#CANvsRUS Game 1 Notes
2016 CIBC CANADA RUSSIA SERIES
TEAM WHL vs. TEAM RUSSIA
GAME NOTES
QUICK HITS
- 2016 marks the 14th CIBC Canada Russia Series, an annual event that dates back to 2003 when current day NHL talent in Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf and Dion Phaneuf competed.
- The CHL holds an all-time record of 54-18-6 in the event, winning 10 of the 13 series. The two clubs have alternated series victories every year back to 2009.
- The WHL holds an all-time record of 18-6-2 in the CIBC Canada Russia Series, but is .500 over its last 10 encounters with Russia dating back to 2011.
- The CIBC Canada Russia Series returns to Prince George for the first time since 2010 when Russian forward Stanislav Bocharov recorded the only Russian hat-trick in event history, giving his club a 5-2 win. The victory was a series-clinching win for Russia, marking the first time they’d ever won the event.
SERIES NOTES
WHL INJURIES: A total of three Team WHL players won’t compete in the series due to injury. Forwards Nolan Patrick (Brandon Wheat Kings), Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets) and Brett Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors) won’t suit up. Replacing them on the roster are forwards Mason Shaw (Medicine Hat Tigers), Lane Pederson (Swift Current Broncos) and Brad Morrison (Prince George Cougars).
WIN EARLY, WIN OFTEN: Teams winning game one of the CIBC Canada Russia Series have gone on to win the series in 10 out of 13 years (77%) since the event started in 2003. The CHL has won seven series-opening games in event history, but Russia has struck first in four of the past six years. The winner of game one has gone on to win the series in each of the past four years.
STEEL, SHAW TIED FOR WHL SCORING LEAD: Team WHL forwards Sam Steel (Regina Pats) and Mason Shaw (Medicine Hat Tigers) are currently tied for the WHL scoring lead. Steel has 14 goals, 14 assists and 28 points in 13 games with the Regina Pats. The draft eligible Shaw has five goals, 23 assists and 28 points over 17 games for Medicine Hat.
SEVEN WHL PLAYERS BACK FOR 2016 SERIES: Six Team WHL players return to the CIBC Canada Russia Series after defeating Russia in a pair of games in Kelowna and Kamloops last year. Goaltender Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips) joins defencemen Noah Juulsen (Everett Silvertips), Brendan Guhle (Prince Albert Raiders) and Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings) along with forwards Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets), Jansen Harkins (Prince George Cougars) and Deven Sideroff (Kamloops Blazers) in a return to the WHL lineup.
THREE RUSSIANS RETURN TO SERIES: Russian blueliners Sergey Zborovskiy (Regina Pats), Alexander Shchemerov and Artem Volkov return to the roster after competing in the 2015 CIBC Canada Russia Series. A third round pick of the New York Rangers, Zborovskiy enters action with an assist in each of his past six WHL contests.
RUSSIA FEATURES FIVE NHL PROSPECTS: Out for redemption after defeat last season, Team Russia features five NHL prospects in tonight’s lineup, including Philadelphia Flyers first round pick German Rubtsov, Calgary Flames prospect and former Calgary Hitmen forward Pavel Karnaukhov as well as goaltender Konstantin Volkov who is a pick of the Nashville Predators. Aforementioned New York Rangers prospect Sergey Zborovskiy (Regina Pats) and Washington Capitals pick Dmitry Zaitsev (Moose Jaw Warriors) round out the NHL prospects.
