WHL Announces Rosters for 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series

CALGARY, AB – The Canadian Hockey League in association with the Western Hockey League and SUBWAY® today announced the rosters for Team WHL competing in the 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series.

The 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series will take place November 16 – 26 and marks the seventh straight year that teams of CHL All-Stars have competed against Team Russia in preparation for the World Junior Hockey Championships.  The SUBWAY® Super Series is an integral part of the evaluation process prior to Team Canada’s final selection camp in December.  This season, Canada will be competing for a record sixth straight gold medal at the 2010 tournament in Saskatoon and Regina, SK.

Team WHL will face Team Russia in games five and six of the series played Wednesday, November 25 in Victoria, BC, and on Thursday, November 26 in Kelowna, BC.  The first two games of the series are hosted by the QMJHL with the OHL hosting games three and four.

Team WHL was selected by a special committee of WHL General Managers along with Al Murray, Hockey Canada’s Head Scout for the Canadian National Junior Team, as part of the selection process for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships.

“The WHL is fortunate to have so many good players to choose from for the SUBWAY® Super Series,” commented Willie Desjardins of the Medicine Hat Tigers, who will coach Team WHL and serve as Head Coach for Team Canada. “This is a great opportunity for our players to compete against a very talented Russian team and showcase themselves to Hockey Canada for future International events.”

The complete Team WHL roster consists of 33 players – two goalies, 10 defenceman and 21 forwards.  Top NHL prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, including Brett Connolly (PG), Curtis Hamilton (SAS), Quinton Howden (MJ), Calvin Pickard (SEA) and Mark Pysyk (EDM), will compete in the series along with four first round draft picks from the 2009 NHL Entry, Brayden Schenn (BDN), Scott Glennie (BDN), Jared Cowen (SPO) and Carter Ashton (LET).  Forward Jordan Eberle (REG) and defenceman Colten Teubert (REG) represent returning players from Team Canada’s 2009 gold medal winning team and both were selected in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

The 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series is supported by associate sponsors, Bank of Montreal, NeilMed and CCM.  All games will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet with the QMJHL games shown on RDS.

For more information about the event and tickets please visit www.subwaysuperseries.com

Team WHL Roster – Victoria, BC – November 25, 2009

Forwards (12):
Scott Glennie (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Brayden Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Brent Raedeke (Edmonton Oil Kings)*
Byron Froese (Everett Silvertips)
Wacey Hamilton (Medicine Hat Tigers)*
Linden Vey (Medicine Hat Tigers)*
Jordan Eberle (Regina Pats)
Levko Koper (Spokane Chiefs)
Justin Dowling (Swift Current Broncos)
Cody Eakin (Swift Current Broncos)
Brendan Shinnimin (Tri-City Americans)
Lance Bouma (Vancouver Giants)

Defence (6):     
Colby Robak (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Mark Pysyk (Edmonton Oil Kings)*
Tyson Barrie (Kelowna Rockets)*
Brett Ponich (Portland Winterhawks)
Colten Teubert (Regina Pats)
Jared Cowen (Spokane Chiefs)

Goaltenders (2):    
Martin Jones (Calgary Hitmen)*
Calvin Pickard (Seattle Thunderbirds)*


Team WHL Roster – Kelowna, BC – November 26, 2009

Forwards (12):  
Brandon Kozun (Calgary Hitmen)
Brent Raedeke (Edmonton Oil Kings)*
Tyler Shattock (Kamloops Blazers)
Brandon McMillan (Kelowna Rockets)
Carter Ashton (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
Wacey Hamilton (Medicine Hat Tigers)*
Linden Vey (Medicine Hat Tigers)*
Quinton Howden (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Brett Connolly (Prince George Cougars)
Willie Coetzee (Red Deer Rebels)
Curtis Hamilton (Saskatoon Blades)
Craig Cunningham (Vancouver Giants)

Defence (6):    
Michael Stone (Calgary Hitmen)
Mark Pysyk (Edmonton Oil Kings)*
Tyson Barrie (Kelowna Rockets)*
Brayden McNabb (Kootenay Ice)
Travis Hamonic (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Stefan Elliott (Saskatoon Blades)

Goaltenders (2):  
Martin Jones (Calgary Hitmen)*
Calvin Pickard (Seattle Thunderbirds)*
  
*Players competing in both games

Team WHL Staff:
Willie Desjardins, Head Coach (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Don Hay, Assistant Coach (Vancouver Giants)
Ryan Huska, Assistant Coach (Kelowna Rockets)
Jeff Thorburn, Athletic Therapist (Kelowna Rockets)
Grant Ferguson, Equipment Manager (Vancouver Giants)

2009 SUBWAY® Super Series Schedule of Games:
Game 1 – Monday November 16 at Drummondville, QC
Game 2 – Wednesday November 18 at Shawinigan, QC
Game 3 – Thursday November 19 at Barrie, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 23 at Windsor, ON
Game 5 – Wednesday November 25 at Victoria, BC
Game 6 – Thursday November 26 at Kelowna, BC

About SUBWAY®
The SUBWAY® restaurant chain is the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise, with more than 31,000 restaurants in 90 countries and over 2,400 restaurants in Canada.  In 2002, the SUBWAY® chain surpassed McDonald's in the number of restaurants open in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Milford, Conn., the SUBWAY® restaurant chain was cofounded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. For more information about the SUBWAY® restaurant chain, visit www.subway.ca.