2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series Recap
The 15th edition of the CIBC Canada Russia Series was one of the most intense yet as Russia, beaten badly in Game 1 of the series, battled back to win Game 6 and tie the series 9-9 in points.
The first ever shootout finale in event history went to Team QMJHL as Maxime Comtois’ (Victoriaville Tigres) lone marker lifted the Canadian Hockey League to its third consecutive series victory, edging Russia 10-9.
The CHL earns a third consecutive series victory for the first time since 2009, winning for the 12th time in the event’s 15-year history.
Canada’s National Junior Team has gone on to win five gold medals and four silver medals in World Junior tournaments following a CHL CIBC Canada Russia Series victory.
Team Russia’s Alexey Polodyan led the event in scoring, coming one point shy of tying a Russian event record with six points (3-3–6) in as many games.
Team WHL captain Dillon Dube (Kelowna Rockets) led CHL scorers, tying an event record for WHL players in the series with five points (2-3–5) in two games. Team WHL teammate Sam Steel (Regina Pats) trailed close behind with four assists in the series while Kole Lind (Kelowna Rockets), Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Team OHL competitors Nick Suzuki (Owen Sound Attack) and Conor Timmins (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) finished with three points. Peter Abbandonato (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) led all QMJHL players in event scoring with a pair of assists. Click here for player stats
In goal, Team QMJHL’s Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) was outstanding, setting a new CHL event record with 56 saves over two starts. He finished with a 1.53 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage. Team WHL’s Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips) recorded a 20-save shutout in his lone start while Team OHL’s Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires) accounted for the CHL’s other victory, making 23 saves in Game 4. Click here for goalie stats
Team WHL defenceman Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings) played in his sixth CIBC Canada Russia Series contest last week, one game shy of Brandon Gormley’s CHL record of seven that was set in 2011.
52 NHL drafted players competed in the series from across the three CHL teams, including 13 first round selections. The Russian National Junior Team included 11 NHL draft picks, with one first rounder.
The CHL now has an overall record of 61-22-1-6 dating back to 2003 while Russia comes away at 29-58-0-3. The QMJHL holds an all-time record of 17-10-3, the OHL has played to a 24-5-1 mark and the WHL is now 20-7-1-2. Click here for event history and results
The series is used as an evaluation for Canada’s National Junior Team that will compete in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship to be played in Buffalo, NY. The tournament will run from December 26 to January 5.
2017 CIBC Canada Russia Series (CHL wins series 10-9 in points):
Game 1 – Monday November 6 at Moose Jaw, SK – WHL wins 7-0
WHL Player of the Game – Kole Lind (2G, 1A)
Russia Player of the Game – Andrey Altybarmakyan (3 SOG)
Game Summary
Game 2 – Tuesday November 7 at Swift Current, SK – Russia wins 4-3
WHL Player of the Game – Dillon Dube (1G, 2A)
Russia Player of the Game – Mikhail Maltsev (2G)
Game Summary
Game 3 – Thursday November 9 at Owen Sound, ON – Russia wins 5-2
OHL Player of the Game – Alex Formenton
Russia Player of the Game – Artyom Manukyan (2G)
Game Summary
Game 4 – Monday November 13 at Sudbury, ON – OHL wins 4-2
OHL Player of the Game – Conor Timmins (1G, 2A)
Russia Player of the Game – Dmitry Sokolov (1G)
Game Summary
Game 5 – Tuesday November 14 at Charlottetown, PE – QMJHL wins 3-1
QMJHL Player of the Game – Samuel Harvey (25 SV)
Russia Player of the Game – Andrey Altybarmakyan (1G)
Game Summary
Game 6 – Thursday November 16 at Moncton, NB – Russia wins 2-1
QMJHL Player of the Game – Maxime Comtois
Russia Player of the Game – Vitalii Abramov (1G)
Game Summary
Series determining shootout – Thursday November 16 at Moncton, NB – QMJHL wins 1-0
QMJHL – Maxime Comtois (1G)
QMJHL – Samuel Harvey (5 SV)
