WHL this week
Published on November 3, 2005 under Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
WHL STARS GEAR UP FOR CANADA-RUSSIA SERIES - For the third year in a row, the Canadian Hockey League will welcome a Russian Select team for the 2005 ADT Canada-Russia challenge.
The six-game series will see each CHL league - the QMJHL, the OHL, and the WHL - host the Russian Selects twice.
Last week, the Western Hockey League announced the rosters for Team WHL, which will face the Russian Selects on Wednesday, November 30th in Saskatoon, SK, and Thursday, December 1st in Regina, SK.
The rosters, which feature Canadian-born WHL players, will differ slightly for each game and are made up mainly of players who are eligible to represent Canada at the 2006 IIHF World Junior championship in December and January.
Calgary Hitmen netminder Justin Pogge will share netminding duties with Kelowna's Derek Yeomans in the second game in Regina.
It will be Pogge's first chance to represent Team WHL, and it's an opportunity he's grateful to have been given.
"It's an honor, for sure," said the 19-year-old product of Penticton, B.C. "Any time you get selected to a team like this, it's pretty exciting.
"I think it'll be a good game, and should be lots of fun," he said.
While Pogge may not have been invited to attend Hockey Canada's National Junior team summer development camp, he's managed an impressive start to the 2005-06 WHL season. With Team WHL being coached by Canada's World Junior team head coach, Brent Sutter, Pogge knows the Canada-Russia game will be a great opportunity to show he's worthy of being a part of Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior championship.
"It'll be a chance to show the coaches and scouts what I have to offer, and, hopefully I can get invited to the (Team Canada) selection camp," said Pogge.
Another player who will be making his first appearance on Team WHL is Prince George Cougars forward Eric Hunter.
Hunter will be joined by fellow Cougar linemate Nick Drazenovic for both games versus the Russians, while a third Cougar - defenceman Andy Rogers - will suit up for the second game in Regina.
"It's huge," said Hunter about his selection to the roster. "It's something I was hoping for at the start of the year, so it's a real privilege to see my name on that roster."
Hunter has had a chance to go over the roster, and believes the squad will be very strong.
"It looks like there's going to be a lot of talent for both games," he said. "I've had a chance to play with some of those guys in the past, and it'll be good to play with them again.
"I'm looking forward to it," added the 19-year-old Winnipeg native.
Like Pogge, Hunter wasn't invited to Team Canada's summer camp. Yet, he is also off to a great start through the first month of the 2005-06 season and will be looking to turn some heads and possibly get a shot at cracking the World Junior team lineup.
"If they're using these games as a chance to evaluate possible players for the Junior team, then this will be as good of an opportunity as I could get to step up and show them what I can do," said Hunter.
Other players, such as Regina Pats 17-year-old defenceman Logan Pyett, are simply thrilled to get an opportunity to rub shoulders with other elite WHL players.
"It's really exciting, especially with it being in Regina," said Pyett, who, along with fellow Pats rearguard Kyle Deck, will have the home crowd cheering him on. "I'm pretty excited to get the chance to play with all these great players from the WHL, and being only 17 (years old) makes it even more special."
Pyett, who helped Canada's Under-18 team win Gold in August's Junior World Cup in the Czech Republic, says the lineup for Team WHL looks pretty formidable and is confident of keeping the WHL undefeated streak versus the Russian Selects intact.
"All these guys are proven WHL stars," he said. "The defence is big and mobile, and the forwards are big and fast, and can put pucks in the net."
In last year's ADT Canada-Russia challenge, Team WHL skated to a 6-0 win over the Russian Selects in Red Deer, and then downed the Russians 5-2 in Lethbridge the following night.
Team WHL won both games versus the Russians in 2003 as well.
Overall, the CHL is 9-3 versus the Russian Selects in the two previous Canada-Russia series'.
For more on the ADT Canada-Russia challenge, visit the Canadian Hockey League Website.
Jesse Watts whl.ca
-------------------------------------------------
WHL KEY PERFORMERS
John Lammers, Everett Silvertips - Lammers has scored six goals and five assists in his last four games, helping the Silvertips extend their franchise-record winning streak to seven games. Lammers, who is riding and eight-game point streak, currently leads the Silvertips and sits fourth in league scoring. Click here for scoring leaders.
Dustin Boyd, Moose Jaw Warriors - Boyd has scored four goals and five points in his last four games, including netting back-to-back game-winners versus Lethbridge and Prince Albert. He currently leads the WHL with 18 goals, including a league-leading five game-winners. Click here for game-winning goal leaders.
Blake Comeau, Kelowna Rockets - Comeau tallied two goals and three assists for a career-high five points in Kelowna's 5-3 win in Spokane on Sunday. Comeau also leads the Rockets and sits 13th in the league with a plus-9 rating. Click here for plus/minus leaders.
Shaun Heshka, Everett Silvertips - Heshka has scored two goals and seven points in his last four games to help the Silvertips to four wins in that span. He is currently tied for the league lead in defencemen scoring with 19 points. Click here for defencemen scoring leaders.
Scott Bowles, Prince George Cougars - Bowles is 2-0 in his last two starts, posting a 0.50 goals-against average and a .979 save percentage. He notched a 21-save shutout on Saturday versus Tri-Cities. Bowles currently leads all WHL goalies in save percentage and is tied for the league lead with three shutouts. Click here for goaltending leaders.
-------------------------------------------------
THE PLAYER'S PERSPECTIVE
Nick Schultz may be enjoying life in the big leagues, but he'll always remember the road that brought him there.
The 23-year-old product of Strasbourg, SK, is in his fourth season in the National Hockey League as a defenceman with the Minnesota Wild and living every young hockey player's dream of playing in the world's best professional hockey circuit.
Yet, it wasn't so long ago that Schultz was a young, up-and-coming rearguard patrolling the blue line for the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders.
Schultz spent three seasons from 1998 to 2001 with the Raiders and knows his time spent playing Major Junior hockey in Prince Albert was an important step in his development towards becoming an NHL-caliber defenceman.
Nick Schultz's Perspective
On the Wild's start to the NHL season...
"So far, so good. We've got our big road trip coming up, and we haven't been great on the road so far this year. But, we've been good at home, so we're going to try and take that intensity that we're used to in our home games and make it work on the road. We're pretty happy with our start, and where we stand right now, though."
On his best WHL memories...
"I think the year we made it to the Conference finals against the Hitmen was probably the best year team-wise that I had, even though we lost. I just remember it being a lot of fun...I had lots of great teammates and great coaches."
On the WHL as a development league for future NHLers...
"I think a lot of it is the level of coaching and the talent level of the players. I also think the schedule, with the travel and playing lots of games, really helps guys prepare for what they'll face at the next level."
On who he least enjoyed playing against during his WHL days...
"Calgary was always tough. They had guys like (Pavel) Brendl, (Matt) Kinch and (Brad) Moran...whenever we came to Calgary, we always seemed to get smoked by those guys. But, there were so many other great players that are now in the NHL that the list could go on and on."
Once a Raider, Always a Raider...
"I'm still in touch with my billets from when I was a Raider, and I think there are still a couple of guys there now that were just breaking in when I was there. I know they had a good run last year. I still try and keep up with how they're doing and what's happening around the league."
Jesse Watts whl.ca
-------------------------------------------------
WHL THIS WEEK - News and Notes
The Spokane Chiefs have acquired 17-year-old D Justin Falk form the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for 17-year-old F Mike Reich...The Prince Albert Raiders traded 19-year-old G Brant Hilton to Swift Current in exchange for a 9th round pick in the 2006 Bantam draft, and added 19-year-old G Jesse Deckert from Salmon Arm (BCHL)...The Saskatoon Blades traded 19-year-old D Dalyn Flatt to the Kootenay Ice in exchange for 19-year-old D Brad Cole...The Everett Silvertips acquired 18-year-old F Boris Leckovic from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a conditional Bantam draft pick...The Red Deer Rebels acquired 19-year-old F Kris Versteeg and 20-year-old D Brennan Chapman from the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for 20-year-old F Ashton Rome and a 5th round pick in the 2007 Bantam draft... The Kootenay Ice acquired 18-year-old D Paul Kurceba from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for 18-year-old F Brett Sutter...The Prince George Cougars released 18-year-old Russian F Alex Alexandrov...The Regin -------------------------------------------------
Nathan Green Named Manitoba AAA Midget/WHL Player of the Month
Nathan Green of the Winnipeg Wild is the Manitoba AAA Midget / WHL Player of the Month for October.
Green is a forward and assistant captain with this year's Wild. He is currently the team's point leader and the MMHL scoring leader with twenty-one points.
Nathan has been successful in not only finding the back of the opponent's net, with seven goals, but also helping his team mates do the same as indicated by his league leading fourteen assists.
His assist total is a reflection of the type of player and person that Nathan has shown himself to be, unselfish.
Nathan has played a key role in all of the Wild's games' successes and is seen a leader both on and off of the ice by his teammates.
The Wild will be continuing to look toward Nathan as a major role player for their team throughout the 2005-06 season.
-------------------------------------------------
WHL Announces Scheduling Change
Calgary, - The Western Hockey League on Tuesday announced two date changes to the WHL schedule.
The Brandon Wheat Kings versus Moose Jaw Warriors originally scheduled for Sunday, January 15th in Winnipeg has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 8th. Game time is 7:00 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
To accommodate the new date, the March 8th game that was originally scheduled to be played in Moose Jaw, between the Warriors and the Brandon Wheat Kings will now be played on Saturday, January 14th at the Civic Centre.
-------------------------------------------------
Remember to sign up for the WHL Fantasy Hockey League for a chance to win some great prizes. Register and select your team by visiting www.whl.ca.
The Western Hockey League has introduced Webcasting of every WHL game for the 2005-06 season. Fans can now watch their favorite teams live from their computer. Visit www.whl.ca and look for the WHL Live Stream link.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2005
- Chiefs Announce Broadcast Team - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers acquire Eisenkirch - Kamloops Blazers
- WHL this week - WHL
- Red Deer Rebels Reassign Klym - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips in Seventh Heaven - Everett Silvertips
- Wheaties prospect honored - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Saskatchewan country music artist Brad Johner at ADT Canada-Russia Challenge - Saskatoon Blades
- Canes axe Falls - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Silvertips shoot by Chiefs, 5-2 - Spokane Chiefs
- Chiefs aquire defensemen Falk - Spokane Chiefs
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.
