Goaltenders

Mason McDonald, 19, Charlottetown Islanders This won’t be the first international competition for the Halifax native goalie. Two years ago he represented Canada at the Under 18 World Junior Championship (Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup). Considered the second best goalie available in 2014, the Calgary Flames made him 2nd round choice in that year’s NHL draft. He has been described as a special goalie who uses his size well (6’4”, 200 lbs.) He is one of the rare goaltenders who catches with the right. Despite suffering an injury to his right knee in the playoffs, McDonald signed his first professional contract this past July.

Samuel Montembeault, 19, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada Samuel Montembeault in all likelihood, is in his last tour of duty in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Several different teams are likely to compete for his services during the next trade period. Agile of movement, the Florida Panthers hopeful currently has the fifth best numbers in the league with a goals against of 2.79. This tournament will be his first international experience.

Défenseurs

Olivier Leblanc, 19, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles With undeniable offensive skills, Leblanc is known foremost as a good passer. 14 of his 16 points this season come from assists. Assistant captain of the Quebec team in the 2013 World Under 17 Championship, Leblanc also competed in last year’s Subway Super Series. The 5’11”, 174 lbs. defenceman is the property of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Thomas Chabot, 18, Saint-John Sea Dogs The former Lévis Commandeur took the Bronze medal with the Canadian Under 18 squad at last year’s championship. His 41 points in 66 games made him his team’s highest scoring defenceman for 2014-15, and everything points to him repeating that title again this year. He’s a good skater, passer, and has great vision… It hardly surprising that the Ottawa Senators took him in the first round of last year’s NHL draft.

Jérémy Lauzon, 18, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Responsible in his own end and capable of threading the needle, Jérémy Lauzon uses his strength to his advantage and doesn’t hold back from protecting his teammates. The 6’2”, 204 lbs. defenceman is currently in 4th place among his team’s scoring leaders, with 3 goals and 24 assists (27 points) in 19 games. He is going to beat – and by a long shot – his personal best of 36 points in a season. Originally from Val-d’Or, Lauzon is the property of the Boston Bruins.

Nicolas Meloche, 18, Baie-Comeau Drakkar At 6’2”, 197 lbs., he can make the ancient boards of the Baie-Comeau arena shake. Meloche backs down for no one and keeps the law on the ice. He took part in last year’s Subway Super Series as well as the World Under 17 and 18 Championships. In 17 games so far this season he has 12 points and 43 penalty minutes. The right-handed defenceman hails from Rosemère and is the property of the Colorado Avalanche.

Guillaume Brisebois, 18, Acadie-Bathurst Titan The captain of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan has played almost all of his minor hockey career as a forward. He is mobile on the ice and makes excellent puck choices. The Titan’s first round choice in 2103, the 6’2”, 187 lbs. d-man’s play convinced the Vancouver Canucks to make him their third round choice at the last NHL draft.

Samuel Girard, 17, Shawinigan Cataractes Girard may be only 17-years-old, but he has already become the leader on the blue line for the Shawinigan Cataractes. His game vision, the quality of his passing, and his slap shot combine to make him one of the best quarterbacks in the league, despite his small stature. He tops all other Q defencemen with his 31 points in 24 games this season. NHL Central Scouting currently lists him as a 4th to 6th rounder but many believe he will be drafted higher. If you see him, you’ll understand.

Philippe Myers, 18, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies A last minute addition to the team, Myers has 17 points in 22 games this season. The Philadelphia Flyers signed the 6-5, 196-lb pound defensemen after being invited on an amateur tryout. The Moncton native will be participating in his first Canada Russia Series.

Attaquants

Nathan Noël, 18, Saint-John Sea Dogs Nathan Noël is not letting himself get discouraged after failing to be taken in the NHL draft last year. At least the 18-year-old forward got an invitation to the Anaheim Ducks’ training camp where he enjoyed his first professional playing experience. Since then he has 13 points in 18 games for the Sea Dogs. Injuries to Joey Ratelle and Daniel Audette have opened the door for him to take part in the Canada/Russia series. He hopes to take advantage of this opportunity against the Russians to make an impression on the scouts and to earn his first professional contract.

Anthony Richard, 19, Val-d’Or Foreurs The former pride of the Trois-Rivières Estacades, Richard has little by little build up an interesting resumé. This will be his second time facing off against the Russians. Winner of the President Cup last year, he is fighting for 1st place in scoring on his team with a record of 35 points in 23 games this season. His small stature doesn’t keep him from covering the ice. His speed and puck skill make him a remarkable scorer. It isn’t for nothing that on November 6th, the the Nashville Predators offered him his first professional contract.

Clark Bishop, 19, Cape-Breton Screaming Eagles The Screaming Eagles’ captain missed almost half of last year because of an injury. A Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect, Bishop all the same scored 19 goals collected 16 assists in 38 games. That same injury also kept him from playing against Russia in last year’s series. Tonight he will be taking advantage of a second chance. He has maintained an average of almost a point per game so far this season, with 19 in 21 outings.

Julien Gauthier, 18, Val-d’Or Foreurs Third best point-earner on his team (24 in 23 games) Julien Gauthier will have the spotlight on him for the coming months. He will be eligible for next June’s NHL draft. Gauthier’s 73 point season last year gives a taste of what he can contribute on offense. He has scored a hat trick three times since his start in Junior. In November of 2014 he had a 5-point night against the Shawinigan Cataractes, which remains for him a career best.

Julien Nantel, 19, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies You can call Julien Nantel a hard worker. He surprised a lot of people by scoring 61 points in 64 games last year and he looks to be out to prove that wasn’t just luck. He is keeping up the pace this year with a record of 18 points in 21 games. At 6’0” and 200 lbs., Nantel was still a risk for making the NHL, but the Colorado Avalanche made that calculated risk in 2014, taking him in the 7th round.

Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, 19, Val-d’Or Foreurs The owner of a fast wrist shot of almost surgical precision, 19-year-old Aubé-Kubel racked-up 80 points in 61 games in last campaign. He represented Canada at the World Under 18 Championship and also defended the QMJHL colours in the Subway Super Series last year. Aubé-Kubel plays with energy at both ends of the ice and doesn’t leave any of the Foreurs’ coaches feeling indifferent. At the beginning of October, the Philadelphia Flyers offered him a 3-year contract.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, 17, Cape-Breton Screaming Eagles The Screaming Eagles forward helped Canada take the Gold medal at the last Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Dubois, who likes to rise to the occasion, scored his team’s first 2 goals in the Cup finale. With a first season behind him of 45 point in 54 games, Dubois will take advantage of the Super Series to make an impression on NHL scouts. He will be eligible for the draft.

Mathieu Joseph, 18, Saint-John Sea Dogs He may have got the call a bit late, but he readily agreed to fill in tonight against Russia in place of one of the injured players. Mathieu Joseph has seen his responsibilities with the Sea Dogs grow this season and he is delivering the goods. After a season of 42 points in 59 games last year, the Tampa Bay Lightening prospect is producing even better this year with 18 points in 20 outings.

Jean-Christophe Beaudin, 18, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Fast and gifted with a powerful slap shot, Jean-Christophe Beaudin is contributing a lot to his team’s offense, collecting 29 points in 21 games. The 18-year-old forward has spent his entire Junior career with the Huskies. The Colorado Avalanche took him as their third round choice in the last draft.

Francis Perron, 19, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Perron will take on the Russians again, having played in the Subway Super Series last year. The owner of 40 points since the start of this season, he is the undisputed offensive leader of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies this year. Smart with the puck, he is known as an excellent passer who also has good shot of his own. He will probably make the leap to the American Hockey league next year. The Ottawa Senators took him in the 2014 draft.

Maxime Fortier, 18, Halifax Mooseheads Fortier is playing in the most important season of his life. Eligible for the next NHL draft, the Mooseheads forward ha been described as a good skater, effective in all three zones and has good eye for the game. His work ethic has opened doors for him, such as this invitation to match up against the Russians. So far this season he has 27 points in 25 games.

Nicolas Roy, 18, Chicoutimi Saguenéens First choice over all in the 2013 QMJHL draft, Roy has the size and talent to establish himself as a top rank center. His 41 and 50 point seasons don’t begin to do justice to his talent. He slipped to the 4th round of the NHL draft and the Carolina Hurricanes’ might be able to pass themselves for geniuses if the big 6’4”, 202lbs. Roy is finally able to flourish. He is on his way to a career-best season with 27 points in 19 games.