CHL centres to host Canada/Russia Challenge
Published on October 5, 2004 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) News Release
Toronto - The Canadian Hockey League today announced details surrounding the 2004 CHL Canada/Russia Challenge that will be held in six CHL centers beginning on November 22.
The Quebec Remparts will host the first game of the series at Le Colisee on November 22. The second game will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal on November 23. The Barrie Colts will host the first OHL-based game on November 25 followed by the Mississauga IceDogs on November 29. 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 and the two QMJHL-hosted games will be broadcast live in Quebec on RDS.
"We are very excited to host this special series for the second straight year," said CHL President and OHL Commissioner David Branch. "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. Each league has a management team who will work with Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada's head scout, to select the roster of players who will represent each regional league. The CHL rosters will be announced later this month.
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.
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, NAPA and Slam!
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
CHL Canada-Russia Challenge Fast Facts
* Each league (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) will be represented by players who are eligible to play for Canada in the 2005 World Junior Championships
* All six games will be broadcasted nationally on Rogers Sportsnet and the two QMJHL-hosted games will be broadcast on RDS in Quebec
* Games will be played using the IIHF rule book
* Canada is the only nation to win a medal in every tournament since 1999
2003 CHL Canada/Russia Challenge - Game Results
Date Location Score
Nov. 17 London, ON OHL 7, Russia 1
Nov. 19 Sarnia, ON OHL 4, Russia 0
Nov. 20 Halifax, NS Russia 3, QMJHL 2
Nov. 24 Rimouski, QC QMJHL 6, Russia 3
Nov. 26 Calgary, AB WHL 4, Russia 1
Nov. 27 Brandon, MB WHL 7, Russia 1
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2004
- Victoriaville Blanks Moncton 3 - 0 - Moncton Wildcats
- CHL centres to host Canada/Russia Challenge - QMJHL
- Jason Churchill Mooseheads' Player of the Month for September - Halifax Mooseheads
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