2015 CHL CANADA RUSSIA SERIES

TEAM OHL vs. TEAM RUSSIA

GAME NOTES

QUICK HITS

• The CHL Canada Russia Series returns to Windsor for the first time since 2009 when Spitfires winger Taylor Hall starred in a 5-2 victory. Hall earned player of the game honours with a goal and an assist while Windsor teammates Ryan Ellis, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz also represented the OHL.
• Team OHL is 11-1 in their second matchup against Russia in the history of the series.

 

OHL NOTES

16 FRESH FACES SLOT INTO LINEUP: Unlike the WHL and the QMJHL, the OHL uses two different rosters in the CHL Canada Russia Series. Those rosters include four holdovers in the Kingston Frontenacs trio of Lawson Crouse, Spencer Watson and Roland McKeown along with Owen Sound Attack goaltender Michael McNiven. Headlining the new additions to the OHL lineup are Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitch Marner (London Knights), New York Islanders first round pick Michael Dal Colle (Oshawa Generals) and Arizona Coyotes draftee Brendan Perlini (Niagara IceDogs).

BLACKWOOD JOINS SHUTOUT CLUB: Mackenzie Blackwood’s 25 save performance on Thursday was the first 60-minute shutout recorded by a Team OHL goaltender since Trevor Cann silenced Russia with 23 saves in 2006. Kevin Druce is the only other OHL goaltender to accomplish the feat, doing so in 2003.

BROWN OUT, LUCHUK IN: In a late addition to tonight’s lineup, Windsor Spitfires centreman Aaron Luchuk will replace teammate Logan Brown on the Team OHL roster. Brown is currently sidelined with an upper-body injury suffered over the weekend. Luchuk has 13 goals, six assists and 19 points in 21 games this season.

 

RUSSIA NOTES

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY: Russia has not lost the opening three games of the CHL Canada Russia Series since 2009, the last time they were swept, losing all six games in the event. Russia won the opening three games of the series last year with wins in Saskatoon, Brandon and Peterborough.

ACROSS THE OCEAN: Another Russian U-20 squad competing in the 4-Nations Tournament in Tampere and Hameenlinna, Finland played to a 1-2-0 record last week. Artem Zhelezkov and Egor Korshkov (who played in the 2014 CHL Canada Russia Series) each had two points to lead the Russians. The four team tournament also included prospective World Junior talent from Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.

YAZKOV RETURNS: Russian forward Nikita Yazkov returns to the WFCU Centre after spending parts of two seasons with the Windsor Spitfires from 2013-2014. Yazkov appeared in 68 games, scoring five goals, 16 assists and 21 points after being the club’s first round pick in the 2013 CHL Import Draft.