Thursday November 12, 2015
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
At just over 21,000 people, Owen Sound is one of the Canadian Hockey League’s smallest communities, but the passion and enthusiasm of a loyal fan base makes playing in the ‘Scenic City’ a special experience.
A gateway to the NHL that has seen the likes of Bobby Ryan, Wayne Simmonds, Joel Ward and Andrew Brunette pass through over the years, the Owen Sound Attack have steadily remained one of the OHL’s consistently competitive franchises over the past several years.
The CHL Canada Russia Series comes to Owen Sound for the first time in the event’s history for Game 3 on Thursday night, a date Attack general manager Dale DeGray has had circled on his calendar for quite some time.
“I think we have maybe the smallest building (in the OHL), but we’ve got the best and the greatest fans in the league so it’s a little bit of give back for them,” he told attackhockey.com’s Shaun Bisson. “I think it’s great to be able to host a game like this and I hope we have more further on down the road.”
A former NHL defenceman, DeGray has been resourceful in his role as general manager of the small market franchise over the years, uncovering hidden gems such as free agent signee Kurtis Gabriel before drafting a young Joseph Blandisi in his second year of OHL Priority Selection eligibility. Both of those players are on NHL contracts today.
“I think anytime you can represent your country in whatever fashion, it’s a huge accomplishment,” DeGray said of his three Attack players competing in Thursday’s game who are vying for international roles. “For these guys, it’s a big step for all of them in the right direction. To be able to show scouts or managers another form of their game at an international competition is great.”
After being passed over in the 2015 NHL Draft, goaltender Michael McNiven caught the eye of the Montreal Canadiens who were impressed with his game so much that they signed him to an entry-level NHL contract. The 18 year-old claimed the F.W. Dinty Moore Trophy after posting the OHL’s lowest rookie goals-against average last season of 2.79.
McNiven competed in the 2015 BMO CHL NHL Top Prospects Game in St. Catharines back in January, but surrendered four goals on 12 shots as Team Cherry fell 6-0. The 6’1″, 215Ib. athletic netminder is off to a solid start to the season, posting a 2.59 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in 17 games.
“I don’t want to say I wasn’t prepared, but I didn’t have the best game last year,” McNiven said of the BMO Top Prospects experience. “With the start I’ve had this season, I feel like I’m ready for this game and I just want to keep rolling.”
Florida Panthers prospect Thomas Schemitsch will also represent the OHL on Thursday opposite fellow Attack defenceman and Los Angeles Kings prospect Damir Sharipzyanov who will skate for Russia.
Schemitsch’s older brother Geoffrey won an OHL title with the Attack in 2011, a team that was coached by the late Mark Reeds who passed away this past April at the age of 55. The unforgettable playoff run saw the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre jam packed each and every night.
The younger Schemitsch was a third round pick by the Florida Panthers this past June and says he’s pleased that he and his teammates will have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
“I think being included in this event speaks volumes about what we have on our team and how hard the guys have worked,” he noted. “It’s just a great feeling to have this opportunity.”
Team OHL enters Game 3 of the series with a 6-0 series lead in points thanks to an impressive effort put forth by Team WHL to open the series. The OHL boasts an all-time record of 20-3-1 in the CHL Canada Russia Series, but suffered a loss at the hands of the Russians last year in Peterborough by a score of 4-0, marking the first time the OHL has been shutout in the event.
A sold out venue in Owen Sound, a city known for its love of junior hockey, will provide the perfect setting for the OHL’s 25th meeting with Team Russia in the history of the event. Team OHL looks to take command of the series with a strong performance in Game 3.
The puck drops at 7:00pm ET/10:00pm PT live from Owen Sound on Sportsnet 360.
The 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series will be nationally broadcasted in its entirety live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
For more information including how to purchase tickets please visit canadarussia.chl.ca.
