The Subway Super Series will start in the west and move east for the first time in the 12-year history of the event. Organizers thought travel for the Russians might be easier. The change should make the QMJHL happy. The league’s always felt it was getting the toughest portion of the schedule, with the Russians rested and fresh and Q players coming off a slate of weekend games.
Click here for ticket information on the Subway SuperSeries
Nothing really changes for the OHL, as it remains the middle stop on the three-league swing, but a lot is about to change for the WHL, which is 16-5-1 versus Russia over the years. Western teams now have to deal with rebounding from playing games through Saturday and a fresh (but traveled) Russian group. Beyond just the schedule change, the tournament continues its evolution.
Over the years, two major things have happened with this event. First, it’s become much more competitive. The Russians started sending over better teams in 2010. As a result, a series that was destined for the scrap heap has been revitalized, evoking memories of Canada-Russia rivalries past.
Second, the Subway Super Series has become one of the most important evaluation tools for Hockey Canada, which even has input into which players are invited. As a result, there are more watchful Hockey Canada eyes on this series than ever before, especially with last year’s inception of a country-wide management group.
Here’s everything you need to know about the WHL versus Russia games:
The Canadians
2014 World Junior Championship returnees
Sam Reinhart, C, Kootenay Ice (2nd, Buffalo in 2014)
Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders (13th, Winnipeg, 2013)
Nic Petan, Portland Winterhawks (43rd, Winnipeg, 2013)
Likely to earn an invite to 2015 WJC camp
Travis Sanheim, D, Calgary Hitmen (17th, Philadelphia, 2014) His meteoric rise to prominence will once again find this ninth-round bantam pick in the spotlight.
Tristan Jarry, G, Edmonton Oil Kings (44th, Pittsburgh, 2013) He will not only be invited to camp, but will don a Team Canada Jersey on Boxing Day. Maybe even as the starter.
Brayden Point, C, Moose Jaw Warriors> (79th, Tampa Bay, 2014) He will do no wrong, and go unnoticed until you check the score sheet.
Highest Drafted Players
Sam Reinhart, C, Kootenay Ice (2nd, Buffalo in 2014)
Jake Virtanen, LW, Calgary Hitmen (6th, Vancouver, 2014)
Haydn Fleury, D, Red Deer Rebels (7th, Carolina, 2014)
What to watch for
An aggressive, pace-pushing defensive core lead by Madison Bowey, Shea Theodore, Josh Morrissey and Joe Hicketts.
Responsible two-way play, especially at the centre ice position.
Solid goaltending led by Mastercard Memorial Cup Champion Jarry. Tri-City’s Eric Comrie also goes about his business like a pro.
Under the radar
Jayce Hawryluk, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (32nd, Florida, 2014) A prototypical pest who can also score. He should thrive in front of the home crowd Tuesday night.
Brayden Point, C, Moose Jaw Warriors, 79th, Tampa Bay, 2014) Not unlike Dana Tyrell or Tyler Ennis before him, the diminutive Point is a Hockey Canada favourite. He’s got great hockey IQ and is as slippery as a snake. All he does is put up points.
Tyson Baillie, C, Kelowna Rockets (undrafted) This is a huge proving ground for Kelowna’s sniper. If he can keep pace, he’ll be a force around the net.
Interesting story lines
1. The WHL had only Monday’s morning skate to find chemistry. Players competed with their club teams through Saturday and traveled Sunday.
2. How will centre Greg Chase (188th, Edmonton, 2013) perform after having left his Calgary Hitmen mates last week to await a trade?
3. Without a Blades player on the roster, will folks in Saskatoon come out to see former Blade Nikita Scherbak in a Russian jersey, or will attendance at the Credit Union Centre once again be an issue?
The Russians
Team Russia’s overall record is 19-46-3, but has improved significantly over the past four years to 14-9-1. Leading the change is that the Russian Hockey Federation has been challenged to send more competitive teams. But the CHL made it easier as well by moving the event to coincide with the IIHF-imposed international break. Now the Russians send over better players knowing their absences wouldn’t detract from their club teams.
This year, the strength of the Russian team starts in goal. Igor Shesterkin (118th, New York Rangers, 2014) wasn’t particularly effective in this series last year (0-2, 4.01), but after a strong 2013-14 season in the Russian junior league with JHC Spartak (26-12, 1.57, .945), the Rangers took a flier on him.
On the blueline, Calgary Flames prospect Rushan Rafikov (187th, 2013) leads a group of five who were all members of Russia’s summer camp team, which played against Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden in August. In the WHL games, the additions of Brandon’s Ivan Provorov and Kootenay’s Rinat Valiev add two more members who participated in the summer.
The most interesting (and without a doubt the most skilled) players on the Russian squad will join the team from various CHL clubs. Both the WHL and QMJHL have a strong contingent of Russian players. Almost all of them should be on Russia’s WJC roster.
Everett Silvertip Nikita Scherbak (26th, Montreal, 2014) has all-world talent. His teammate, Ivan Nikolishin (2015 eligible) is a skilled centre and the son of former NHLer Andrei Nikolishin. Brandon’s Ivan Provorov (2015 eligible) is an offensive defenceman with vast North American playing experience. Kootenay D-man Rinat Valiev (68th, Toronto, 2014) settled in nicely last year, but was late arriving on the scene in Kootenay this season.
When the series moves to the OHL, expect Sault Ste. Marie’s Sergei Tolchinsky (free agent, Carolina, 2013), to be a big piece of Russia’s offence. The status of Nikita Zadorov’s (16th, Buffalo, 2013) inclusion is shrouded in a blanket of old-school, Cold War secrecy. The Buffalo Sabres, London Knights, Russian Ice Hockey Federation and IIHF will all have a say before we know for sure if he’ll play. Blueliner Damir Sharipzyanov (undrafted) has played extremely well in Owen Sound this season.
The QMJHL Russian contingent is the strongest of the three leagues. The dynamic duo of Moncton’s Ivan Barbashev (33rd, St. Louis, 2014) and Vlad Tkachev (2015 eligible) are together again on the international stage. Baie-Comeau’s Valentin Zykov (37th, Los Angeles, 2013) is injured, but should be ready for the tournament. Cape Breton’s Evgeny Svechnikov (2015 eligible) has the talent to be an NHL first-rounder. And Cape Breton’s Max Lazarev (2015 eligible) has lit up in his second year in the Q.
Of the players traveling to North America, Pavel Kraskovsky (164th, Winnipeg, 2014) is highly skilled, while Konstantin Okulov is amongst the MHL’s top scorers. Danill Vovchenko is a sniper and Dave King has given high praise to winger Yegor Korshkov.
2014 World Junior Championship returnees
Ivan Barbashev, C, Moncton Wildcats (33rd, St. Louis, 2014)
*Valentin Zykov, LW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (37th, Los Angeles, 2013)
Nikita Zadorov, D, London Knights/Buffalo Sabres (16th, Buffalo, 2013)
*injured
Likely to earn an invite to 2015 WJC camp
Igor Shesterkin, G, St. Petersburk SKA (118th, New York Rangers, 2014)
Vladislav Tkachev, LW, Moncton Wildcats (eligible 2015)
Rushan Rafikov, D, HK Ryazan, (187th, Calgary, 2013)
Team Russia Highest Drafted Players
Nikita Zadorov, D, London Knights/Buffalo Sabres (16th, Buffalo, 2013)
Nikita Scherbak, RW, Everett Silvertips (26th, Montreal, 2014)
Ivan Barbashev, C, Moncton Wildcats (33rd, St. Louis, 2014)
What to watch for
An emphasis on playing a defensively sound game.
Keying in on various CHL stars and trying to take away their time and space by being very physical.
Using the “Us against the world” rallying cry as means to motivation.
Under the Radar
Ziat Paygin, D, (undrafted) AK Bars Kazan. He possesses great size and moves extremely well for a big man.
Vladislav Gavrikov, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, (eligible 2015). Difficult to play against and under Valery Bragin his style of play should perfectly mirror the coach’s message.
Andrey Alekseev, LW/C, HK MVD Jr., (undrafted) Small, shifty, crafty forward will likely bounce around the lineup through the series to accommodate the CHL insertions.
Interesting Storylines
1. Nikita Zadorov. Will he or won’t he. Seems to be more and more in-limbo everyday.
2. The schedule. What kind of impact will the west to east schedule have on Team Russia?
3. The addition of Des Moines Buccaneers’ left-winger Gerogy Gorodetsky (eligible 2015) for the OHL portion of the series. It’s the first time in my 10 years a Russian born player not currently on a CHL roster will get to suit up.
