Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada, announced today the roster for Team WHL, which will compete against Team Russia at the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series on November 13 and 14 in Saskatoon and Prince Albert, Sask.

Returning to this year’s roster are seven members of Team WHL from the 2018 event, including three of the top-10 selections from the 2019 NHL Draft in Kirby Dach of the Saskatoon Blades (Chicago Blackhawks, Round 1 – Pick 3), Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants (Colorado Avalanche, 1-4), and Dylan Cozens of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (Buffalo Sabres, 1-7). Returning forward Nolan Foote of the Kelowna Rockets (Tampa Bay Lightning, 1-27 – 2019) will add to the team’s strength at the forward position while a trio of 2018 NHL Draft selections, including Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs (New Jersey Devils, 1-17), Jett Woo of the Calgary Hitmen (Vancouver Canucks, 2-37), and Calen Addison of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-53), will once again bolster the team’s blue line.

Team WHL will feature a strong Saskatchewan flavour, including Regina product Carson Focht of the Calgary Hitmen (Vancouver Canucks, 5-133 – 2019), Estevan product Cole Fonstad of the Everett Silvertips (Montreal Canadiens, 5-128 – 2018), Yorkton products Kaedan Korczak of the Kelowna Rockets (Vegas Golden Knights, 2-41 – 2019) and Nolan Maier of the Saskatoon Blades (NHL Draft Eligible, 2020). Finally, a trio of hometown stars join Team WHL, including Saskatoon products Adam Beckman of the Spokane Chiefs (Minnesota Wild, 3-75 – 2019) and Connor Zary of the Kamloops Blazers (NHL Draft Eligible, 2020), along with Prince Albert product Braden Schneider of the Brandon Wheat Kings (NHL Draft Eligible, 2020).
NHL Central Scouting identified both Schneider and Zary on its ‘Players to Watch’ list as top-ranked prospects for the 2020 NHL Draft.

Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 5 of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series in Saskatoon on Wednesday, November 13, before continuing on to Prince Albert for Game 6 to conclude the series on Thursday, November 14. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will host Games 1 and 2, while the Ontario Hockey League will host Games 3 and 4. For the first time since 2013, the event will close with two games in the WHL.

Team WHL Roster (Manitobans in bold):

Forwards
Player Name	Hometown	DOB	WHL Club	NHL Draft
Beckman, Adam	Saskatoon, Sask.	2001-05-10	Spokane Chiefs	MIN 2019 (3-75)
Burzan, Luka	Surrey, B.C.	2000-01-07	Brandon Wheat Kings	COL 2019 (6-171)
Chyzowski, Ryan	Kamloops, B.C.	2000-05-14	Medicine Hat Tigers	Eligible 2020
Cozens, Dylan	Whitehorse, Yukon	2001-02-09	Lethbridge Hurricanes	BUF 2019 (1-7)
Dach, Kirby	Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.	2001-01-21	Saskatoon Blades	CHI 2019 (1-3)
Focht, Carson	Regina, Sask.	2000-02-04	Calgary Hitmen	VAN 2019 (5-133)
Fonstad, Cole	Estevan, Sask.	2000-04-24	Everett Silvertips	MTL 2018 (5-128)
Foote, Nolan	Engelwood, Colo.	2000-11-29	Kelowna Rockets	TBL 2019 (1-27)
Hamaliuk, Dillon	Leduc, Alta.	2000-10-30	Kelowna Rockets	SJS 2019 (2-55)
Krebs, Peyton	Okotoks, Alta.	2001-01-26	Winnipeg ICE	VGK 2019 (1-17)
Tracey, Brayden	Calgary, Alta.	2001-05-28	Moose Jaw Warriors	ANA 2019 (1-29)
Zary, Connor	Saskatoon, Sask.	2001-09-25	Kamloops Blazers	Eligible 2020
Defencemen
Player Name	Hometown	DOB	WHL Club	NHL Draft
Addison, Calen	Brandon, Man.	2000-04-11	Lethbridge Hurricanes	PIT 2018 (2-53)
Byram, Bowen	Cranbrook, B.C.	2001-06-13	Vancouver Giants	COL 2019 (1-4)
Korczak, Kaedan	Yorkton, Sask.	2001-01-29	Kelowna Rockets	VGK 2019 (2-41)
Schneider, Braden	Prince Albert, Sask.	2001-09-20	Brandon Wheat Kings	Eligible 2020
Smith, Ty	Lloydminster, Alta.	2000-03-24	Spokane Chiefs	NJD 2018 (1-17)
Woo, Jett	Winnipeg, Man.	2000-07-27	Calgary Hitmen	VAN 2018 (2-37)
Goaltenders
Player Name	Hometown	DOB	WHL Club	NHL Draft
Hofer, Joel	Winnipeg, Man.	2000-07-30	Portland Winterhawks	STL 2018 (4-107)
Maier, Nolan	Yorkton, Sask.	2001-01-10	Saskatoon Blades	Eligible 2020

The 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series will represent the event’s return to both Saskatoon and Prince Albert. In 2005 and 2014, the event made an appearance in Saskatoon, while Prince Albert played host in 2008.

The six-game CIBC Canada Russia Series features regional league teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team. Team CHL has won 12 times in event history, with Russia emerging victorious on four occasions.

The 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Kia Canada, Cooper Tires, and Kubota Canada.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

Tickets for Games 5 and 6 of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series are available now. Complete ticketing options available at the links below.

2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule
Game 1 – Monday, November 4 at Saint John, N.B.
Game 2 – Tuesday, November 5 at Moncton, N.B.
Game 3 – Thursday, November 7 at Kitchener, Ont.
Game 4 – Monday, November 11 at London, Ont.
Game 5 – Wednesday, November 13 at Saskatoon, Sask. – TICKETS
Game 6 – Thursday, November 14 at Prince Albert, Sask. – TICKETS

For event information, please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.

About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.