Rockets Merkley, Dube, Foote Named to Team WHL For 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series
October 20, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
CALGARY, AB - The Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, Prince George Cougars, Edmonton Oil Kings and Hockey Canada, announced today the roster for Team WHL, which will compete against Team Russia at the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series.
Kelowna Rockets players Nick Merkley, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote have all been named to the Team WHL roster. Merkley, an Arizona Coyotes first round draft pick is in his fourth season with the Rockets. Dube was drafted in the second round of the NHL draft by the Calgary Flames. Foote is a projected top 10 NHL draft pick in this summer's upcoming draft.
Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 1 of the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series in Prince George, B.C. on Monday, November 7th, before continuing on to Edmonton for Game 2 on Tuesday, November 8th. The Ontario Hockey League will host Games 3 and 4, while the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will welcome the festivities surrounding Games 5 and 6.
Team WHL's roster is laced with NHL prospects yet again this season, including 10 players who were selected in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft. Highly-touted 2017 NHL Draft prospects Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings/Winnipeg, MB) and Cal Foote (Kelowna Rockets/Engelwood, CO) also cracked the roster for Team WHL as players look to move closer to earning a spot on Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in December.
Prince George Cougars forward Jansen Harkins, a second round pick of the Winnipeg Jets, will have the opportunity to suit up for Team WHL in front of a hometown crowd when the series opens in Prince George on November 7th.
When the series shifts to Edmonton on November 8th, a total of five local players will suit up against Team Russia including Edmonton native and Oilers prospect Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants). Giorgio Estephan (Lethbridge Hurricanes/Edmonton, AB), Sam Steel (Regina Pats/Sherwood Park, AB), Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders/Sherwood Park, AB) and Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips/Sherwood Park, AB) will also have the opportunity to take to the ice in front of family and friends.
For more information, including how to purchase tickets, please visit chlcanadarussia.ca.
TEAM WHL ROSTER
Forwards Player
Hometown
DOB
WHL Club
NHL Draft
Tyler Benson
Edmonton, AB
15-Mar-1997
Vancouver Giants
EDM 2016 (Round 2, 32)
Dillon Dube
Cochrane, AB
20-Jul-1998
Kelowna Rockets
CGY 2016 (Round 2, 56)
Giorgio Estephan
Edmonton, AB
3-Feb-1997
Lethbridge Hurricanes
BUF 2015 (Round 6, 152)
Jansen Harkins
North Vancouver, BC
23-May-1997
Prince George Cougars
WPG 2015 (Round 2, 47)
Brett Howden
Oakbank, MB
29-Mar-1998
Moose Jaw Warriors
TBL 2016 (Round 1, 27)
Nick Merkley
Calgary, AB
23-May-1997
Kelowna Rockets
ARI 2015 (Round 1, 30)
Nolan Patrick
Winnipeg, MB
19-Sep-1998
Brandon Wheat Kings
Eligible 2017
Ty Ronning
Burnaby, BC
20-Oct-1997
Vancouver Giants
NYR 2016 (Round 7, 201)
Deven Sideroff
Summerland, BC
14-Apr-1997
Kamloops Blazers
ANA 2015 (Round 3, 84)
Tyler Soy
Cloverdale, BC
10-Feb-1997
Victoria Royals
ANA 2016 (Round 7, 205)
Sam Steel
Sherwood Park, AB
3-Feb-1998
Regina Pats
ANA 2016 (Round 1, 30)
Austin Wagner
Calgary, AB
23-Jun-1997
Regina Pats
LAK 2015 (Round 4, 99)
Defencemen Kale Clague
Lloydminster, AB
5-Jun-1998
Brandon Wheat Kings
LAK 2016 (Round 2, 51)
Cal Foote
Engelwood, Colorado*
13-Dec-1998
Kelowna Rockets
Eligible 2017
Brendan Guhle
Sherwood Park, AB
29-Jul-1997
Prince Albert Raiders
BUF 2015 (Round 2, 51)
Connor Hobbs
Saskatoon, SK
4-Jan-1997
Regina Pats
WSH 2015 (Round 5, 143)
Noah Juulsen
Abbotsford, BC
2-Apr-1997
Everett Silvertips
MTL 2015 (Round 1, 26)
Parker Wotherspoon
Surrey, BC
24-Aug-1997
Tri-City Americans
NYI 2015 (Round 4, 112)
*Dual citizen
Goaltenders Carter Hart
Sherwood Park, AB
12-Aug-1998
Everett Silvertips
PHI 2016 (Round 2, 48)
Connor Ingram
Imperial, SK
31-Mar-1997
Kamloops Blazers
TB 2016 (Round 3, 88)
Each of the three CHL member Leagues assembled a selection committee, working closely with Hockey Canada, to select the players for this year's series. This year, Team WHL will be coached by Tim Hunter (Moose Jaw Warriors) who will also serve as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. Edmonton Oil Kings head coach Steve Hamilton will serve as assistant coach for Team WHL.
The six-game series features regional league teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team. For the third straight season, the event will open with two games in the WHL.
Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 54-18-6 against Team Russia. The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years with four of the last six series decided in the final game. Russia earned their first series victory in 2010 and have since alternated annual series victories with the CHL who earned the 2015 title by a 12-3 margin in points.
The event is an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Canada was represented at this season's World Junior in Finland by 21 CHL players who competed in this series in 2015, while 13 members of Team Russia's series entry also competed in Helsinki earning a second straight silver medal.
The 2016 CIBC Canada Russia series is supported by 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
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- Guhle Named to Team WHL Roster - Prince Albert Raiders
- Benson and Ronning Named to Team WHL - Vancouver Giants
- Team WHL Roster Announced for 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series - WHL
- Howden Named to Team WHL - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Royals' Tyler Soy Named to Team WHL - Victoria Royals
- Pats Steel, Hobbs and Wagner to Play in Canada Russia Series - Regina Pats
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