2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series Recap
The 14th edition of the CIBC Canada Russia Series saw the Canadian Hockey League come out on top 13-5 in points, but it wasn’t an easy road as a determined Russian team made things interesting throughout the six game event.
The CHL earned back-to-back series victories for the first time in seven years, winning for the 11th time in the event’s 14-year history as the QMJHL confirmed the outcome with a pair of wins in Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau.
Canada’s National Junior Team has gone on to win five gold medals and three silver medals in World Junior tournaments following a CHL CIBC Canada Russia Series victory.
Team QMJHL forward Alexandre Fortin (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) led the series in scoring with four assists over two games while Taylor Raddysh’s (Erie Otters) three point night in Hamilton placed him atop OHL scorers. Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants) and Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets) each had three points to lead the way for the WHL. Click here for player stats
Callum Booth (Quebec Remparts) became the first QMJHL goaltender to record a shutout in the event with his 16 saves in Game 5 on Tuesday. Evan Fitzpatrick (Sherbrooke Phoenix) stepped in on Thursday and allowed just one goal on 20 shots to set a new benchmark for QMJHL goals allowed in a series at one. Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack) made 25 saves in Game 4 in Hamilton to record a victory while Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips) was victorious with a 33-save performance in Game 2. Click here for goalie stats
Team QMJHL defenceman Nicolas Meloche (Gatineau Olympiques) played in his sixth CIBC Canada Russia Series contest on Thursday, one game shy of Brandon Gormley’s CHL record of seven that was set in 2011.
60 NHL drafted players competed in the series from across the three CHL teams, including 9 first round selections. The Russian National Junior Team included 10 NHL draft picks, with two first rounders.
The CHL now has an overall record of 58-19-1-6 dating back to 2003 while Russia comes away at 26-55-0-3. The QMJHL holds an all-time record of 16-9-3, the OHL has played to a 23-4-1 mark and the WHL is now 19-6-1-2. Click here for event history and results
The series is used as an evaluation for Canada’s National Junior Team that will compete in the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship to be played in Montreal and Toronto. The tournament will run from December 26 to January 5.
2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series (CHL wins series 13-5 in points):
Game 1 – Monday November 7 at Prince George, BC – Russia wins 3-2 OT
WHL Player of the Game – Jansen Harkins (1G)
Russia Player of the Game – Denis Alexeev (1G – GWG)
Game Summary
Game 2 – Tuesday November 8 at Edmonton, AB – WHL wins 4-1
WHL Player of the Game – Tyler Benson (1G, 2A)
Russia Player of the Game – Danila Kvartalnov (1G)
Game Summary
Game 3 – Thursday November 12 at North Bay, ON – Russia wins 4-3
OHL Player of the Game – Owen Tippett (2A)
Russia Player of the Game – German Rubtsov (2G)
Game Summary
Game 4 – Monday November 14 at Hamilton, ON – OHL wins 5-2
OHL Player of the Game – Taylor Raddysh (2G, 1A)
Russia Player of the Game – Denis Alexeev (1G)
Game Summary
Game 5 – Tuesday November 15 at Chicoutimi, QC – QMJHL wins 4-0
QMJHL Player of the Game – Julien Gauthier (2G)
Russia Player of the Game – Vitalii Abramov
Game Summary
Game 6 – Thursday November 17 at Baie-Comeau, QC – QMJHL wins 4-1
QMJHL Player of the Game – Jean-Christophe Beaudin (1G)
Russia Player of the Game – Klim Kostin (1G)
Game Summary