Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League, Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops Blazers and Hockey Canada, announced today the roster for Team WHL which will compete against Team Russia in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series.

Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 1 of the 2015 Canada Russia Series in Kelowna, BC on Monday, November 9th and will continue the series on Tuesday, November 10th with Game 2 in Kamloops, BC. The OHL will host Games 3 and 4 while the QMJHL will conclude the series as hosts for Games 5 and 6.

Team WHL’s roster boasts hometown talent this season. Kamloops, BC products Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals) and Ryan Gropp (Seattle Thunderbirds) will suit up for Team WHL in Game 2 on November 10th while the Kelowna Rockets will be represented by current Rockets Rourke Chartier and Nick Merkley in Game 1 on November 9th.

The roster also boasts a total of eight first round NHL Draft selections including Jake Debrusk (Swift Current), Mathew Barzal (Seattle), Noah Juulsen (Everett) and Merkley who were chosen in the first round this past year.

For more information including how to purchase tickets please visit canadarussia.chl.ca.

Each of the three CHL member Leagues assembled a selection committee, working closely with Hockey Canada, to select the players for this year’s series. This year, Team WHL will once again be coached by 2014 WHL Coach of the Year Dave Lowry (Victoria Royals) who will also serve as head coach for Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. Kelly McCrimmon (Brandon Wheat Kings) and Don Hay (Kamloops Blazers) will be the assistant coaches for Team WHL. Scott Hoyer (Kelowna Rockets) and Colin “Toledo” Robinson (Kamloops Blazers) will handle athletic trainer duties for both games.

Should Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen / Vancouver Canucks) be returned to the WHL prior to the start of the series, he will be added to Team WHL’s roster.

The 2015 Canada Russia series is supported by CHL associate sponsors, BMO Bank of Montreal, Cooper Tire, autoTRADER.ca and Sherwin-Williams.

Team WHL roster for the 2015 Canada Russia Series:

Forwards

Player Hometown WHL Club NHL Draft Barzal, Mathew Coquitlam, BC Seattle Thunderbirds NYI 2015, Round 1, 16th Bleackley, Conner High River, AB Red Deer Rebels COL 2014, Round 1, 23rd Chartier, Rourke Saskatoon, SK Kelowna Rockets SJS 2014, Round 5, 149th DeBrusk, Jake Edmonton, AB Swift Current Broncos BOS 2015, Round 1, 14th Gropp, Ryan Kamloops, BC Seattle Thunderbirds NYR 2015, Round 2, 41st Harkins, Jansen North Vancouver, BC Prince George Cougars WPG 2015, Round 2, 47th Hawryluk, Jayce Roblin, MB Brandon Wheat Kings FLA 2014, Round 2, 32nd Merkley, Nick Calgary, AB Kelowna Rockets ARI 2015, Round 1, 30th Patrick, Nolan Winnipeg, BM Brandon Wheat Kings Eligible 2017 Point, Brayden Calgary, AB Moose Jaw Warriors TBL 2014, Round 3, 79th Pollock, Brett Sherwood Park, AB Edmonton Oil Kings DAL 2014, Round 2, 45th Quenneville, John Edmonton, AB Brandon Wheat Kings NJD 2014, Round 1, 30th

Defencemen

Clague, Kale Lloydminster, AB Brandon Wheat Kings Eligible 2016 Fleury, Haydn Carlyle, SK Red Deer Rebels CAR 2014, Round 1, 7th Guhle, Brendan Sherwood Park, AB Prince Albert Raiders BUF 2015, Round 2, 51st Hicketts, Joe Kamloops, BC Victoria Royals DET (Signed as Free Agent) Juulsen, Noah Abbotsford, BC Everett Silvertips MTL 2015, Round 1, 26th Sanheim, Travis Elkhorn, MB Calgary Hitmen PHI 2014, Round 1, 17th

Goaltenders

Hart, Carter Sherwood Park, AB Everett Silvertips Eligible 2016 Sawchenko, Zach Calgary, AB Moose Jaw Warriors Eligible 2016

The schedule for the 2015 Canada Russia Series is as follows:

Game 1 – Monday, November 9 at Kelowna, BC

Game 2 – Tuesday, November 10 at Kamloops, BC

Game 3 – Thursday, November 12 at Owen Sound, ON

Game 4 – Monday, November 16 at Windsor, ON

Game 5 – Tuesday, November 17 at Rouyn-Noranda, QC

Game 6 – Thursday, November 19 at Halifax, NS

The 2015 Canada Russia Series will be nationally broadcasted in its entirety live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.