CHL Weekend Review: October begins by raising awareness in the community
The 2019-20 Canadian Hockey League campaign is well underway with Week 3 coming to close and no shortage of engaging storylines from across the circuit:
CIBC Run for the Cure
CHL clubs counting players and team staff did their part to help make breast cancer beatable by participating in this weekend’s CIBC Run for the Cure, the largest single-day, volunteer-led event in Canada in support of breast cancer research.
We had a blast at the #CIBCRunfortheCure this morning cheering on all the participants! 💪🏻💪🏻 #YQL #WHLCanes pic.twitter.com/8EWi8KksEM
— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) October 6, 2019
This morning Reece Harsch, Austin Schellenberg and Mike Ladymen went and helped out at the @cibc Run for the Cure! #CIBCRunfortheCure pic.twitter.com/MaqTRygitS
— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) October 6, 2019
It was our honour to walk with courageous breast cancer survivors this morning. #CIBCRunfortheCure pic.twitter.com/aVPTew9omy
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 6, 2019
.@RocketsRocky and a few of the rookies attended the #CIBCRunfortheCure this morning to cheer on runners. pic.twitter.com/h8SY613Oyr
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) October 6, 2019
We are at the @cibc Run For The Cure today! Downtown Kamloops! pic.twitter.com/2rzfsnQCrn
— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) October 6, 2019
Participants join the one-kilometre walk or five-kilometre run and help raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Since 1992, the event has helped raise $445 million including $17 million on Sunday alone to fund breast cancer research projects. Over the years, the event has grown to count 57 communities across Canada, drawing more than 80,000 participants each year.
Sly had a blast helping everyone warm-up for today's CIBC Run for the Cure! We're so proud to be a part of the fight to cure breast cancer every year! #CIBCRunfortheCure pic.twitter.com/pmdq1DKvx1
— Charlottetown Islanders (@IslandersHKY) October 6, 2019
Bomber and Spike are out at the #CIBCRunfortheCure this morning in support of the @cancersociety pic.twitter.com/IfA2ESPT30
— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) October 6, 2019
Great day at @TorontoRun 🏃🏃♀️#CHL staff promise to help make breast cancer beatable by proudly supporting today’s @cancersociety #CIBCRunfortheCure pic.twitter.com/OB28C2C26y
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) October 6, 2019
THANK YOU for promising to make breast cancer beatable and supporting the #CIBCRunfortheCure! Together, we raised $17 million to fund breast cancer research and the country's largest support system for Canadians affected by breast cancer. RT to spread the good news!💛 pic.twitter.com/vDOhcqPV39
— A Future Without Breast Cancer (@BreastCancerCCS) October 6, 2019
Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday for the #CIBCRunfortheCure. Get the full details on the great day. https://t.co/VGtVsjdvFq Together, we are #OneforChange pic.twitter.com/Wpijd9gGSS
— CIBC (@cibc) October 7, 2019
Cancer awareness initiatives will continue throughout the season with several CHL clubs hosting their annual Pink in the Rink nights in association with the Canadian Cancer Society.
Extra special run for the Rebels
The Red Deer Rebels also took part in Sunday’s CIBC Run for the Cure but did so with a little extra motivation as assistant coach Brad Flynn’s fiancee Christine is currently battling cancer.
2 points in Swift Current ✔️…….2 points in Medicine Hat ✔️……..taking part in CIBC Run For The Cure ✔️ #RDR #CIBCRunfortheCure pic.twitter.com/ySgtsTM3gw
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 6, 2019
In addition to participating in the run, the players recently expressed a visible show of support by sporting brush cuts which they unveiled at a season kickoff barbecue.
Rebels players display true character with show of support for coach’s fiancee. #RDR Story by @GregMeachem https://t.co/9CiVOSopVv pic.twitter.com/AzuvqYyJWN
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 3, 2019
Christine Flynn, 30, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April and is said to be on the road to recovery.
World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend
A bevy of CHL clubs marked Saturday and Sunday in celebrating World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend, doing so with pre-game ceremonial face-offs as well as in-game meet and greet opportunities.
Thank you to @RenataFast and @GGHA_Hockey for dropping the puck at today’s game for IIHF Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend! 🏒#IamtheSTORM pic.twitter.com/UxpILYJJgw
— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) October 5, 2019
Among the participating clubs included the Guelph Storm, who welcomed Toronto Furies defenceman Renata Fast with a ceremonial face-off prior to a weekend tilt versus the Flint Firebirds. A Hamilton native, Fast was part of the Canadian women’s team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang that came home with the silver medal. The Hamilton Bulldogs also helped spread awareness for the women’s game with local stars Laura Fortino and Sarah Nurse.
As we wrap up World Girls Hockey Weekend here in Hamilton, we want to thank everyone who came out, participated and showed their support for the growth of women's hockey worldwide! #WGIHW pic.twitter.com/efUpO0uxne
— Brantford Bulldogs (@BulldogsOHL) October 6, 2019
Elsewhere, the Mississauga Steelheads held a similar event with fellow silver medalist Natalie Spooner on hand for Sunday’s matinee versus the Windsor Spitfires. After dropping the puck in a ceremonial face-off, Spooner greeted fans with an on-site autograph signing session.
Huge thanks to @natspooner5 for stopping by for World Girls Hockey Weekend!#SteelTheShow pic.twitter.com/yWlteCGzGQ
— Mississauga Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) October 6, 2019
Launched in 2011, World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend is a global initiative that encourages girls to try hockey with on-ice sessions introducing them to basic skills, sportsmanship, and teamwork. According to the International Ice Hockey Federation, there are currently 88,500 registered female hockey players in Canada.
Contract Inked
Halifax Mooseheads forward Benoit-Olivier Groulx is the latest CHL talent to sign on the dotted line, landing an entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks.
Huge congrats to BO Groulx who officially signed an entry level contract with the @AnaheimDucks today. #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/N1EFc5f2BT
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) October 6, 2019
Selected 54th overall by Anaheim in the 2018 NHL Draft, Groulx was returned to the Mooseheads earlier this month after taking part in the Ducks’ training camp and preseason schedule in which he posted one assist in two appearances. With Halifax, Groulx becomes the second active player to sign an NHL contract, joining defenceman and Detroit Red Wings prospect Jared McIsaac. The Mooseheads also have two other talents whose rights are held by NHL clubs, including forward Raphael Lavoie with the Edmonton Oilers and netminder Alexis Gravel with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Time to put the league on notice. The dangerous trio of Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Raphael Lavoie & Maxim Trepanier are ready to join forces this week. #GoMooseGo
Read more – https://t.co/wktlByrgbI pic.twitter.com/6WRaUdOL6L— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) September 30, 2019
With the Mooseheads last year, Groulx flashed the talent that originally led to his selection by the Ducks in 2018 as he wrapped up his third season with 80 points in 65 games to finish second in team scoring and help the club advance to the Championship Final of the 2019 Memorial Cup Presented by Kia. Groulx has scored twice with one assist across his first three games back in action.
Alumni Report
The puck dropped for the NHL season last week with the league’s 31 clubs icing lineups that included 339 active players who previously participated in the WHL, OHL, or QMJHL. The CHL remains the top supplier of NHL talent as nearly 50 percent of players are CHL graduates.
#CHL talent across #NHLFaceOff 🏒
339 graduates from @OHLHockey, @TheWHL, and @QMJHL teams were named to active rosters to open the 2019-20 #NHL season.
FULL LIST 📋: https://t.co/raOYb4SSuH pic.twitter.com/qddcBnRqTe
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) October 4, 2019
Among those players, three graduates were named captain of their respective NHL clubs to begin the new season, counting Jordan Staal (Peterborough Petes) with the Carolina Hurricanes, Logan Couture (Ottawa 67’s) with the San Jose Sharks, and John Tavares (Oshawa Generals/London Knights) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Good choice, @MapleLeafs! pic.twitter.com/jzWzyAqoLw
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) October 2, 2019
Across the league, other alumni making headlines includes Portland Winterhawks graduate Cody Glass, a centre with the Vegas Golden Knights who had a perfect debut last week when he scored in his first NHL appearance. Adding to the feat was that Glass, the sixth-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, became the first-ever draft selection by the Golden Knights to score a goal.
🏒 || Captain Glass
After a tremendous four years in Portland, our former captain becomes the 125th Winterhawk to play in the @NHL!
He even scored his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot. pic.twitter.com/NByFS4DTID
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) October 3, 2019
Glass is among this year’s NHL rookie class that also counts 2018-19 CHL graduating talent in Maxime Comtois (Drummondville Voltigeurs/Anaheim Ducks), Noah Dobson (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies/New York Islanders), Barrett Hayton (Soo Greyhounds/Arizona Coyotes), and Nick Suzuki (Guelph Storm/Montreal Canadiens), among others.
One I’ll never forget! pic.twitter.com/Z9HemeWfmR
— Haydn Fleury (@fleury96) October 4, 2019
One of the more notable CHL debuts came from Canadiens defenceman Cale Fleury, a 20-year-old who split the end of his fourth WHL season between the Kootenay ICE and the Regina Pats in 2017-18, who had the opportunity to line up opposite older brother Haydn who played four seasons with the Red Deer Rebels and is now a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Congrats @CPhillipsFour!#RaidersAlum https://t.co/n8cKsGPevM
— Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) October 5, 2019
Meanwhile, alumni celebrations continue out west where former defenceman Chris Phillips’ No. 4 will be retired by the Ottawa Senators later this season prior to a February content versus the Buffalo Sabres. Phillips, who skated in 119 games with the Prince Albert Raiders and Lethbridge Hurricanes, was the first-overall selection in the 1996 NHL Draft. The Calgary native spent his entire career with the Senators, spanning 17 seasons and 1,179 regular-season appearances to rank first all-time in franchise history.
Rogers Hometown Hockey
With the start of the new CHL campaign comes the launch of the sixth season of Rogers Hometown Hockey, premiering Sunday from Halton Hills, Ont. The iconic program will visit 25 Canadian communities this season, including two in each of the CHL’s three regional leagues. The first of those visits comes Jan. 19 from Hamilton during a telecast of the Winnipeg Jets taking on the Chicago Blackhawks.
https://twitter.com/hometownhockey_/status/1180976323851931650
On hand for Sunday’s launch was Owen Sound Attack forward Ethan Burroughs, an OHL rookie and native of nearby Georgetown, Ont., who played minor midget with the Halton Hurricanes. This season, the freshman has needed little time to adapt to his new surroundings as he has had an immediate impact with the Attack, recording six points in as many games, including a successful two-assist debut against the Ottawa 67’s. Burroughs joined Owen Sound this season following his 29th overall selection in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.
Last night, @hometownhockey_ was in Halton Hills!
Ethan Burroughs is a former Halton Hurricane, and he had an opportunity to hang out and chat with @RonMacLeanHTH and @TaraSlone. #MadeForMore pic.twitter.com/FE2ho3F6No
— Owen Sound Attack (@AttackOHL) October 7, 2019
Tune in next Sunday when the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour continues in Halifax.