OHL Kingston Frontenacs

Barrie and Mississauga to host CHL Canada/Russia Challenge

Published on October 5, 2004 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kingston Frontenacs News Release


The Ontario Hockey League today announced that the Barrie Colts and Mississauga IceDogs will host the OHL games in the 2004 CHL Canada/Russia Challenge in November.

Barrie will host the first OHL-based game on November 25 at the Barrie Molson Centre followed by Mississauga on November 29 at the Hershey Centre.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring this special event to two of the premiere markets in our league," said OHL Commissioner David Branch. "We look forward to showcasing many of our top players to fans at the Barrie Molson Centre and the Hershey Centre in Mississauga."

Barrie and Mississauga will be announcing shortly addition details of their games, including ticket sales pricing and information.

"The Barrie Colts are very excited to be able to host this year's CHL Canada/Russia Challenge," said Colts President Mark Stubbs. "It is a great opportunity for our loyal fan base to enjoy exciting international hockey between hockey's two most storied rivals, Canada and Russia."

The first two games of the 2004 CHL Canada-Russia Challenge will be held in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts hosting the first game of the series on November 22 and the second game will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal on November 23. The series will conclude in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels hosting on December 1 and the Lethbridge Hurricanes hosting the finale on December 2.

All six games will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet.

"We are very excited to host this special series for the second straight year," continued Branch, who is also the President of the Canadian Hockey League. "In addition to using this series to evaluate our country's top players for the National Junior Team who will compete in the World Junior Championships this Christmas, it also provides a unique opportunity for our fans to watch several of the world's best junior players compete on one stage."

The CHL Canada/Russia Challenge will be an integral part of the identification process for Canada's National Junior Team final selection camp. Peterborough Petes GM Jeff Twohey and London Knights GM Mark Hunter will work with Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada's head scout, to select the roster of players who will represent the OHL in the series.

Team Canada's coaching staff will also be involved in the series, including head coach Brent Sutter of the Red Deer Rebels, who will guide Team WHL and assistant coaches Peter DeBoer of the Kitchener Rangers and Jim Hulton of the Kingston Frontenacs who will be behind the bench for Team OHL.

Marty Williamson of the Barrie Colts and Greg Gilbert of the Mississauga IceDogs will also be behind the bench for Team OHL.

The Canadian Hockey League introduced the Canada-Russia Challenge in six CHL cities last November. The series drew capacity crowds in London, Sarnia, Brandon and Rimouski, along with strong attendance in Halifax and Calgary. Thousands more tuned in to watch the series on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS. The CHL won five of the six games in the series. 19 CHL players that played in the CHL Canada-Russia Challenge last year were selected to represent Canada in the World Junior Championships.

Canada and Russia have finished first and second in the World Junior Championships eight times in the past 18 years, including 2003 when Russia defeated Canada 3-2 to win the gold medal in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Russia has 12 gold medals in World Junior play. Canada is second on the all-time list with 10.

The 2004 CHL Canada-Russia Challenge is supported by CHL associate sponsors CGC, Bell, Slam! and NAPA.

2004 CHL Canada/Russia Challenge - Schedule of Games
Game 1 – Monday November 22 at Quebec City, Quebec
Game 2 – Tuesday November 23 at Montreal, Quebec
Game 3 – Thursday November 25 at Barrie, Ontario
Game 4 – Monday November 29 at Mississauga, Ontario
Game 5 – Wednesday December 1 at Red Deer, Alberta
Game 6 – Thursday December 2 at Lethbridge, Alberta

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