Nolan Maier & Kirby Dach Named to Team WHL for 2019 Canada Russia Series
October 16, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release
The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce that goaltender Nolan Maier & forward Kirby Dach have been selected by the Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada, to represent Team WHL when it competes against Team Russia at the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series on November 13th and 14th in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
They will be joined by another Blade, current Head Coach Mitch Love. Love will be behind the bench to serve as Head Coach for Team WHL for the first time. He will be joined by Prince Albert Raiders Head Coach Marc Habscheid and Regina Pats Head Coach Dave Struch, who will serve as Assistant Coaches. The 35-year-old Love, now in his second season with the Saskatoon Blades, was also named an assistant coach for Canada's National Junior Team this past May.
The 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series will reunite the three Blades on the international stage after the trio previously won Gold for Canada together at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Love served as an assistant coach.
Dach & Maier also played together internationally for Team Canada Black at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Additionally, Maier represented Canada at the 2019 Under-18 World Championship while Dach was invited to play but declined due to an injury sustained during the 2019 WHL Playoffs.
Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 5 of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on Wednesday, November 13th, before continuing on to Prince Albert for Game 6 to conclude the series on Thursday, November 14th. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will host Games 1 and 2, while the Ontario Hockey League will host Games 3 and 4. For the first time since 2013, the event will close with two games in the WHL. Tickets are on sale now in Saskatoon.
Full Team WHL Roster:
Forwards
Player Name Hometown DOB WHL Club NHL Draft
Beckman, Adam Saskatoon, Sask. 2001-05-10 Spokane Chiefs MIN 2019 (3-75)
Burzan, Luka Surrey, B.C. 2000-01-07 Brandon Wheat Kings COL 2019 (6-171)
Chyzowski, Ryan Kamloops, B.C. 2000-05-14 Medicine Hat Tigers Eligible 2020
Cozens, Dylan Whitehorse, Yukon 2001-02-09 Lethbridge Hurricanes BUF 2019 (1-7)
Dach, Kirby Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. 2001-01-21 Saskatoon Blades CHI 2019 (1-3)
Focht, Carson Regina, Sask. 2000-02-04 Calgary Hitmen VAN 2019 (5-133)
Fonstad, Cole Estevan, Sask. 2000-04-24 Everett Silvertips MTL 2018 (5-128)
Foote, Nolan Engelwood, Colo. 2000-11-29 Kelowna Rockets TBL 2019 (1-27)
Hamaliuk, Dillon Leduc, Alta. 2000-10-30 Kelowna Rockets SJS 2019 (2-55)
Krebs, Peyton Okotoks, Alta. 2001-01-26 Winnipeg ICE VGK 2019 (1-17)
Tracey, Brayden Calgary, Alta. 2001-05-28 Moose Jaw Warriors ANA 2019 (1-29)
Zary, Connor Saskatoon, Sask. 2001-09-25 Kamloops Blazers Eligible 2020
Defenceman
Player Name Hometown DOB WHL Club NHL Draft
Addison, Calen Brandon, Man. 2000-04-11 Lethbridge Hurricanes PIT 2018 (2-53)
Byram, Bowen Cranbrook, B.C. 2001-06-13 Vancouver Giants COL 2019 (1-4)
Korczak, Kaedan Yorkton, Sask. 2001-01-29 Kelowna Rockets VGK 2019 (2-41)
Schneider, Braden Prince Albert, Sask. 2001-09-20 Brandon Wheat Kings Eligible 2020
Smith, Ty Lloydminster, Alta. 2000-03-24 Spokane Chiefs NJD 2018 (1-17)
Woo, Jett Winnipeg, Man. 2000-07-27 Moose Jaw Warriors VAN 2018 (2-37)
Goaltenders
Player Name Hometown DOB WHL Club NHL Draft
Hofer, Joel Winnipeg, Man. 2000-07-30 Portland Winterhawks STL 2018 (4-107)
Maier, Nolan Yorkton, Sask. 2001-01-10 Saskatoon Blades Eligible 2020
The 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series will represent the event's return to both Saskatoon and Prince Albert. In 2005 and 2014, the event made an appearance in Saskatoon, while Prince Albert played host in 2008.
The six-game CIBC Canada Russia Series features regional league teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team. Team CHL has won 12 times in event history, with Russia emerging victorious on four occasions.
The 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Kia Canada, Cooper Tires, and Kubota Canada. All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
Tickets for Games 5 and 6 of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series are available now. Complete ticketing options available at the links below.
2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule Game 1 - Monday, November 4 at Saint John, N.B. Game 2 - Tuesday, November 5 at Moncton, N.B. Game 3 - Thursday, November 7 at Kitchener, Ont. Game 4 - Monday, November 11 at London, Ont. Game 5 - Wednesday, November 13 at Saskatoon, Sask. - TICKETS Game 6 - Thursday, November 14 at Prince Albert, Sask.
For event information, please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2019
- Raiders Rocket up to Third in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- League High 3 T-Birds to Play for Team Canada at 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Goaltender Joel Hofer to Play for Team WHL - Portland Winterhawks
- Addison, Cozens Named to CIBC Canada Russia Series - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Tips F Cole Fonstad, D Olen Zellweger Named to National Events for Canada, Team WHL - Everett Silvertips
- Connor Zary Named to Team WHL - Kamloops Blazers
- Nolan Maier & Kirby Dach Named to Team WHL for 2019 Canada Russia Series - Saskatoon Blades
- Smith and Beckman Named to Canada Russia Series Roster - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks' Joel Hofer to Play for Team WHL - Portland Winterhawks
- Byram Named to Team WHL's Roster for 2019 Cibc Canada Russia Series - Vancouver Giants
- Team WHL Roster Announced for 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series - WHL
- Two Hitmen Named to Team WHL - Calgary Hitmen
- Korczak, Foote and Hamaliuk named to Team WHL for the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series - Kelowna Rockets
- Allan Named to Canada's 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Roster - Prince Albert Raiders
- Royals Nolan Bentham Named to Hockey Canada's Under-17 Roster - Victoria Royals
- 16 WHL Players Selected to Represent Canada at World U-17 Hockey Challenge - WHL
- Hitmen Forward Sean Tschigerl to Play in 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge - Calgary Hitmen
- Brennan Named to Hockey Canada's Roster for 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge - Prince George Cougars
- Preview: Broncos Head to Kelowna Looking to End Slide - Swift Current Broncos
- Guenther Named to Team Canada for 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Carson Lambos, Matthew Savoie Named to Team Canada Roster for World Under-17 Hockey Challenge - Winnipeg Ice
- Mini Packs on Sale Now - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Sward Named to Hockey Canada U-17 Roster - Spokane Chiefs
- Stankoven Named to Canada's Under-17 Roster - Kamloops Blazers
- ICE Players to Visit Local Schools, Read to Students as Part of Reading with the ICE Presented by Taylor McCaffrey - Winnipeg Ice
- Blades Lose Final Game of 5-In-7 Spurt - Saskatoon Blades
- Broncos Can't Solve Ramsay in Loss to Kamloops - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Defeat Blades 3-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Warriors Fall to Hurricanes - Moose Jaw Warriors
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.
