Canada-Russia series coming to P.E.I.

Charlottetown to host game in November

Charlottetown will host one of the six games in the CIBC Canada Russia Series in November.

The Canadian Hockey League made the announcement Wednesday. The local game will take place Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the Eastlink Centre.

Craig Foster, president of operations for the Charlottetown Islanders, said it was an honour to be considered to host the event.

“Being able to showcase our city and our province on national television is an exciting thing for everyone involved,” he said.

The six-game series sees the Russian junior team play allstar teams from each of the three leagues that make up the Canadian Hockey League. Each league host two games. The series starts in the Western Hockey League, moves to the Ontario Hockey League before finishing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The series concludes in Moncton on Nov. 16.

The CHL teams have a 5819-1-6 record since the series started in 2003.

Hockey Canada uses the event as an evaluation tool as it prepares to select the squad that will wear the Maple Leaf at the world junior championship.

Charlottetown Islanders captain Guillaume Brisebois played in the Canada Russia series the past two years.

“It’s really nice,” he said. “You’re playing with the best of the best in the league and it’s nice to play against the . . . players from Russia, too.”

He said fans can expect a fastpaced, skilled game with lots of talent being showcased.

“It’s an exciting game,” he said.

Islanders defenceman Nicolas Meloche and former Islanders goalie Mason McDonald have also played in the event.

“The players that are going to be here are going to be players that you’re going to be able watch on TV for a long time,” Foster said. Ticket prices have not been released, but Foster said a ticket to the game will be included as part of the season ticket package for the 2017-18 season. The ownership group that purchased the Islanders from the Savard family in 2013 has said it was interested in hosting events like the Canada Russia series as well as the QMJHL draft, which it did in June 2016.

“These are obviously things we’re looking to help bring to the city and province because it’s good for everyone involved,” Foster said.