Avenging Russia

Welcome back, Russia. We’ve missed you.

For the first time in a long time, the Canada-Russia rivalry is back at the forefront, and all it took was for the Russians to find a way to beat the Canadians. After losing to the Russians in the Subway Super Series, then again two months later in the gold-medal game of the world juniors, there won’t be any love lost when the series begins on Monday in Victoriaville, Que.

"You could say we’re seeking revenge for that loss in the Super Series," explains Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Calvin Pickard, who will represent the Western Hockey League in the final two games. "That leaves a bit of a rough taste in your mouth, but going back into it this year, we’re looking for redemption. I’m sure the CHL is going to put forward a good effort to win the series."

First up for the Russians are two games against the teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Canada’s eastern-most junior league has the poorest record in this competition against the Russians, having gone 9-6-1 in the tournament’s eight-year history.

The QMJHL players get the first crack at the Russians, something Moncton Wildcats defenceman Brandon Gormley considers an advantage.

"We get them when they’re fresh, and I think you want that," Gormley says. "It’s a good challenge for us."

With the exception of the tournament’s first year, in 2003, the Russians always begin in the QMJHL before heading west across the country, with two games each against teams from the Ontario Hockey League and the WHL.

Last year, the Russians won the series for the first time, going 4-1-1. Their only two losses came against the teams representing the OHL, who have the best historical performance among CHL teams with a perfect 16-0 record against the Russians.

The OHL’s undefeated streak nearly came to an end in the second game last year. Casey Cizikas tied the game 1-1 early in the third period with a shorthanded goal, bringing the game to a shootout, where Joey Hishon scored the decisive goal for the OHL.

"A couple guys were sitting on the bench saying, ‘Let’s try to keep this streak going,’ " recalls Niagara forward Ryan Strome, who was playing in his first Super Series game. "All the guys that played in these games before are going to take a lot of pride in that and definitely use it for motivation to try to keep that streak alive and not be the one to drop the ball."

"We didn’t want to be the first (OHL) team to lose," adds Mississauga goalie J.P. Anderson, who played half that game against the Russians.

The WHL lost both games last year, the first one in a wild, 7-6 shootout. It was the first time the Russians swept the WHL, and only the second time they beat the WHL, which holds a 13-2-1 record all-time in this competition.

"It could be a situation where we need to win both games, and that’s obviously something that our league wants to do," says Mark Stone, a veteran forward with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

For the first time since the Subway Super Series began in 2003, the Russians used the tour as an evaluation tool for their world junior team, much like the Canadians do every year. Sixteen of the 22 players who wound up winning gold for Russia at the world juniors last January played in the event.

"It was not a selection camp, but players understand that it is a chance for them to prove that they belong to the team for the world juniors," Russian head coach Valeri Bragin said before the gold-medal game. "That Super Series really helped us and the players."

Bragin and his troop are back, with nine Russian players currently playing in the CHL set to participate in various games. The Russians will have five players join their team for the first game against the OHL in Ottawa on Nov. 10. Among those will be Tampa Bay first-round pick and London Knights forward Vladislav Namestnikov and the consensus first pick in next summer’s NHL draft, Sarnia sniper Nail Yakupov.

Just as the Canadian players are competing against the Russians, they’re also competing against each other to some degree. League pride is also on the line each time the puck drops in the Subway Super Series.

"It’s important to win this year and to just show everybody (the Russians) are not better than us," says Phillip Danault, captain of the Victoriaville Tigres. "We need to show everybody we are as good as the OHL and WHL, too."

"You want your league to be the best," Pickard says. "We have the job to finish them off. There’s pressure -- it’s going to be decided usually in the last couple games -- and I think everybody likes the added pressure."

As each league prepares for their games against the Russians, the players won’t need much more motivation than to avenge previous losses against an old rival.

"It will always be a huge rivalry," Gormley said. "I know the Canadian players definitely love getting that opportunity."