WHL win gives CHL Sweep of the 2009 SUBWAY Super Series
Team WHL skated to a 4-2 victory over Team Russia Thursday night in the sixth and final game of the 2009 SUBWAY Super Series. The win earns a six-game sweep for the CHL who outscored Team Russia 27-11 in the six game series.
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WHL Captain Brandon McMillan of the Kelowna Rockets scored the game-winner on the power play at 9:18 of the second period in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd of 5753 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC. McMillan was named Player of the Game for the WHL and also accepted the 2009 SUBWAY Super Series trophy on behalf of his club during the post-game ceremonies.
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For the Russians, goaltender Igor Bobkov was named Player of the Game for the second straight night turning aside 35 shots despite the loss.
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Team Russia fought hard in the opening frame and found an early lead when a Maxim Gorechishnikov point shot travelled through traffic and beat WHL netminder Martin Jones of the Calgary Hitmen at 9:59 of the first period. Jones would earn the win in goal with 16 saves.
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The lead would stand until 2:42 of the second period when Stefan Elliott walked in from the blue line for Team WHL and fired a wrist shot blocker side to beat Bobkov for a power play marker. The WHL would strike again at 6:21 when Linden Vey was rewarded for a solid effort banging home his own rebound on a set-up by WHL scoring leader Brandon Kozun.
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Leading 3-1 heading into the third, Maxim Kitsyn scored at 5:50 on a lovely behind the net feed from Kirill Petrov to give Team Russia some life until Willie Coetzee put the game away with an unassisted tally at 17:28 to bring the lead to the 4-2 final.
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The victory for Team WHL comes on the heels of a 2-1 win Wednesday night in Victoria, BC, and earlier wins from OHL and QMJHL teams.
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Kirill Petrov of Team Russia and Team QMJHL forward Luke Adam each finished with five points as leading scorers of the series. Petrov had three goals and two assists in five games while Adam contributed two goals and three assists in two games. Maxim Kitsyn led the series with four goals. Leading offensive performers for the OHL and WHL include Nazem Kadri of the London Knights with three points in two games, and Linden Vey of the Medicine Hat Tigers with two points in two games.
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Players from all CHL Subway Super Series teams will now await invitations to Hockey Canada’s final selection camp for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships to be held in Saskatoon and Regina, SK, this winter.
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2009 SUBWAY® Super Series Schedule of Games:
Game 1 – Monday, November 16 in Drummondville, QC (Team QMJHL 3, Russia 1)
Game 2 – Wednesday, November 17 in Shawinigan, QC (Team QMJHL 8, Russia 3)
Game 3 – Thursday, November 19 in Barrie, ON (Team OHL 5, Russia 2)
Game 4 – Monday, November 23 in Windsor, ON (Team OHL 5, Russia 2)
Game 5 – Wednesday, November 25 in Victoria, B.C. (Team WHL 2, Russia 1)
Game 6 – Thursday, November 26 in Kelowna, B.C. (Team WHL 4, Russia 2)
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The 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series is supported by CHL associate sponsors, Bank of Montreal, NeilMed, and CCM, and was broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet with the two QMJHL games on RDS.
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Photo by Marissa Baecker