OHL Academic Players of the Month for October

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the OHL Academic Players of the Month for October 2017, including Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67’s, Blake McConville of the Sudbury Wolves, Billy Moskal of the London Knights, and Brett Jacklin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

OHL Logo


 East Division: Sophomore defenceman Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67’s is the OHL East Division Academic Player of the Month for October. The 17-year-old from Mississauga, Ont. carries an 86% average in his grade 12 University level coursework in English, World History, and Elite Athletics. “Kevin has had to work hard to balance his course load, on-ice commitments and physical training this season,” said 67’s Academic Advisor Eileen Duffin. A 6-foot-6, 231Ib. defenceman eligible for the 2018 NHL Draft, Bahl has recorded eight assists through his first 17 games of the season and was recently named to Team OHL’s roster for the upcoming 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Bahl helped Canada win gold at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament this past summer. He was Ottawa’s second round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.


 Central Division: Rookie forward Blake McConville of the Sudbury Wolves is the OHL Central Division Academic Player of the Month for October after he maintained an 87% average over grade 12 University level Chemistry, Advanced Functions, Data Management and Online Sports Management courses. The 6-foot-2, 205Ib. right-winger has played in 11 games this season. “As a 17-year-old rookie, Blake is a respected player and student,” said Wolves Academic Advisor Gord Ewin. “He is a very positive and polite young man.” The LaSalle, Ont. native was a fifth round pick of the Wolves in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.


 Midwest Division: Seventeen year-old London Knights forward Billy Moskal has been named the OHL Midwest Division Academic Player of the Month for October, maintaining a 97% average in his University level courses at Blyth Academy London. “Billy exemplifies the OHL policy of providing ‘the best of both worlds’ with regards to academics and hockey,” said Knights Academic Advisor Trish Hurley. “He has participated in a number of school activities in the past year, including a fundraiser for Youth Mental Health.” Moskal has a goal and an assist through 13 games this season and recently scored his first career OHL goal on Oct. 27 against Flint. The 6-foot, 185Ib. centreman from Sudbury, Ont. was London’s second round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.


 West Division: Rookie forward Brett Jacklin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds is the OHL West Division Academic Player of the Month for October after he maintained an 88% average over University level Math Advanced Functions, Accounting and Chemistry courses at Superior Heights Secondary School. The Sudbury, Ont. native has two assists through his first 10 games of the season. “Brett is extremely well liked by his teachers and fellow students,” said Greyhounds Academic Advisor Jerry Bumbacco. “He is a mature young man who recognizes the importance of an education and works diligently on achieving success in the classroom as well as on the ice.” The 6-foot-1, 171Ib. right-winger was Sault Ste. Marie’s 10th round pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.


 2017-18 OHL Academic Players of the Month:


 East Division:
October – Kevin Bahl (Ottawa 67’s)


 Central Division:
October – Blake McConville (Sudbury Wolves)


 Midwest Division:
October – Billy Moskal (London Knights)


 West Division:
October – Brett Jacklin (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)


 Last season, the OHL Centrally Administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 301 OHL Alumni with a total scholarship payment in excess of $3.17 million.  Since the 2007-08 season, OHL Scholarship payments have totaled more than $18.8 million. 


 Click here for more information about ‘OHL Players First’ programs.

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Overage Luchuk and rookie Wolf claim CHL honours 

Spitfires’ Aaron Luchuk named CHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that forward Aaron Luchuk of the Windsor Spitfires is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 29 after recording 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 delivered two multi-point performances last week for the Spitfires who picked up a pair of victories on the road.  His week was highlighted by a career-high five points in a 7-2 bounce back effort Friday night against the Sudbury Wolves following a 4-0 loss on Thursday to the North Bay Battalion.  The five-point production included his first career hat-trick and earned him one of two straight first star honours.  He also received first star recognition on Sunday with a goal and three assists in a 5-4 win against the Owen Sound Attack finishing the week tied for the lead in overall OHL scoring with 28 points and alone atop the goals race with 15. 

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.

Also considered for the award this week was Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Brett Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors who scored five goals and two assists for seven points in three games, and Julien Tessier of the Moncton Wildcats with six points in three games including two goals and four assists.

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Aaron Luchuk (Windsor Spitfires)
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) 

Silvertips’ Dustin Wolf named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that rookie Dustin Wolf of the Everett Silvertips is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 29 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .965.

Wolf made his WHL debut last week for the Silvertips where he turned aside 82 shots and recorded two victories in his first two career games.  On Friday night in Kamloops he made 38 saves as part of a 3-1 win over the Blazers, then made 44 saves on Sunday in Portland to preserve a 3-2 victory over the Winterhawks who boast one of the league’s strongest offenses.

A 16-year-old from Tustin, California, Wolf was a fifth round pick of the Silvertips in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft and will be eligible for the NHL Draft in 2019.  He is one of six different goaltenders to suit up for the Silvertips this season who have played to a 6-9-1-0 record to start 2017-18. 

Also considered for the award this week was 2018 NHL Draft prospect Jacob Ingham of the Mississauga Steelheads who went 3-0-0-0 stopping 78 shots and posting a goals-against-average of 1.32 and save percentage of .951.  In the QMJHL, Reilly Pickard of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan went 2-0-1-0 making 74 saves while posting a goals-against-average of 1.65 and save percentage of .937. 

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
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)

OHL Top Performers of the Month for October

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the Top OHL Performers of the Month for regular season games played in October 2017, including Sarnia Sting forward Jordan Kyrou, Owen Sound Attack defenceman Sean Durzi, Barrie Colts rookie Andrei Svechnikov and Sarnia Sting netminder Justin Fazio.

OHL Player of the Month – Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting): St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting is the OHL Player of the Month for October after leading the league with 12 goals 13 assists and 25 points in 12 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-9. Kyrou had points in 11 of 12 contests, helping the Sting string together a franchise record 13-straight victories headed into the month of November. His current five game trend includes three consecutive three-point outings including the latest in Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Flint Firebirds. Kyrou collected at least three points on five separate occasions including a pair of four-point showings on Oct. 13th vs. Mississauga (1-3–4) and Oct. 19th in North Bay (3-1–4) when he scored his first career hat-trick. He scored a second hat-trick this past Friday in a 6-3 win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Kyrou received star of the game recognition four times this past month including a pair of first star appointments on Oct. 13th and Oct. 19th. A 6-foot, 185Ib. right-winger from Toronto, Ont., Kyrou is tied for the OHL scoring lead with Windsor’s Aaron Luchuk, putting up 28 points (12-16–28) over 13 contests. The second round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2016 NHL Draft is currently in his fourth OHL season, producing a career regular season stat line of 72 goals, 137 assists and 209 points over 207 games. Last season, Kyrou recorded the OHL’s longest point streak since 2008 when he recorded points in 30 straight contests from Jan. 1st to Mar. 12th, four games shy of a Sting club record. He attended Hockey Canada’s Summer Showcase this past summer in Plymouth, Mich. and will represent the OHL in the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series on Nov. 9th in Owen Sound.

OHL Defenceman of the Month – Sean Durzi (Owen Sound Attack): Owen Sound Attack defenceman Sean Durzi is the OHL Defenceman of the Month for October after he led all rearguards with 20 points including seven goals and 13 assists over 11 contests along with a plus/minus rating of plus-7. Durzi had points in 10 of 11 games, helping the Attack take sole possession of first place in the Midwest Division. He strung together points in nine straight games from Sept. 29th to Oct. 21st. The month was highlighted by a four point (1-3–4) showing on Oct. 14th against the Oshawa Generals as the Attack claimed a 12-6 victory. Durzi also scored twice in a 5-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Oct. 27th. A 5-foot-11, 185Ib. defenceman from Mississauga, Ont., Durzi leads the OHL in assists with 17 and is third in the league in points with 25 (8-17–25) over 14 games. A veteran of 119 OHL regular season games, Durzi is currently in his third season with the Attack, having recorded 20 goals, 59 assists and 79 points on his career. He was a 12th round pick by the club in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection from the Mississauga Rebels Minor Midgets.

Sean Durzi of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Sean Durzi of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

OHL Rookie of the Month – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts): Barrie Colts forward Andrei Svechnikov has been named the OHL Rookie of the Month for October after leading all newcomers with nine points including seven goals and two assists over just five games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-6. Svechnikov recorded three different multi-point performances, starting the month with his first career OHL hat-trick on Oct. 5th vs. North Bay. He continued to produce, scoring twice in Barrie’s 6-2 win at Saginaw on Oct. 7th and headlined his October performance with four points (2-2–4) in a 7-5 win over the Erie Otters on Oct. 12th. Svechnikov’s month was cut short when he suffered a broken hand on Oct. 14th against North Bay. He will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks. A 6-foot-3, 184Ib. left-handed shooting right-winger from Barnaul, Russia, Svechnikov leads the Colts with 10 goals in as many games while also recording four assists and posting a plus/minus rating of plus-6 on the season. His 14 points currently lead OHL rookies. The younger brother of former Cape Breton Screaming Eagles star Evgeny Svechnikov, Andrei was the first overall pick of the 2017 CHL Import Draft after spending last season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. He was one of six OHL players to receive an ‘A’ rating on NHL Central Scouting’s October Players to Watch List for next summer’s 2018 NHL Draft.

Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month – Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting): Sarnia Sting overage netminder Justin Fazio has been named the Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month for October after playing to a perfect 8-0-0-0 record with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage. Fazio enters the month of November on a nine game winning streak and has been instrumental in backstopping the Sting on their current 13-game run. Six of Fazio’s eight October victories saw him stop 35 shots or more, headlined by a 41-save effort on Oct. 20th in Sudbury along with a 46-save performance this past Friday against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He received first star of the game recognition on three separate occasions and also made Sting franchise history, becoming the club’s career leader in wins by a goaltender with his 64th on Oct. 21st at Barrie. A 6-foot-1, 189Ib. hometown product of Sarnia, Ont., Fazio leads OHL goaltenders with 10 victories on the season while also posting a 2.42 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage over 11 games this season. Now in his fourth full season with the Sting, Fazio has appeared in 136 career regular season games, going 65-52-7-3 with a 3.35 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage. He was Sarnia’s fourth round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs Minor Midgets.

2017-18 OHL Performers of the Month:

Player of the Month: October – Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)

Defenceman of the Month: October – Sean Durzi (Owen Sound Attack)

Rookie of the Month: October – Andrei Svechnikov (Barrie Colts)

Vaughn Goaltender of the Month: October – Justin Fazio (Sarnia Sting)

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

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.

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.

CHL Announces Weekly Award Winners

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Top WHL teams Victoria and Swift Current get top performances from Soy and Flodell

Royals’ Tyler Soy named CHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Anaheim Ducks prospect Tyler Soy of the Victoria Royals is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 15 after registering 12 points in four games including three goals and nine assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.

Soy’s 12 points were spread across four multi-point performances helping the CHL’s top ranked Royals maintain first place in the WHL standings collecting five of a possible eight points last week.  It began with a two-game home series against the Tri-City Americans with Soy scoring once with two assists on Tuesday in an 8-2 win, then Wednesday where he contributed two assists despite a 5-4 overtime loss.  His week continued Friday night with another three-point effort scoring a goal and two assists as the Royals suffered an 8-6 road loss to the Spokane Chiefs, then wrapped up Saturday in Seattle with four points including a goal and three assists as first star of a 6-1 victory over the Thunderbirds.

A 20-year-old from Cloverdale, BC, Soy is playing in his fifth career WHL season with the Royals who selected him eighth overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.  Soy now has 13 points in just five games after producing 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points in just 44 games played last season.  Soy enjoyed an extended look with the Ducks organization this fall and was a seventh round pick of the club in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week was Maxime Fortier of the Halifax Mooseheads with two goals and five assists for seven points in three games, and NHL Draft prospect Brady Hinz of the Sarnia Sting with six goals and three assists for nine points in four games

2017-18 CHL Players of the Week:

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)

Broncos’ Logan Flodell named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Logan Flodell of the Swift Current Broncos is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 15 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .976.

Flodell turned aside 83 shots in a pair of victories last week that helped the Broncos extend their winning-streak to eight games to open the 2017-18 campaign.  On Tuesday night he made a career-high 45 saves and earned third star honours in a 6-2 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes, then picked up his first shutout of the season on Friday in a 1-0 triumph over the Vancouver Giants earning first star honours following his 38-save performance.

A 20-year-old from Regina, Sask., Flodell is playing in his fourth WHL season and first with the Broncos after being acquired from the Saskatoon Blades where he played in 48 games during the 2016-17 campaign.  Originally a third round pick of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, Flodell leads the league with a 7-0-0-0 record and is tops in both goals-against-average and save percentage with marks of 2.00 and .940 respectively.

Also considered for the award this week was Vancouver Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro who backstopped the Windsor Spitfires to a 2-1-0-0 record making 106 saves with a goals-against-average of 1.69 and save percentage of .955, and Mark Grametbauer of the Moncton Wildcats who made 98 saves while posting a 3-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 2.33 and save percentage of .933.

2017-18 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

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

2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series Coaching Staffs

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, today announced the coaching staffs for the 2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series to be played November 6-16.

Canada Russia

The six-game series features regional league teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team and is an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

Leading the CHL’s regional teams in November will be members of Canada’s National Junior Team coaching staff including head coach Dominique Ducharme who will work behind the bench for Team QMJHL, and Team Canada assistants Tim Hunter and Trevor Letowski who will serve as Team WHL and Team OHL head coaches respectively.

Ducharme, now in his second season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, is returning to Canada’s National Junior Team staff for the third consecutive year having acted as assistant coach in 2015-16 and head coach in 2016-17 helping Canada earn a silver medal.  During that time period he also served as Team QMJHL head coach in the CIBC Canada Russia Series carrying a 3-1 record against Team Russia.  Ducharme’s Hockey Canada coaching resume also includes Summer Under-18 gold at the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament just months after leading the Halifax Mooseheads to a Mastercard Memorial Cup title.  Team QMJHL will take on Team Russia November 14 in Charlottetown and November 16 in Moncton where Ducharme will be assisted behind the bench by Islanders head coach Jim Hulton and Wildcats head coach Darren Rumble.

Hunter, now in his fourth season with the Moose Jaw Warriors, is also returning to Canada’s National Junior Team staff having served as an assistant and earning silver in 2016-17.  Hunter led Team WHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series a year ago winning once and falling in overtime against Team Russia.  Working with Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, Hunter also won bronze as head coach of the Under-18 team at the 2015 IIHF U18 World Championship.  Team WHL will host Team Russia November 6 in Moose Jaw and November 7 in Swift Current where Hunter will be assisted behind the bench by Regina Pats head coach John Paddock and Broncos head coach Manny Viveiros.

Letowski, in his first full season as head coach of the Windsor Spitfires, joined Canada’s National Junior Team staff following the departure of Kris Knoblauch to the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.  Letowski began his tenure with the Spitfires as an associate coach in 2015-16 and helped the club capture the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup title.  He previously served as an assistant coach for Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship and won Under-18 bronze as an assistant in 2014.  In this event, Letowski worked behind the bench in 2015 assisting Team OHL to a 2-0 record against Team Russia.  Team OHL will face the Russians November 9 in Owen Sound and November 13 in Sudbury.  Attack head coach Todd Gill will serve as an assistant coach for Letowski in Owen Sound, with Wolves head coach Cory Stillman assisting for the contest in Sudbury.

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 CHL associate sponsors Cooper Tires, autoTRADER.ca, 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.