WHL Western Hockey League

A Look At Team WHL For 2009 Subwayr Super Series

November 19, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB -- The 2009 SUBWAY(r) Super Series is currently underway, pitting the top Canadian-born players in the CHL against a touring Russian team.

It's the seventh year for the event, which is seen as a critical evaluation tool in Hockey Canada's process of selecting players for the National Junior Team.

The format for the six-game series sees the Russian team play two games each versus a select team from the three CHL member Leagues - The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL).

In the seven previous years of the event, the CHL has posted a 30-5 record versus the Russian Selects, with the WHL posting an 11-1 record. Last year, Team WHL won both meetings versus the Russian Selects with a 5-0 victory in Swift Current and a 2-1 win in Prince Albert.

The 2009 SUBWAY(r) Super Series will see yet another strong Team WHL hit the ice versus the Russians on November 25th in Victoria, B.C., and on November 26th in Kelowna, B.C.

Here's a look at the 2009 edition of TEAM WHL:

In Goal...

Team WHL features a goaltending tandem of 19-year-old Martin Jones of the Calgary Hitmen and 17-year-old Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds.

In his fourth season in the WHL with the Hitmen, Jones has established himself as one of the top netminders in the WHL. The 6'4", 193-lb product of North Vancouver, B.C., enjoyed an outstanding season for the record-setting Hitmen last year, posting an incredible 45-5-3-1 record with seven shutouts in 55 games. A Los Angeles Kings prospect, Jones is off to terrific start this season, having posted a 10-3 record through 13 starts.

Super sophomore netminder Calvin Pickard has done nothing but impressed in his short tenure in the WHL. As a 16-year-old rookie in 2008-09, Pickard established himself as the starting netminder in Seattle, posting a 23-16-1-4 record with three shutouts in 47 games. This season, the 6'0" 202-lb netminder finds himself among the WHL goaltending leaders in save percentage and shutouts. A top prospect for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Pickard is aiming to follow in his older brother Chet's footsteps and backstop Team WHL to a win.

On The Blue Line...

Team WHL's blue line boasts a talented and diverse crop of rearguards. Featuring two 1st round and four 2nd round NHL draft picks, the Team WHL defense corps should prove tough to beat.

Veterans Jared Cowen of the Spokane Chiefs, Colten Teubert of the Regina Pats and Travis Hamonic of the Moose Jaw Warriors lead the way, having all played in the Super Series last year.

Cowen, an Ottawa Senators 1st round pick in 2009, and Teubert, a Los Angeles Kings 1st round pick in 2008, provide Team WHL with dominating physical and defensive play while Hamonic adds strong defensive play and the ability to generate offense. Teubert played for Canada's National Junior Team at the 2009 World Hockey Championship, helping the team win Gold.

Add in towering Portland Winterhawks defenseman Brett Ponich (STL, 2nd rd, 48th o/a 2009), bruising Kootenay Ice defenseman Brayden McNabb (BUF, 3rd rd, 66th o/a 2009), and solid two-way Brandon Wheat Kings defender Colby Robak (FLA, 2nd rd, 49th o/a 2008) and Team WHL should have the defensive horses to keep the Russian attack at bay.

18-year-olds Tyson Barrie of the Kelowna Rockets and Stefan Elliott of the Saskatoon Blades bring a dynamic and dangerous element to Team WHL's attack. Both drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2009, Barrie and Elliott should help make Team WHL's power play even more potent. Calgary Hitmen rearguard Michael Stone (PHX, 3rd rd, 69th o/a 2008) has a booming shot from the point, and provides another dangerous option on the power play. The 6'4" 207-lb Stone already has 10 goals this season.

Edmonton Oil Kings' rearguard Mark Pysyk may be the youngest of Team WHL's blue line brigade at 17, but the sophomore from Sherwood Park, AB, plays like a seasoned veteran. One of the top WHL prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Pysyk is an excellent skater with terrific poise and hockey sense who can contribute at both ends of the ice.

Up Front...

With a blend of skill, size and grit, Team WHL's group of forwards should be able to get the job done in the offensive zone while also providing responsible and physical play as well.

With highly-skilled, offensively gifted players like Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats, Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Brandon Kozun of the Calgary Hitmen, and current WHL goal-scoring leaders Cody Eakin of the Swift Current Broncos and Bretton Cameron of the Medicine Hat Tigers, Team WHL should be more than capable of putting pucks in the net.

Eberle, an Edmonton Oilers prospect, is one of two Team WHL players who were on Canada's National Junior team last year. The supremely talented 19-year-old is scoring at better than a two-point per game clip this season, and should be a key member of the 2010 Canadian World Junior Team.

Schenn (LA, 1st rd, 5th o/a 2009) and Glennie (DAL, 1st rd, 8th o/a 2009) are a dynamic duo for the Wheat Kings, having combined for 135 goals and 348 points since breaking into the League as 16-year-olds in 2007-08.

Kozun (LA, 6th rd, 179th o/a 2009) is the current WHL scoring leader, and is coming off a 40-goal, 108-point campaign in 2008-09. The 5'9", 164-lb winger is one of the WHL's premiere passers and playmakers who makes things happen whenever he's on the ice.

Both Eakin (WASH, 3rd rd, 85th o/a 2009) and Cameron have already topped the 20-goal mark this season, and have proven they have the ability to find the net with regularity at the WHL level.

Also capable of providing offense is Lethbridge Hurricanes' power forward Carter Ashton. The Tampa Bay Lightning 1st rounder led the 'Canes in scoring last season with 30 goals, and is on pace to top the 40-goal mark this season. Ashton, along with Kamloops Blazers forward Tyler Shattock (STL, 4th rd, 108th o/a 2009), Vancouver Giants sparkplug Lance Bouma (CGY, 3rd rd, 78th o/a 2008) and Saskatoon Blades left winger Curtis Hamilton (eligible '10) provide plenty of size, grit and strength to the Team WHL forward ranks, in addition to their ability to generate offense.

Shifty Tri-City Americans forward Brendan Shinnimin is enjoying a breakout season, finding himself among the WHL's scoring leaders, as is fellow undrafted forward Craig Cunningham of the Vancouver Giants. Both Shinnimin and Cunningham are making themselves knows to NHL scouts with their strong starts to the season, as is Medicine Hat Tigers' gritty and skilled forward Wacey Hamilton.

Red Deer Rebels' forward and Detroit Red Wings prospect Willie Coetzee adds more offensive depth to Team WHL. The 5'10", 186-lb right wing has been among the WHL's scoring leaders all season, and established himself as a go-to guy with the Rebels. Coetzee, Everett Silvertips' forward Byron Froese (CHI, 4th rd, 119th o/a 2009), Spokane Chiefs two-way winger Levko Koper (ATL, 7th rd, 185th o/a 2009), Kelowna Rockets forward Brandon McMillan (ANA, 3rd rd, 85th o/a 2008) and Edmonton Oil Kings forward Brent Raedeke, a Detroit Red Wings prospect, all bring plenty of speed to the table, can generate offense, and be valuable two-way players for Team WHL.

Linden Vey (LA, 4th rd, 96th o/a 2009) of the Medicine Hat Tigers and Justin Dowling of the Swift Current Broncos provide Team WHL with excellent playmaking and puck distribution. Vey led the Tigers with 48 assists last season, while Dowling has racked up 64 helpers since the start of the 2008-09 campaign.

Team WHL's two youngest forwards, Brett Connolly of the Prince George Cougars and Quinton Howden of the Moose Jaw Warriors, will also bring plenty to the table.

Howden, the 1st overall pick in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, has enjoyed a terrific start to the season in Moose Jaw, and is showing himself to be a complete player who brings offense, playmaking, physical play and grit, and strong leadership. Expect Howden to place high on the list for many NHL scouts this season.

Connolly is coming off a terrific rookie season after scoring 30 goals and 60 points to lead the Cougars as a 16-year-old while winning the WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year awards. A force in the offensive zone, Connolly owns a deadly accurate shot with a quick release. He's also not afraid to bring a physical element to the table. Although injured for most of the 2009-10 season, so far, Connolly is still ranked No. 1 among the WHL's draft-eligible skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their fall preliminary rankings.

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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 on 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

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