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Langley hosts Canada-Russia junior hockey match up this fall

Vancouver Giants were invited to host one of six games in the series at the Langley Events Centre.
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Langley will host one of six games in the 2018 Canada-Russia series this fall.

Vancouver Giants have been invited to host game two of the series, which runs Nov. 5 to 15.

The local game, being held at the Langley Events Centre, will happen on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The last time this game was held in the Lower Mainland was 2012.

The Canadian Hockey League in association with title partner CIBC, the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), today announced the six Canadian host cities for the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

The six-game series features regional league teams of Canadian national junior team candidates competing against the Russian national junior team and is an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, said CHL President David Branch.

The 2018 event will open with two games in the WHL, followed by two OHL matchups, and ending with a pair of contests hosted by the QMJHL.

Next season’s event begins in B.C. with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants hosting games one and two, respectively.

“Over the past 15 years we’ve seen the Canada and Russia rivalry ignite passion in CHL communities across our great country,” said Branch.

“This is truly a special event that showcases many of our league’s best players and future Canadian national junior team stars who will compete to defend gold on home soil at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria.”

Since the event first began in 2003, CHL teams have played to an overall record of 61-22-1-6 and have won 12 of the 15 series including three straight.

The competitiveness of the rivalry has grown in recent years, with five of the last eight series decided in the final game including last season where a shootout was required to decide the overall winner for the first time in event history.

A total of 36 players from last season’s event competed in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo including 17 CHL players who won gold for Canada.

“The Canada-Russia rivalry is legendary and Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast will be cheering on our Canadian teams as they take in the action for this iconic showdown,” said Stephen Forbes, CIBC’s banking centre executive vice president.

“We congratulate the six host cities of the 2018 CIBC Canada-Russia series, and we look forward to celebrating with our clients and employees in these communities, as we support the next generation of hockey talent through our partnership with the CHL.”

All six cities selected for games in 2018 have previously hosted this event including Kamloops, Sarnia, and Drummondville – who will tie Sudbury’s CHL record with their fourth game.

Kamloops first hosted in 2006 with Team WHL skating to an 8-1 win, then in 2010 with Russia earning a 7-6 shootout win, and most recently in 2015 with Team WHL winning Game 2 of the series by a 4-2 score.

Sarnia hosted a 4-0 win for Team OHL in 2003, a 5-0 OHL win in 2006, and a 2-1 OHL victory in 2012.

Drummondville’s past three games include 2005 where Team QMJHL defeated Russia 7-4, 2009, where the QMJHL won 3-1, and most recently in 2010 won 4-3 by Russia.

Oshawa has hosted twice before including 2006 where Team OHL won by a 4-3 score, and in 2013 with Team Russia skating to a 5-2 win.

The other two clubs have hosted once with Vancouver’s game resulting in a 1-0 shootout win for Team WHL in 2012, and Sherbrooke’s event featuring a 4-3 win for Team QMJHL in 2013.

The Vancouver Giants will release ticket details for game two in the weeks to come.

For event information, people can go online.