Smith and McFadden named Team OHL Canada/Russia Rosters
Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Canadian Hockey League, the North Bay Battalion, and the Hamilton Bulldogs hockey clubs today announced the Team OHL rosters for the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series.
Team OHL will compete against the Russian National Junior Team in Game 3 of the series in North Bay on Thursday November 10, with Game 4 to be played in Hamilton on Monday November 14. The series also includes two games in the Western Hockey League prior to both OHL games, and ends with two games hosted by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
25 players will represent the OHL in the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series including eight players who received invites to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase. Among that group is Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Mitchell Stephens of the Saginaw Spirit who represented Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship last season in Finland. The group also includes Spirit netminder and New Jersey Devils prospect Evan Cormier, along with Lightning prospect Matthew Spencer of the Peterborough Petes and New York Islanders prospect Mitchell Vande Sompel of the Oshawa Generals on defence. At forward, Summer Showcase invites on Team OHL include Lightning prospect Anthony Cirelli of the Generals, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Graham Knott of the Niagara IceDogs, Devils prospect Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads, and Boston Bruins prospect Zachary Senyshyn of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Both 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series hosts will be represented by hometown players including Vancouver Canucks prospect Brett McKenzie of the North Bay Battalion, and Montreal Canadiens prospect Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Behind the bench for Team OHL in North Bay will be Canadian National Junior Team assistant coach and 2016 OHL Coach of the Year Kris Knoblauch of the Erie Otters alongside Battalion head coach and Director of Hockey Operations Stan Butler who won gold with Canada’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and previously served as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2001 and 2002 IIHF World Junior Championship. In Hamilton, Knoblauch will be joined behind the bench by Canadian National Junior Team head coach Dominque Ducharme of the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs.
The Team OHL rosters were assembled by a Selection Committee that includes Attack General Manager and member of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence Management Group Dale DeGray, and Storm General Manager Mike Kelly. Both DeGray and Kelly worked in consultation with Hockey Canada Director of Player Personnel Ryan Jankowski.
In 13 years of competition against the Russian National Junior Team, the OHL has a record of 22-3-1 in this series following 2015 victories of 3-0 and 2-1 in Owen Sound and Windsor respectively.
Team OHL Roster – North Bay – November 10
*players competing in both games
Goaltenders (2):
Evan Cormier (Saginaw Spirit)*
Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Defencemen (5):
Kyle Capobianco (Sudbury Wolves)
Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Matt Spencer (Peterborough Petes)
Logan Stanley (Windsor Spitfires)
Mitchell Vande Sompel (Oshawa Generals)
Forwards (11):
Will Bitten (Hamilton Bulldogs)*
Anthony Cirelli (Oshawa Generals)
Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)*
Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers)*
Brett McKenzie (North Bay Battalion)*
Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)*
Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit)*
Gabriel Vilardi (Windsor Spitfires)
Staff:
Head Coach – Kris Knoblauch (Erie Otters)
Assistant Coach – Stan Butler (North Bay Battalion)
Athletic Therapist/Equipment Manager – James Borrelli (North Bay Battalion)
Assistant Equipment Manager – Daryl Ashenden
Team OHL Roster – Hamilton – November 14
*players competing in both games
Goaltenders (2):
Evan Cormier (Saginaw Spirit)*
Michael McNiven (Owen Sound Attack)
Defencemen (5):
Jacob Friend (Owen Sound Attack)
Nicolas Hague (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Garrett McFadden (Guelph Storm)
Victor Mete (London Knights)
Markus Phillips (Owen Sound Attack)
Forwards (11):
Will Bitten (Hamilton Bulldogs)*
Graham Knott (Niagara IceDogs)
Jordan Kyrou (Sarnia Sting)*
Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers)*
Brett McKenzie (North Bay Battalion)*
Michael McLeod (Mississauga Steelheads)*
Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters)
Zachary Senyshyn (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Givani Smith (Guelph Storm)*
Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)*
Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit)*
Staff:
Head Coach – Dominique Ducharme (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Assistant Coach – Kris Knoblauch (Erie Otters)
Athletic Therapist – JP Laciak (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Equipment Manager – Kasey LaMorre (Hamilton Bulldogs)
The CHL Canada Russia Series has been an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada for the past 13 years prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The event features a team of CHL All-Stars representing each of the three regional leagues competing against the Russian National Junior team.
The 2016 CIBC Canada Russia series is supported by title sponsor and Official Bank of the CHL, CIBC, and CHL associate sponsors Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams. All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule:
Game 1 – Monday November 7 at Prince George, BC
Game 2 – Tuesday November 8 at Edmonton, AB
Game 3 – Thursday November 10 at North Bay, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 14 at Hamilton, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday November 15 at Chicoutimi, QC
Game 6 – Thursday November 17 at Baie-Comeau, QC
For event information including how to purchase tickets please visit www.chlcanadarussia.ca.
