Team Russia Roster Announced for 2012 SUBWAY® Super Series

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the roster for Team Russia that will compete in the 2012 SUBWAY® Super Series which begins Monday November 5 in Blainville-Boisbriand, QC.

A team of 23 Russian players will make the trip to Canada for the duration of the six-game series including former Sarnia Sting forward Nail Yakupov who was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.  An additional five NHL drafted players are among this group including 2012 Tampa Bay first round pick goaltender Andrei Vasilevski, fellow Lightning prospect defenceman Nikita Nesterov, Chicago Blackhawks forward prospect Maxim Shalunov, Florida Panthers prospect Yaroslav Kosov, and Boston Bruins prospect and former Windsor Spitfire Alexander Khokhlachev.

Seven Russian-born CHL players will also compete in various games of the series including 2012 Buffalo Sabres first round pick Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts.  He will be joined by fellow QMJHL players Artem Sergeev, and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Anton Zlobin of the Val-d’Or Foreurs, along with 2013 NHL Entry Draft prospect Valentin Zykov of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.  In the OHL, Edmonton Oilers prospect Daniil Zharkov of the Belleville Bulls will participate along with London Knights defenceman and 2013 NHL Entry Draft prospect Nikita Zadorov.  Goaltender Andrey Markov of the Saskatoon Blades will be the lone WHL representative on the Russian roster.

The Russian roster features 16 players that competed in the Canada-Russia Challenge in August, with nine players having previous experience in the SUBWAY® Super Series.  10 players also competed in the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship on Russia’s silver medal-winning team that defeated Canada in the Semi-Finals played in Calgary, AB.  Former Soviet Hockey star Mikhail Varnakov is the club’s Head Coach.

The 2012 SUBWAY® Super Series will take place November 5 – 15 and marks the tenth straight year that teams of CHL All-Stars have competed against Team Russia in preparation for the World Junior Hockey Championship.  The SUBWAY® Super Series is an integral part of the evaluation process prior to Team Canada’s final selection camp in December.  This season, Canada will be competing for their 15^th straight medal at the 2013 tournament in Russia.

Team Russia (Club):
Italics represent played from the Canada-Russia Challenge
*played in 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship
^played in 2011 SUBWAY® Super Series

Goaltenders:
Igor Ustinski (Stalnye Lisy, Magnitogorsk)
Andrei Vasilevski (Tolpar, Ufa)*

Defencemen:
Alexei Vasilevski (Salavat Yulaev, Ufa)
Albert Yarullin (Ak Bars, Kazan)
Mikhail Naumenkov (CSKA)*^
Nikita Nesterov (Traktor, Chelyabinsk)*^
Andrei Mironov (HC Dinamo, Moscou)
Kirill Dyakov (Mamonty Yugry)
Yaroslav Dyblenko (Atlanty, Mytischi)
Pavel Koledov (Loko, Yaroslavl)
Ilya Lyubushkin (Loko, Yaroslavl)

Forwards:
Maxim Shalunov (Traktor, Chelyabinsk)*^
Nail Yakupov (Neftekhimik, Nizhnekamsk)*^
Evgeni Mozer (Omskie Yastreby, Omsk)
Andrei Sigarev (SKA, St. Petersbourg)
Anton Shenfeld (Stalnye Lisy, Magnitogorsk)
Vladimir Tkachev (Ak Bars, Kazan)
Valeri Nichushkin (Belye Medvedi, Chelyabinsk)
Damir Zhafyarov (Metallurg, Novokuznetsk)
Yaroslav Kosov (Mettalurg, Magnitogorsk)*
Alexander Khokhlachev (Spartak, Moscou)*^
Kirill Kapustin (Loko, Yaroslavl)
Bogdan Yakimov (Reaktor, Nizhnekamsk)

QMJHL Games:
Mikhail Grigorenko (Quebec Remparts)*^
Anton Zlobin (Val-d’Or Foreurs)^
Valentin Zykov (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)

Val-d’Or Game Only:
Artem Sergeev (Val-d’Or Foreurs)*^

Guelph Game Only:
Nikita Zadorov (London Knights)
Daniil Zharkov (Belleville Bulls)

WHL Games
Andrey Makarov (Saskatoon Blades)*^

Staff:
Head Coach – Mikhail Varnakov
Assistant Coach – Vyacheslav Ryanov
Assistant Coach – Vladislav Krutskikh
General Manager – Alexei Kochetkov
Doctor – Alexander Borodin
Physiotherapist – Artem Timofeev
Equipment Manager – Alexander Rezepov


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)