U Sports men's hockey roster announced for series vs. National Junior Team prospects
TORONTO (U Sports) –U Sports unveiled Monday its roster for a two-game exhibition series between the U Sports men's hockey all-stars and Canada's National Junior Team prospects.
The two-game set, which was announced last month, will take place at the Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau, home of the QMJHL's Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, on Monday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. ET and Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. ET as part of the National Junior Team's preparation for the 41st IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal (Dec. 26 – Jan. 5).
The 23-player U Sports lineup – all but one with CHL experience - is comprised of 11 standouts from the OUA conference and six apiece from the AUS and Canada West leagues. Twelve of the 23 players have represented U Sports against the World Junior hopefuls in the past, including 11 returnees from last year's inaugural national all-star squad which split the two-game series, winning the first game 5-4 in a shootout. The OUA contingent will look to make their case for a spot on the 2017 Winter Universiade roster, with head coach Brett Gibson also serving as the FISU Games bench boss.
"It is a fantastic opportunity for these 23 U Sports athletes from across the country to showcase how great of a product we have," said Gibson. "It also comes with a great responsibility to be a small part of the preparation for our Canadian under-20 team in their quest for a gold medal."
Protecting the U Sports net in Boisbriand will be goaltenders Kevin Bailie from Queen's, Corbin Boes from Dalhousie and Jordon Cooke from Saskatchewan, who all suited up in last year's event.
Boes, in his third season with the Tigers, leads the nation in save percentage (.933) while Cooke sits third in goals-against average (1.98) among goaltenders with at least 10 games played.
On defence, the eight-member unit includes Spencer Abraham of Queen's, Tim Campbell of Lethbridge, Nathan Chiarlitti of McGill, Martin Lefebvre of UQTR, Kendall McFaull of Saskatchewan, Jordan Murray of UNB, Geoff Schemitsch of Acadia and Derek Sheppard of York.
Murray, who was named the AUS nominee for last season's BLG Award as Male Athlete of the Year, ranks first in scoring by defencemen with nine goals and 28 points in 18 games this season.
McFaull and Schemitsch are both former NHL draft picks. McFaull was selected by Atlanta in the sixth round in 2010 (155th overall) after skating for Moose Jaw in the OHL, while Schemitsch was chosen by Tampa Bay in the fourth round in 2010 (96th overall) after five OHL seasons with Owen Sound and Oshawa.
The 12 forwards selected are Guillaume Asselin of UQTR, Holden Cook of StFX, Jamie Crooks of Alberta, Jordan DePape of Manitoba, Michael Fine of Ryerson, Olivier Hinse of Concordia, Philippe Maillet of UNB, Michael McNamee of Carleton, Elgin Pearce of Calgary, Mathieu Pompei of McGill, Allain Saulnier of Moncton and Brett Welychka of Carleton.
Saulnier, who spent four seasons in the QMJHL with Moncton, recorded a U Sports-leading 33 points in 18 games during the first half of the regular season.
Asselin, who starred in the QMJHL with Montreal and Chicoutimi, was voted U Sports player of the year in 2015-16 playing for UQTR. The former Juniors and Saguenéens forward has 12 goals in 10 games for the Patriotes.
U SPORTS ROSTER
No. Name University Hometown HT WT Age Elig.
Goaltenders
30 Kevin Bailie* Queen's Belleville, Ont. 6'3" 195 24 4
1 Corbin Boes* Dalhousie Saskatoon, Sask . 6'3" 224 23 3
29 Jordon Cooke* Saskatchewan Leduc, Alta. 5'10" 180 23 3
Defencemen
9 Spencer Abraham* Queen's Campbellville, Ont. 5'10" 178 23 3
5 Tim Campbell* Lethbridge Thornhill, Ont. 6'1" 195 25 5
15 Nathan Chiarlitti McGill Maple, Ont. 5'11" 190 24 4
22 Martin Lefebvre* UQTR Terrebonne, Que. 5'11" 185 24 4
2 Kendall McFaull Saskatchewan Rosetown, Sask. 6'3" 210 24 4
4 Jordan Murray* UNB Riverview, N.B. 6'1" 205 23 4
3 Geoff Schemitsch Acadia Thornhill, Ont. 6'2" 195 24 4
6 Derek Sheppard York Ajax, Ont. 6'1" 215 22 3
Forwards
11 Guillaume Asselin* UQTR Quebec City, Que. 5'11" 195 24 4
14 Holden Cook StFX Oshawa, Ont. 6'0" 180 22 2
10 Jamie Crooks Alberta Vermilion, Alta. 5'11" 181 24 4
19 Jordan DePape* Manitoba Winnipeg, Man. 6'0" 190 24 4
20 Michael Fine** Ryerson Toronto, Ont. 6'0" 201 25 5
18 Olivier Hinse* Concordia Sherbrooke, Que. 6'2" 217 25 5
16 Philippe Maillet UNB Terrebonne, Que. 5'10" 190 24 4
12 Michael McNamee* Carleton Perth, Ont. 6'2" 197 24 4
7 Elgin Pearce Calgary Port Coquitlam, B.C. 6'0" 175 24 4
21 Mathieu Pompei McGill Laval, Que. 5'7" 166 25 5
8 Allain Saulnier Moncton Cap-Pelé, N.B. 5'11" 180 24 4
17 Brett Welychka Carleton London, Ont. 5'10" 188 22 2
*Returning player from 2015
**Fine played for the CIS Toronto Selects (Ryerson, Toronto, & York All-Stars) in the 2014 event
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Brett Gibson (Queen's University)
Assistant Coach: Mark Howell (University of Calgary)
Assistant Coach: Marc-Etienne Hubert (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)
Assistant Coach: Brad Peddle (St. Francis Xavier University)
Trainer: James Sawchuk (Queen's University)
Equipment Manager: Trevor Black (University of Waterloo)
Equipment Manager: Jean Huynh (McGill University)
CHL EXPERIENCE
Goaltenders
Kevin Bailie Oshawa (2008-09 / 2011-12), London (2012-13)
Corbin Boes Brandon (2010-11 / 2012-13), Lethbridge (2013-14), Portland (2013-14)
Jordon Cooke Kelowna (2010-11 / 2013-14)
Defencemen
Spencer Abraham Brampton (2010-11 / 2012-13), Erie (2012-13 / 2013-14)
Tim Campbell Guelph (2008-09 / 2010-11)
Nathan Chiarlitti Sarnia (2008-09 / 2011-12), Owen Sound (2012-13)
Martin Lefebvre Quebec (2008-09 / 2012-13)
Kendall McFaull Moose Jaw (2009-10 / 2012-13)
Jordan Murray Acadie-Bathurst (2010-11 / 2011-12), Drummondville (2012-13)
Geoff Schemitsch Owen Sound (2009-10 / 2011-12), Oshawa (2011-12 / 2012-13)
Derek Sheppard Gatineau (2012-13 / 2013-14)
Forwards
Guillaume Asselin Montreal (2008-09 / 2009-10), Chicoutimi (2010-11 / 2012-13)
Holden Cook Owen Sound (2010-11 / 2014-15)
Jamie Crooks Saskatoon (08-09 / 09-10), Chilliwack (09-10 / 10-11), Victoria (11-12 / 12-13)
Jordan DePape Brandon (2009-10), Kamloops (2009-10 / 2012-13), Red Deer (2012-13)
Michael Fine Sault St. Marie (07-08 / 09-10), Kingston (09-10 / 10-11), Saginaw (2011-12)
Olivier Hinse Victo. (08-09 / 09-10), Que. (09-10 / 11-12), Sherb. (11-12), B.-Boisbriand (11-12)
Philippe Maillet Victoriaville (2009-10 / 2012-13)
Michael McNamee Quebec (2011-12), Sherbrooke (2012-13)
Elgin Pearce Kootenay (2009-10 / 2012-13), Medicine Hat (2012-13)
Mathieu Pompei (MJAHL product – Yarmouth Mariners)
Allain Saulnier Moncton (2009-10 / 2012-13)
Brett Welychka London (2010-11 / 2014-15), Belleville (2014-15)
Historical Results – U Sports/CIS All-stars vs. Canadian World Junior prospects
U Sports/CIS national all-star team
2016 Boisbriand, Que. U Sports All-Stars vs. Canada NJT (two-game series)
2015 Toronto Game 1: CIS All-Stars 5, Canada NJT 4 (SO)
Game 2: Canada NJT 5, CIS All-Stars 0
CIS Selects (schools & conferences)
2014 Toronto Game 1: Canada NJT 10, CIS Toronto Selects (Ryerson/Toronto/York) 3
Game 2: Canada NJT 3, CIS Toronto Selects 0
2013 Toronto CIS Toronto Selects 3, Canada NJT 0
2012 Calgary Game 1: Alberta 4, Canada NJT 1
Game 2: Canada NJT 2, Canada West Selects (Alberta/Calgary/ Lethbridge/Mt. Royal) 0
2011 Calgary Canada NJT 7, Canada West Selects (Calgary/Lethbridge) 4
2010 Toronto Canada NJT 6, OUA All-Stars 2
2009 Regina CIS Saskatchewan All-Stars (Regina/Saskatchewan) 4, Canada NJT 2