Canada Russia Challenge Series - TEAM WHL

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League today announced the 22 players that will represent TEAM WHL in the 2003 RE/MAX Canada Russia Challenge Series. The series which will feature Team WHL taking on the Russian Selects in games in Calgary at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Wednesday, November 26th, 2003 and in Brandon on Thursday, November 27th, 2003 at the Keystone Centre.

TEAM WHL was selected by a panel of two WHL General Managers; Kelly McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings and Ken Hodge, Portland Winter Hawks in consultation with Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada’s Head Scout for Canada’s National Junior Team.

The team includes five current top ten WHL scorers, Kyle Brodziak, Moose Jaw Warriors (Tied 1st – 19 Pts), Adam Courchaine, Vancouver Giants (Tied 2nd – 18 Pts), Clarke MacArthur, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tied 2nd – 18 Pts), Nigel Dawes, Kootenay Ice (Tied 4th – 16 Pts) and Eric Fehr, Brandon Wheat Kings (Tied 4th – 16 Pts). Leading the defence will be Dion Phaneuf, Red Deer Rebels, the Western Hockey League’s second leading scoring defencemen with 16 points. In goal, the team will be led by the 2002-03 WHL Goaltender and WHL Player of the Year, Josh Harding of the Regina Pats and the 2001-02 WHL Goaltender of the Year, Cam Ward of the Red Deer Rebels.

The RE/MAX Canada/Russia Challenge Series will be an integral part of the identification process for Canada's National Junior Team final selection camp. The series will involve a total of six games across Canada in November.

The Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights will host the first game of the historic series at the John Labatt Centre on Monday, November 17 and the Sarnia Sting of the OHL will host the second game of the series on Wednesday, November 19. The Halifax Mooseheads (Thursday November 20) and Rimouski Oceanic (Monday November 24) will host the QMJHL games, with the final leg of the series held in the Western Hockey League.

“We are thrilled to be part of this grass root initiative and congratulate the members of TEAM WHL for their accomplishments on making the team. We are looking forward to an outstanding series when they meet the Russian Selects on November 26th and 27th,” stated Elton Ash, Vice-President / Regional Director, RE/MAX of Western Canada.

All six games will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet.

Canada and Russia have finished first and second in the World Junior Championships eight times in the past 18 years, including last January when Russia defeated Canada 3-2 to win the gold medal in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Russia has 12 gold medals in World Junior play, including each of the past two years. Canada is second on the all-time list with 10.

Tickets for the 2003 RE/MAX Canada Russia Challenge can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster, on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca, Calgary at (403) 777-0000 or in Brandon at (204) 726-3555. For Group Tickets or Minor Hockey Team information for the game in Calgary, please call 571-2200.

2003 RE/MAX Canada/Russia Challenge Schedule of Games

Game 1 – Monday November 17 at London, Ontario

Game 2 – Wednesday November 19 at Sarnia, Ontario

Game 3 – Thursday November 20 at Halifax, Nova Scotia

Game 4 – Monday November 24 at Rimouski, Quebec

Game 5 – Wednesday November 26 at Calgary, Alberta

Game 6 – Thursday November 27 at Brandon, Manitoba

The Following are the list of WHL players Named to TEAM WHL.

Harding, Josh : G : Regina Pats

Ward, Cam : G : Red Deer Rebels

Belle, Shawn : D : Tri-City Americans

Coburn, Braydon : D : Portland Winter Hawks

Egener, Mike : D : Calgary Hitmen

Gorges, Josh : D : Kelowna Rockets

Mike Green : D : Saskatoon Blades (replacement)

Meech, Derek : D : Red Deer Rebels

Phaneuf, Dion : D : Red Deer Rebels

Seabrook, Brent : D : Lethbridge Hurricanes

White, Ian : D : Swift Current Broncos (injured)

Brodziak, Kyle : C : Moose Jaw Warriors

Colliton, Jeremy : C : Prince Albert Raiders

Courchaine, Adam : C : Vancouver Giants

Dawes, Nigel : LW : Kootenay Ice

Fehr, Eric : RW : Brandon Wheat Kings

Gelech, Randall : RW : Kelowna Rockets

Getzlaf, Ryan : C : Calgary Hitmen

MacArthur, Clarke : C : Medicine Hat Tigers

Monych, Lance : RW : Brandon Wheat Kings

Redenbach, Tyler : LW/C : Swift Current Broncos

Brad Schell : C : Spokane Chiefs

Stone, Ryan : LW : Brandon Wheat Kings (injured)

Williams, Jeremy : RW/C : Swift Current Broncos