CALGARY, AB - The Western Hockey League in association with the Canadian Hockey League and SUBWAY(r), today announced that NHL Hall of Fame member and former Victoria Cougars goaltender Grant Fuhr will serve as Honourary Captain for the SUBWAY(r) Super Series game between Team WHL and the Russian National Junior Team being held in Victoria, British Columbia on Wednesday, November 25th.Grant Fuhr, originally from Spruce Grove, Alberta, joined the WHL's Victoria Cougars, at the age of 17, in 1979. During two stellar seasons with the Cougars, Fuhr appeared in 102 regular season games posting an incredible 78-21-1 record. Fuhr's WHL playoff performances were just as remarkable, leading the Cougars to the WHL Championship Series in 1980 and 1981, capturing the WHL crown in 1981, with an historic game seven victory over Mike Vernon and the Calgary Wranglers.
Following his success with the Cougars, Fuhr was selected 8th overall by the Edmonton Oilers at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to play 10 seasons with the Oilers capturing five Stanley Cups ('84, '85, '87, '88, '90), appearing in six NHL All-Star games ('82, '84, '85, '86, '88, '89) and winning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender in 1988. Fuhr also led Team Canada to back-to-back Canada Cup Championships in 1984 and 1987. His illustrious NHL career spanned 19 seasons appearing in 868 NHL games and posting a 403-295-114 overall regular season record with 25 shut-outs. During the NHL Playoffs is when Fuhr really dominated, suiting up for 150 games, posting a 92-50 record, collecting six shut-outs and a 2.92 goals-against average. Just three years after Fuhr retired from the NHL (September 2000) the Edmonton Oilers retired his #31 and raised his jersey to the rafters of Rexall Place. One month following his jersey retirement, on November 2nd, 2003, Grant Fuhr was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Fuhr currently works as the Phoenix Coyotes Director of Goaltender Development.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the SUBWAY(r) Super Series game in Victoria as Honourary Captain for Team WHL, at the same time returning to a city where my hockey career took off with the Cougars," commented Grant Fuhr, "It also is an honour to be involved with the players who are attempting to be invited to Team Canada's training camp for this year's World Junior Championships in Saskatchewan."
The 2009 SUBWAY(r) Super Series will take place November 16 - 26 and marks the seventh straight year that teams of CHL All-Stars have competed against Team Russia in preparation for the World Junior Hockey Championships. The SUBWAY(r) Super Series is an integral part of the evaluation process prior to Team Canada's final selection camp in December. This season, Canada will be competing for a record sixth straight gold medal at the 2010 tournament in Saskatoon and Regina, SK.
Team WHL will face Team Russia in games five and six of the series played Wednesday, November 25 in Victoria, BC, and on Thursday, November 26 in Kelowna, BC. Game tickets are available at Kelowna's Prospera Place Box Office (250-762-5050) and at Victoria's Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Box Office (250-220-7777) or visit www.selectyourtickets.com. The first two games of the series are hosted by the QMJHL with the OHL hosting games three and four.
The 2009 SUBWAY(r) Super Series is supported by CHL associate sponsors, Bank of Montreal, NeilMed, and CCM, and will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet with the two QMJHL games on RDS.
2009 SUBWAY(r) Super Series Schedule of Games:
Game 1 - Monday November 16 at Drummondville, QC
Game 2 - Wednesday November 18 at Shawinigan, QC
Game 3 - Thursday November 19 at Barrie, ON
Game 4 - Monday November 23 at Windsor, ON
Game 5 - Wednesday November 25 at Victoria, BC
Game 6 - Thursday November 26 at Kelowna, BC
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
