OHL Announces Rosters for the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge

Today, the OHL released the game rosters for the two ADT Canada/Russia Challenge games being played in Guelph and St. Catharines later this November.

The rosters break down as follows...

"Game 1 – Guelph, ON – November 20
Forwards (OHL Club):
Matt Duchene (Brampton Battalion)
Casey Cizikas (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors)
Peter Holland (Guelph Storm)
Anthony Nigro (Guelph Storm)
Cody Hodgson (Brampton Battalion)
Chris Terry (Plymouth Whalers)
Nazem Kadri (London Knights)
Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires)
Greg Nemisz (Windsor Spitfires)
Dale Mitchell (Windsor Spitfires)
Logan Couture (Ottawa 67’s)
John Tavares (Oshawa Generals)

Defence (OHL Club):
Michael Del Zotto (Oshawa Generals)
Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires)
Cameron Gaunce (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors)
Mark Cundari (Windsor Spitfires)
Tyler Cuma (Ottawa 67’s)
T.J. Brodie (Saginaw Spirit)

Goaltenders (OHL Club):
Chris Carrozzi (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors)
Tyler Beskorowany (Owen Sound Attack)


Game 2 – St. Catharines, ON – November 24
Forwards:
Matt Duchene (Brampton Battalion)
Jamie Arniel (Sarnia Sting)
Zack Kassian (Peterborough Petes)
Andrew Agozzino (Niagara IceDogs)
Cody Hodgson (Brampton Battalion)
Nazem Kadri (London Knights)
Bryan Cameron (Belleville Bulls)
Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires)
Greg Nemisz (Windsor Spitfires)
Logan Couture (Ottawa 67’s)
John Tavares (Oshawa Generals)
Eric O’Dell (Sudbury Wolves))

Defence (OHL Club):
Michael Del Zotto (Oshawa Generals)
P.K. Subban (Belleville Bulls)
Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires)
Shawn Lalonde (Belleville Bulls)
Cameron Gaunce (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors)
Mark Katic (Sarnia Sting)

Goaltenders (OHL Club):
Mike Murphy (Belleville Bulls)
Trevor Cann (Peterborough Petes)"

Credit to http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/news/?id=5855 for the roster information.

Last year, the Russians actually sent over a competitive team, compared to previous years where the teams just weren't up to par. Hopefully this trend continues and we get a couple really solid hockey games. Both games will be aired nationally on Sportsnet. Once I can get a hold of the Russian roster for the games, I'll post that.

As for the roster itself. No really huge surprises. Remember that these games are for players who are eligible for the World Junior Championships, so Overagers aren't being picked. These rosters have been created with the aid of Hockey Canada in hopes that they can see some of these players against high level competition to determine whether they are serious contenders for a roster spot, or at least training camp invitation, for Team Canada.

The only really surprising omission for me came in the form of Ice Dogs defenceman Drew Schiestel. Schiestel is tied for 2nd in OHL defenceman scoring with 16 points. He's a very competent puck moving defenseman who's also one of the best skaters in the OHL. He also could have played infront of his home team's crowd in the St. Catharines game. The only players I could have seen Drew take the place of are Mark Cundari and T.J. Brodie. However, both Cundari and Brodie have had great starts to the season as well. Cundari signed an NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues following an invite to their training camp at the beginning of the season. The Windsor blueliner also leads the OHL at +14 and is tied for 2nd with 5 goals from the blueline. Brodie is another solid, two way defender and is the guy I would have liked to seen Schiestel replace. But I suppose Schiestel's inconsistencies on the defensive side of things scared away Team Canada, but the again, it didn't scare them away from inviting Ryan Ellis, Michael Del Zotto, Mark Katic, P.K. Subban, and Cameron Gaunce!

The only other semi surprising non invitee could be Stefan Della Rovere, a forward from Barrie. He's a banging/pest type player who's taken huge steps forward offensively so far this season, with his 12 goals tied for 2nd in the OHL thus far.

But this really is minor nitpicking. Both of these games, should make for great hockey and great entertainment.