Around the CHL ~ volume #1 preview edition #4

Check out the recap of what happened last season. Hope you enjoyed my posts last season. Keep reading and don't be afraid to ask me anything about my blog.

here are last year's leaders:
Division champions 2015-16
WHL - Victoria Royals (B.C.) 72 games played, 50-16-3-3 record, 106 points, 281 goals for/166 goals against; Brandon Wheat Kings (East) 72 games played, 48-18-4-2 record, 102 points, 319 goals for/197 goals against; Lethbridge Hurricanes (Central) 72 games played, 46-24-1-1 record, 94 points, 304 goals for/218 goals against; Seattle Thunderbirds (U.S.) 72 games played, 45-23-4-0 record, 94 points, 228 goals for/186 goals against
OHL - Erie Otters (Midwest) 68 games played, 52-15-1-0 record, 105 points, 269 goals for/183 goals against; Kingston Fronteancs (East) 68 games played, 46-17-3-2 record, 97 points, 252 goals for/189 goals against; Sarnia Sting (West) 68 games played, 42-19-5-2 record, 91 points, 254 goals for/192 goals against; Barrie Colts (Central) 68 games played, 43-22-0-3 record, 89 points, 295 goals for/207 goals against
QMJHL - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (West) 68 games played, 54-9-3-2 record, 113 points, 302 goals for/181 goals against; Shawinigan Cataractes (East) 68 games played, 44-19-4-1 record, 93 points, 281 goals for/220 goals against; Saint John Sea Dogs (Maritimes) 68 games played, 42-20-6-0 record, 90 points, 258 goals for/222 goals against

League championships 2016
President's Cup - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. Shawinigan Cataractes (Huskies won series 4 games to 1 game)
J. Ross Robertson Cup - London Knights vs. Niagara IceDogs (Knights won series 4 games to 0 games)
Ed Chynoweth Cup - Brandon Wheat Kings vs. Seattle Thunderbirds (Wheat Kings won series 4 games to 1 game)

Memorial Cup 2016
Teams ~ Brandon (WHL champion), London (OHL champion), Red Deer (Hosts), and Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL champion)

Final May 29, 2016 London vs. Rouyn-Noranda 3-2 OT

LONDON KNIGHTS WIN 2015 MEMORIAL CUP!!!


London will look to repeat as Memorial Cup champions. The Windsor Spitfires will be hosting the national championship tournament next May. The 2017 CHL/NHL BMO Top Prospects game will be hosted by the Quebec Remparts on January 26.

Top Herd

The regular season is over, I will be awarding my overall Top herd player award. This season I asked you, my readers to vote who you thought should get the award and the poll has closed. Thanks for make this the most voted poll. 

And the winner is....

Philippe Gadoury

In his sophomore season, Philippe Gadoury had an awesome year. Gadoury was a little bit less than a point per game this season collecting 57 points in 59 games. He ended 4th in team scoring with 28 goals. 

Here is the list of my Top Herd that I have done this season. I didn't name one every game.

Sept 19    Moncton - Kevin Resop

Sept 20    Saint John - Timo Meier

Sept 26    Chicoutimi - Philippe Gadoury

Oct 2        Rouyn-Noranda - Zach Fucale

Oct 5        Val-d'Or - Danny Moynihan

Oct 10      Charlottetown - Zach Fucale

Oct 17      Cape Breton - Nikolaj Ehlers

Oct 29      Charlottetown - Timo Meier

Nov 1       Moncton - Philippe Gadoury

Nov 7       Saint John - Kelly Bent

Nov 12     Acadie-Bathurst - Nikolaj Ehlers

Nov 14     Cape Breton - Zach Fucale

Nov 22     Rimouski - Sam Leblanc

Nov 23     Moncton - Kelly Bent

Dec 5        Charlottetown - Brett Crossley

Dec 11      Quebec - Matt Murphy

Dec 31      Charlottetown - Danny Moynihan

Jan 9         Gatineau - Timo Meier

Jan 15       Drummondville - Nikolaj Ehlers

Jan 30       Cape Breton - Kevin Resop

Feb 5        Sherbrooke - Ryan Falkenham

Feb 13      Shawinigan - Taylor Ford

Feb 14      Cape Breton - Maxime Fortier

Mar 4        Acadie-Bathurst - Sam Hunter

Here are the final poll results
Danny Moynihan - 16%, Kevin Resop - 4%, Timo Meier - 7%, Nikolaj Ehlers - 0%, Kelly Bent - 1%, Phil Gadoury - 69%

Top 7 Games You Gotta Be At

We're less than a week away from the beginning of the regular season, lets take a look at the top 7, in my opinion, games that you should be at the Scotiabank Centre for.

#7   March 21, 2015
vs. Saint John Sea Dogs - 4pm
The last game of the season will be played against the Dogs. This could be any kind of game; one where Halifax is fighting for a playoff spot, or just a game to clean up some problems before the big test begins in the playoffs. It'll also be fan appreciation day!!

#6   October 5, 2014
vs. Val-d'Or Foreurs - 4pm
A Sunday afternoon rematch against the team that kicked the Mooseheads out of the 2014 playodd back in April. It could also be the first contest between these two teams that we don't see a Mantha/Drouin battle.

#6   January 9, 2015
vs. Gatineau Olympiqus - 7pm
The annual Teddy Bear Toss game is a great way to donate stuffed animals to kids who are not as fortuante and to see your Mooseheads take on another Quebec team that only comes to Moose Country once a year.

#5   December 31, 2014
vs. Charlottetown Islanders - 2pm
Before you go out and party to celebrate the end of the year, come watch the last Mooseheads game of 2014 as Halifax takes on the Islanders in a New Years Eve matinee.

#4   November 7, 2014
vs. Saint John Sea Dogs - 7pm
Last year it was the Moncton Wildcats that we saw a lot of during the annal events, this season it's Saint John. This one will be a night where we celebrate our Canadian Forces veterans as the boys will wear special Navy themed jerseys that will be auctioned off.

#3   October 10, 2014
vs. Charlottetown Islanders - 7pm
The 7th annual Pink in the Rink will be played on this date. The Scotiabank Centre will be a sea of pink during the third home game of October and it's all to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Society and research to find a cure for breast cancer. Make sure you wear pink.

#2   September 20, 2014
vs. Saint John Sea Dogs - 7pm
After the preseason competitions between these two teams and the Kelly Bent signing, this should be a very physical and exciting game. Saint John will most likely be our biggest rivals this season after Cape Breton.

#1 September 19, 2014
vs. Moncton Wildcats - 7pm
It's the home opener of course it would be on this list. This game will feature a few players who won't be here all year long but it should be fantastic and it's against the Wildcats which are always very interesting tough contests.

Note: times are subject to change without notice, check the blog for pregame previews for the offical times.

Roster Announced.

YOUR 2014-15 HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS

5  Cavan Fitzgerald  D  (Lingan, NS)
6  Josh Fitzgerald  D  (Gander, NL)*
9  Jean-Sebastien Taillefer  D  (Les Coteaux, QC)*
10  Jesse Lussier  D  (Ottawa, ON)
11  Morgan Nauss  D  (Hammonds Plains, NS)*
12  Danny Moynihan  C  (Windham, NH, USA)
16  Vincent Watt  LW  (Pointe Claire, QC)
17  Brett Crossley  C  (Dartmouth, NS)*
19  Ryan Falkenham  RW  (Halifax, NS)
23  Jordan King  RW  (Corner Brook, NL)*
24  Nikolaj Ehlers  LW  (Aalborg, Denmark)
26  Taylor Ford  D  (Dorval, QC)*
28  Philippe Gadoury  C  (Greenfield Park, QC)
31  Zach Fucale  G  (Rosemere, QC)
32  Andrew Shewfelt  RW  (Dartmouth, NS)
34  Kelly Bent  C  (Halifax, NS)
40  Kevin Resop  G  (St. Petersburg, FLA, USA)*
41  Maxime Fortier  RW  (Lachine, QC)
44  Matt Murphy  D  (Fredericton, NB)
49  Brandon Vuic  LW  (Watertown, ON)
51  Samuel Leblanc  C  (Moncton, NB)
71  Connor Moynihan  LW  (Windham, NH, USA)
88  Austyn Hardie  D  (Hemmingford, QC)
96  Timo Meier  RW  (Herisau, Switzerland)

*indicates rookie

Events

The QMJHL released the regular season schedule a few months ago and this year is a little bit different if you noticed. There are two home and home series between the Nova Scotia teams but neither are in December after Christmas which means no Battle of Nova Scotia events. Talking about December, there will be a New Year's Eve game for the first time in years.

Here are the annual events that are happening for the 2014-15 season:

HOME OPENER - September 19 vs. Moncton Wildcats

Pink in the Rink 7 - October 10 vs. Charlottetown Islanders

DND Appreciation Night - November 7 vs. Saint John Sea Dogs

Teddy Bear Toss - January 9 vs. Gatineau Olympiques
Fan Appreciation Night/Season finale - March 21 vs. Saint John Sea Dogs

Mooseheads Release Schedule

The Halifax Mooseheads have released their schedule for the 2014-15 season.

Halifax will once again look a bit different when the season begins, how fully different we don't know yet but there will be at least 5, possibly 6, people who won a cup that will not be on the team. Luca Ciampini should make the Drakkar team and the first time the Moose fans will see him is January 31 and than they visit Baie-Comeau on February 27. Andrew Ryan and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan will welcome the Herd in the season opener while the home fans will have to wait until November 12 to welcome Ryan back to Halifax.

• The home opener will be on September 19th against the Moncton Wildcats.
• Halifax will have a rematch against the team that booted them in the 2014 playoffs on October 5, in the only time the Val-d'Or Foreurs come to Moose Country.
• It looks like the after Christmas Battle of Nova Scotia series is not happening this year, the only home and home that the two Nova Scotian teams have against each is in November so Cape Breton and Halifax will probably wear the blue jerseys that weekend. 
• For the first time the Mooseheads will play on New Year's Eve as one of 9 games, against the Charlottetown Islanders on the Wednesday afternoon at 3pm.  
• The Herd will finish the season at home versus the Saint John Sea Dogs on March 21

The Mooseheads haven't released their preseason schedule yet but it should come in the next couple weeks. Training camp will start in the middle of August, check back here for coverage during training camp.

CHL names Subway Series hosts

The Canadian Hockey League has announced the hosts for the 2014 Subway Series which will be held in 6 cities over ten days in the middle of November.

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with SUBWAY® Restaurants along with the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced five of the six Canadian host centres for the 2014 SUBWAY® Super Series to be played November 10-20, 2014.

The six-game series, which features regional teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team, opens for the first time with two games hosted by the WHL beginning in Saskatoon, SK, home of the Blades, on Monday November 10, with the second WHL host site for Game 2 on Tuesday November 11 still to be determined.  The series shifts to the OHL who will maintain the middle leg of the series with Game 3 to be hosted by the Peterborough Petes on Thursday November 13, followed by Game 4 hosted by the Kingston Frontenacs on Monday November 17.  For the first time next season the competition will end in the QMJHL with Game 5 hosted by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Tuesday November 18, followed by the Game 6 series finale to be hosted by the Rimouski Oceanic on Thursday November 20.

“On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League we look forward to bringing the SUBWAY® Super Series to CHL communities for the 12^th straight season next November,” said CHL President David Branch.  “The CHL would like to thank title sponsor SUBWAY® Restaurants and partner Hockey Canada for their continued support as well as broadcast partners Sportsnet and TVA Sports as we showcase many of the league’s best players to CHL fans across the country in advance of the World Junior Championship hosted by Montreal and Toronto.”

The SUBWAY® Super Series has been an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada for the past 11 years prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.  In each of the last four seasons the series has been decided in the final game with the CHL emerging victorious for the ninth time in 2013 winning by a 10-8 margin in points.  Team Canada also faced Russia for the fourth straight time at the World Junior Championship this season in Malmo, Sweden, with Russia earning the bronze medal with a 2-1 victory over Canada.  Russia’s roster featured 10 players from the 2013 SUBWAY® Super Series along with Mikhail Grigorenko who participated in the event in 2011 and 2012, while Canada’s roster included 21 players from last year’s series along with Mathew Dumba who also played for Team WHL in 2011 and 2012.

“For the sixth year running, SUBWAY® Restaurants  will join hockey fans across Canada in cheering on our country’s top major junior players,” said Kathleen Bell, Director of National Marketing, SUBWAY® Restaurants of Canada. “As the Official Training Restaurant of the CHL, we are delighted to lend our support to the SUBWAY® Super Series and continue to fuel CHL fans and athletes across the country.”

2014 will mark the first time that Kingston and Acadie-Bathurst will host a SUBWAY® Super Series contest.  Rimouski hosted in the first year of competition back in 2003 with Oceanic star Sidney Crosby earning player of the game honours with three assists for Team QMJHL in the 6-3 victory.  Peterborough and Saskatoon both hosted the event in 2005 with a pair of hometown heroes leading their respective leagues to victory.  The Petes’ Liam Reddox scored two goals as player of the game in a 5-1 OHL win, and the Blades’ Devin Setoguchi scored a hat-trick as player of the game for Team WHL in the 9-2 triumph.

All six games of the SUBWAY ® Super Series will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.  The 2014 SUBWAY® Super Series is supported by CHL associate sponsors Bank of Montreal and Old Dutch.

2014 SUBWAY® Super Series Schedule of Games:
Game 1 – Monday November 10 at Saskatoon, SK
Game 2 – Tuesday November 11 at TBD
Game 3 – Thursday November 13 at Peterborough, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 17 at Kingston, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday November 18 at Bathurst, NB
Game 6 – Thursday November 20 at Rimouski, QC

For more information please visit www.subwaysuperseries.ca.


Source: http://www.subwaysuperseries.ca/article/chl-announces-2014-subway-super-series-hosts

Check back here later in the summer and the first few months of next season when more Subway Series news will come your way. Will we see another Moosehead player named to a team for the fourth straight year or will the streak end? Well we will have to wait. Congratulations to all the host cities named especially the Quebec league teams; Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Rimouski Oceanic.