One, and possibly two, Saskatoon Blades’ players are part of the 20-man roster named to Team W-H-L for the final two games of the annual Canada-Russia Super Series.
Goaltender Nolan Maier (pictured) and centre Kirby Dach join Blades’ head coach Mitch Love plus Bridge City Bunch athletic therapist Brenden Hope and Blue and Gold equipment manager Riley Kosmolak with Team W-H-L. Dach’s participation is, of course, contingent upon him being returned to the Blades by the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization. Love is the head coach of Team W-H-L and an assistant for the Canadian entry into the World Junior Hockey Championship. He’s assisted by former Saskatoon players, now W-H-L head coaches in Marc Habscheid of Prince Albert and Dave Struch of Regina. In addition, Raiders’ trainer/equipment manager Duane Bartley, Saskatoon product and Spokane forward Adam Beckman, Saskatoon native and Kamloops forward Connor Zary plus Prince Albert product and Brandon defenceman Braden Schneider will be part of Team W-H-L for their games November 13 and 14 in Saskatoon and P-A, respectively. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…
The Saskatoon Blades are proud to announce that goaltender Nolan Maier & forward Kirby Dach have been selected by the Western Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada, to represent Team WHL when it competes against Team Russia at the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series on November 13th and 14th in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
They will be joined by another Blade, current Head Coach Mitch Love. Love will be behind the bench to serve as Head Coach for Team WHL for the first time. He will be joined by Prince Albert Raiders Head Coach Marc Habscheid and Regina Pats Head Coach Dave Struch, who will serve as Assistant Coaches. The 35-year-old Love, now in his second season with the Saskatoon Blades, was also named an assistant coach for Canada’s National Junior Team this past May.
The 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series will reunite the three Blades on the international stage after the trio previously won Gold for Canada together at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Love served as an assistant coach.
Dach & Maier also played together internationally for Team Canada Black at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Additionally, Maier represented Canada at the 2019 Under-18 World Championship while Dach was invited to play but declined due to an injury sustained during the 2019 WHL Playoffs.
Additionally, two more current Blades will join the aforementioned trio: Athletic Therapist Brenden Hope & Equipment Manager Riley Kosmolak. The pair will serve Team WHL in their usual roles for each game in Saskatoon & Prince Albert alongside Duane Bartley of the Prince Albert Raiders.
Team WHL will face Team Russia in Game 5 of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on Wednesday, November 13th, before continuing on to Prince Albert for Game 6 to conclude the series on Thursday, November 14th. 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.
Full Team WHL Roster:
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 |
Defenceman
| 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.
