Three Raiders Named to Team WHL for 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series
Prince Albert, SK – Parker Kelly, Brett Leason, and Ian Scott were selected to play for Team WHL at the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series on Wednesday morning.
Kelly, Leason, and Scott will take on Team Russia for two games in Kamloops and Vancouver. The two-game set begins in Kamloops, BC on Monday, November 5 before shifting to Vancouver, BC on Tuesday night.
The trio of Raiders are the first to represent the club at the event since Brendan Guhle suited up for Team WHL at the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series.
Leason, from Calgary, AB, is the WHL’s leading scorer entering play on Wednesday night. The 6’4, 199-lb winger has 11 goals and 15 assists in 12 games this season, which includes at least a point in every game. He’s also currently riding a five-game multi-point streak and was named the WHL On the Run Player of the Week on Monday.
Kelly, an Ottawa Senators prospect from Camrose, AB, is averaging a point a game this season with six goals and five assists. The 6’0, 182-lb winger signed an entry-level deal with the Senators after earning an invitation to their training camp prior to the 2017-18 season.
Scott, also from Calgary, was picked by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’3, 183-lb netminder has won nine of his 10 starts to begin the year, posting a 1.60 goals-against average and a 0.943 save percentage. His strong start has earned him WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week award twice this year.
The Raiders are off until Saturday night when the Spokane Chiefs (5-2-0-2) make their first trip to the Art Hauser Centre in two years. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Raider Office and at raiderhockey.com.
Also coming up at the Art Hauser Centre is Hocktoberfest on Saturday, October 27 when the Regina Pats come to town. For just $35, fans get a ticket to the game, a “Raiderhosen” t-shirt, and a 30 oz. boot stein with one free fill. Game time is 7 p.m. For more information, contact the Raider Office.
Team WHL once again features an abundance of NHL prospects, including 10 players previously selected in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft or projected to be selected in the first two rounds of the 2019 NHL Draft. A trio of highly-touted defencemen from the 2018 NHL Draft will man the blueline for Team WHL, including Spokane Chiefs defenceman Ty Smith (New Jersey Devils, 1-17), Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman Jett Woo (Vancouver Canucks, 2-37), and Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Calen Addison (Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-53).
Led by Portland Winterhawks captain Cody Glass (Vegas Golden Knights, 2017 – 1-6), Team WHL’s forwards will be powered by a strong group of highly-touted prospects set to hear their names called at the 2019 NHL Draft, including Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge Hurricanes), Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades), and Nolan Foote (Kelowna Rockets).
A pair of Vancouver Giants will have the opportunity to suit up for Team WHL in front of a hometown crowd when the series shifts to Vancouver for Game 2 on November 6. Sophomore defenceman Bowen Byram, projected to be selected in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft, as well as Arizona Coyotes prospect David Tendeck, a product of North Vancouver, will both be in the lineup for Team WHL.
Team WHL Roster:
Forwards
| Player Name | Hometown | DOB | WHL Club | NHL Draft |
| Almeida, Justin | Kitimat, B.C. | 1999-02-06 | Moose Jaw Warriors | PIT 2018 (5-129) |
| Bellerive, Jordy | North Vancouver, B.C. | 1999-05-02 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | PIT 2017 (FA) |
| Cozens, Dylan | Whitehorse, Yukon | 2001-02-09 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | Eligible 2019 |
| Dach, Kirby | Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. | 2001-01-21 | Saskatoon Blades | Eligible 2019 |
| Dewar, Connor | The Pas, Man. | 1999-06-26 | Everett Silvertips | MIN 2018 (3-92) |
| Fix-Wolansky, Trey | Edmonton, Alta. | 1999-05-26 | Edmonton Oil Kings | CBJ 2018 (7-204) |
| Foote, Nolan | Engelwood, Colo. | 2000-11-29 | Kelowna Rockets | Eligible 2019 |
| Glass, Cody | Winnipeg, Man. | 1999-04-01 | Portland Winterhawks | VGK 2017 (1-6) |
| Kelly, Parker | Camrose, Alta. | 1999-05-14 | Prince Albert Raiders | OTT 2017 (FA) |
| Leason, Brett | Calgary, Alta. | 1999-04-30 | Prince Albert Raiders | Free Agent |
| Mattheos, Stelio | Winnipeg, Man. | 1999-06-14 | Brandon Wheat Kings | CAR 2017 (3-73) |
| Sutter, Riley | Calgary, Alta. | 1999-10-25 | Everett Silvertips | WAS 2018 (3-93) |
Defencemen
| Player Name | Hometown | DOB | WHL Club | NHL Draft |
| Addison, Calen | Brandon, Man. | 2000-04-11 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | PIT 2018 (2-53) |
| Brook, Josh | Roblin, Man. | 1999-06-17 | Moose Jaw Warriors | MTL 2017 (2-56) |
| Byram, Bowen | Cranbrook, B.C. | 2001-06-13 | Vancouver Giants | Eligible 2019 |
| Smith, Ty | Lloydminster, Alta. | 2000-03-24 | Spokane Chiefs | NJD 2018 (1-17) |
| Walford, Scott | Coquitlam, B.C. | 1999-01-12 | Victoria Royals | MTL 2017 (3-68) |
| Woo, Jett | Winnipeg, Man. | 2000-07-27 | Moose Jaw Warriors | VAN 2018 (2-37) |
Goaltenders
| Player Name | Hometown | DOB | WHL Club | NHL Draft |
| Scott, Ian | Calgary, Alta. | 1999-01-11 | Prince Albert Raiders | TOR 2017 (4-110) |
| Tendeck, David | North Vancouver, B.C. | 1999-11-25 | Vancouver Giants | ARI 2018 (6-158) |
The six-game CIBC Canada Russia Series features regional league teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team. For the fifth straight season, the event will open with two games in the WHL.
Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 61-22-1-6. The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years, with the 2017 event requiring a shootout to break a series tie in Game 6. The first ever shootout finale in event history was won by Team QMJHL, giving the CHL its third consecutive series victory. Team CHL has won 12 times in event history, with Russia emerging victorious on three occasions.
The 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series is supported by title sponsor CIBC, the Official Bank of the CHL, along with associate sponsors Kia Canada, Sherwin-Williams, Cooper Tires, and Kubota Canada. All games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series Schedule
Game 1 – Monday, November 5 at Kamloops, BC
Game 2 – Tuesday, November 6 at Vancouver, BC
Game 3 – Thursday, November 8 at Sarnia, ON
Game 4 – Monday, November 12 at Oshawa, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday, November 13 at Sherbrooke, QC
Game 6 – Thursday, November 15 at Drummondville, QC
For event information please visit http://chlcanadarussia.ca.
