Three Chiefs Ready for ADT Challenge
Published on November 26, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release
The 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge enters its final leg Team WHL welcomes the Russian Selects for Game 5 of the six-game series on Wednesday, November 26th, in Swift Current, SK. The Spokane Chiefs will be represented by goaltender Dustin Tokarski and defensemen Jared Spurgeon and Jared Cowen.
The 6th annual ADT Canada Russia Challenge will play a key role in the selection process of Canada's World Junior Hockey Championship team that will look to capture a fifth straight gold medal on home ice this January in Ottawa.
The Russians have posted a 1-3 record through the first four games of the series, having opened the series with a 1-1 record versus Team QMJHL last week before dropping two games to Team OHL on Thursday, November 20th, and Monday, November 24th.
Although the Russians may have dropped three of four games of the series, all four games have been highly competitive with the Russian Selects fielding a strong, talented line-up - a fact not lost on Team WHL as they prepare for Game 5 on Wednesday.
"I think they are a really skilled team, they have good speed and they move the puck well," said Team WHL head coach Willie Desjardins, who also mans the bench of the Medicine Hat Tigers and will serve as an assistant coach on this year's National Junior team.
"They don't play a conventional North American game that we play," said Desjardins, who got a good look at the Russian team in previous games versus the QMJHL and the OHL. "They play a high-risk, high-reward game so there will be some great scoring chances at both ends."
Indeed, the Russians have been an exciting group in this year's ADT Canada-Russia series. Russian players like Pavel Chernov, Nikita Klyukin and Sergei Korostin have been dangerous in all four contests, showing the ability to capitalize on even the smallest of mistakes by their opponents.
Knowing they'll be facing a highly skilled and offensively talented Russian Select squad, members of Team WHL are well aware they'll simply have to outwork their opponent and play a physical game if they want to improve on the WHL's 11-1 all-time record versus the Russians in the six-year history of the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.
"Playing the Russians, they're obviously one of the best European countries at playing hockey, and they will be a dangerous team," said Team WHL defenseman Jared Cowen, also of the defending WHL and Memorial Cup Champion Spokane Chiefs. "They beat the QMJHL already, so they have that one win under their belt, so we know they can compete."
With all games of the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia challenge broadcast in Canada on Rogers Sportsnet, many Team WHL players have had the chance to see what this year's Russian team has to offer. However, most of them know that they'll only be able to fully judge their opposition once they see them face-to-face on the ice.
"I've watched a bit of the series on T.V.," said Calgary Hitmen forward Brandon Kozun, who, like Cowen, will suit up for Team WHL for the first time in his WHL career. "It's going to be a whole different thing facing them on the ice, though. I know they'll be a strong team, so I expect it to be a couple of good games."
Last year, at the 2007 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge, Team WHL suffered a loss in the first contest versus the Russians - a 5-1 thrashing in Cranbrook, B.C. - for the only defeat in 12 meetings between the teams in the history of the event. This year, Team WHL players are determined to keep the WHL in the win column versus the Russian Selects.
"We don't want to make the same mistake they made last year," said Brandon Wheat Kings' star Brayden Schenn, whose older brother, Luke, suited up for last year's Team WHL. "Guys are going to be ready to compete (on Wednesday), because we know nobody wants to lose to the Russians"
The 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge concludes on Thursday, November 27th, with Team WHL taking on the Russian Selects in Prince Albert, SK.
2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge Schedule of Games
Game 1 - Monday, November 17 in Sydney, NS (Team QMJHL 5 , Russian Selects 3)
Game 2 - Wednesday, November 19 in Saint John, NB (Russian Selects 4 , Team QMJHL 3)
Game 3 - Thursday, November 20 in Guelph, ON (Team OHL 6 , Russian Selects 3)
Game 4 - Monday, November 24 in St. Catharines, ON (Team OHL 3 , Russian Selects 2)
Game 5 - Wednesday, November 26 in Swift Current, SK
Game 6 - Thursday, November 27 in Prince Albert, SK
Western Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2008
- WHL Takes Game 5 of 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge - WHL
- Cody Chikie Re-assigned - Saskatoon Blades
- Players Excited to suit up for Team WHL - WHL
- Wheat Kings' Glennie named Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Single Game Tickets For T-Birds Games At Showare Center Going On Sale In One Week - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Team WHL Set for Russian Selects - WHL
- Pics & Pucks Right around the Corner - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Vancouver Giants re-sign major sponsor - BC Honda Dealers - Vancouver Giants
- Three Chiefs Ready for ADT Challenge - Spokane Chiefs
- Calgary Hitmen Ready For 14th Annual Petro-Canada Teddy Bear Toss - Calgary Hitmen
- This Week In Silvertips Hockey - Everett Silvertips
- Americans Extend Nachbaur's Contract - Tri-City Americans
- Raiders swap D-Men with Blazers - Prince Albert Raiders
- Milan Kytnar Named to Slovakia World Junior Team - Saskatoon Blades
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