Drummondville Voltigeurs) Cody Morgan (Kingston Frontenacs) Blake Murray (Sudbury Wolves) Sasha Mutala (Tri-City Americans) Xavier Parent (Halifax Mooseheads) Bailey Peach (Sherbrooke Phoenix) Jakob Pelletier (Moncton Wildcats) Nicholas Porco (Saginaw Spirit) Samuel Poulin (Sherbrooke Phoenix) Aidan Prueter (Saginaw Spirit) Jamieson Rees (Sarnia Sting) Mitchell Russell (Owen Sound Attack) Xavier Simoneau (Drummondville Voltigeurs) Ryan Suzuki (Barrie Colts) Philip Tomasino (Niagara IceDogs) Keean Washkurak (Mississauga Steelheads) Josh Williams (Medicine Hat Tigers) Nick Wong (Oshawa Generals)

In July, 111 players were invited to the week-long national under-17 development camp, marking the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. The players chosen to compete at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge were selected by Brad McEwen (Whitewood, Sask.), Hockey Canada’s head scout, in consultation with U17 POE management group lead Steve Staios (Hamilton, Ont./Hamilton, OHL), along with regional scouts Carl Bouchard (Quebec), Barclay Branch (Ontario), Barclay Parneta (West), Kevin Mitchell (Atlantic), and Darrell Woodley (Ontario).

“There is a strong, talented, and skilled group of players to choose from and we feel the 66 we have selected are a great representation of the depth of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence,” said McEwen. “These young men have demonstrated an ability to learn, grow, and develop while giving Canada the best chance at bringing home gold on Canadian ice.

The tournament opens Nov. 5 at the Encana Events Centre in an all-Canadian affair as last year’s silver-medallist, Team Canada Black, takes on Team Canada White at 2:30 p.m. MT (4:30 p.m. ET). The opening day concludes with Sweden facing Russia at North Peace Arena in Fort St. John.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters for Hockey Canada, will air one semifinal and the bronze- and gold-medal games; please check local listings for details.

Tickets are now on sale with a number of ticketing options for fans in both venues, including a Team Canada package. Fans can take advantage of the best ticketing option by purchasing the full-tournament package, which includes all 14 games at the Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, or all 12 games at the North Peace Arena in Fort St. John.

More than 1,600 NHL draft picks have suited up since the inception of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 1986 (previously known as the Quebec Esso Cup), including 13 of the last 16 first-overall draft picks (Ilya Kovalchuk, 2001; Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; Alexander Ovechkin, 2004; Erik Johnson, 2006, Patrick Kane, 2007; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013; Aaron Ekblad, 2014; Connor McDavid, 2015 and Auston Matthews, 2016)

For more information on the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.

Team WHL Roster Announced for 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, Moose Jaw Warriors, Swift Current Broncos and Hockey Canada, announced today the roster for Team WHL, which will compete against Team Russia in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Canada Russia

Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 1 of the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series in Moose Jaw, Sask., on Monday, November 6, before continuing on to Swift Current, Sask., for Game 2 on Tuesday, November 7. 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 once again features an abundance of NHL prospects, including 13 players selected in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft. A pair of top-10 selections from the 2017 NHL Draft highlight the roster, including Portland Winterhawks forward Cody Glass (Vegas Golden Knights, 1-6) and Tri-City Americans forward Michael Rasmussen (Detroit Red Wings, 1-9)

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Brett Howden, a first round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, will have the opportunity to suit up for Team WHL in front of a hometown crowd when the series opens in Moose Jaw on November 6When the series shifts to Swift Current on November 7, the WHL’s leading goal scorer – Swift Current Broncos forward Tyler Steenbergen (Sylvan Lake, Alta.) – will suit up in front of his home crowd. Additionally, Vancouver Canucks prospect Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets) hails from nearby Shaunavon, Sask

Team WHL Roster

Forwards:

Jaret Anderson-Dolan (Spokane Chiefs)

Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants)

Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets)

Cody Glass (Portland Winterhawks)

Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Tanner Kaspick (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Ty Lewis (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets)

Matthew Phillips (Victoria Royals)

Michael Rasmussen (Tri-City Americans)

Sam Steel (Regina Pats)

Tyler Steenbergen (Swift Current Broncos

Defencemen:

Jake Bean (Calgary Hitmen)

Dennis Cholowski (Prince George Cougars)

Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)

Cal Foote (Kelowna Rockets)

Josh Mahura (Regina Pats)

David Quenneville (Medicine Hat Tigers

Goaltenders:

Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)

Stuart Skinner (Lethbridge Hurricanes

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 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Regina Pats general manager and head coach John Paddock and Swift Current Broncos director of player personnel and head coach Manny Viveiros will serve as assistant coaches for Team WHL

The CIBC Canada Russia Series has been an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada for the past 14 years prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.  Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 58-19-1-6.  The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years with four of the last seven series decided in the final game, and with Russia earning three series wins since 2010 compared to the CHL’s four series triumphs over the same period including last season by a 13-5 margin in points

The 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Cooper Tires and Sherwin-Williams.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:

Game 1 – Monday November 6 at Moose Jaw, SK

Game 2 – Tuesday November 7 at Swift Current, SK

Game 3 – Thursday November 9 at Owen Sound, ON

Game 4 – Monday November 13 at Sudbury, ON

Game 5 – Tuesday November 14 at Charlottetown, PE

Game 6 – Thursday November 16 at Moncton, NB

For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.