Pufahl named to CIS roster for series vs Jr. Team Canada
OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport unveiled Monday its roster for a two-game exhibition series between CIS men’s hockey all-stars and Canada’s National Junior Team prospects in two weeks. Acadia defenseman Matt Pufahl was one of six AUS players named to the CIS All-Star roster.
The two-game set, which was announced earlier this month, will take place at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. EST and Sunday, Dec. 13 at noon EST as part of the National Junior Team’s preparation for the 40th IIHF World Junior Championship in Finland (Dec. 26 – Jan. 5).
The 23-player CIS lineup – including 20 with CHL experience – is comprised of 11 standouts from the OUA conference and six apiece from the AUS and Canada West leagues.
Highlighting the university squad are two members of the reigning two-time University Cup champion Alberta Golden Bears, a pair of former NHL draft picks, as well as the current CIS leaders in scoring, goals and goaltending.
“I know I speak on behalf of our entire coaching staff when I say we’re very pleased with the makeup of this team,” said head coach Shawn Camp from the University of Guelph, who will be accompanied behind the bench by assistant coaches Darren Burns from Acadia, Brett Gibson from Queen’s and Mike Sirant from Manitoba. “In order to compete with the National Junior Team we need to have players who have speed, skill and mobility, and we certainly have that when you look at the individuals on this roster. We know these guys will compete hard and play with composure.”
Protecting the CIS net in Toronto will be goaltenders Kevin Bailie from Queen’s, Corbin Boes from Dalhousie and Jordon Cooke from Saskatchewan.
Bailie, a former CIS rookie of the year who played five OHL seasons with Oshawa and London, currently leads the nation in goals against average (1.79) and save percentage (.946) in nine conference games with the Gaels.
On defence, the eight-member unit includes Spencer Abraham of Queen’s, Kenny Bradford of Windsor, Tim Campbell of Lethbridge, Samuel Labrecque of McGill, Martin Lefebvre of UQTR, Jordan Murray of UNB, Matthew Pufahl of Acadia and Jordan Rowley of Alberta.
Labrecque, in his second season with the Redmen after transferring from Clarkson (NCAA), leads all CIS skaters after 16 league games with a whopping 29 points (13-16-29) and nine power-play markers.
The 12 forwards selected are Guillaume Asselin of UQTR, Colin Behenna of Waterloo, Jordan DePape of Manitoba, Tyler Fiddler of Mount Royal, Liam Heelis of McGill, Olivier Hinse of Concordia, Eric Locke of St. Francis Xavier, Stephen MacAulay of Saint Mary’s, Chris Maniccia of Brock, Michael McNamee of Carleton, Kruise Reddick of Alberta, as well as Alex Saulnier of Moncton.
Asselin, who spent five campaigns in the QMJHL with Montreal and Chicoutimi, has a CIS-leading 15 goals in 16 OUA contests this fall, including a trio of game-winners.
Locke and MacAulay are both former NHL draft picks. The former was selected by Buffalo in the seventh round in 2013 (189th overall) after skating for Windsor, Barrie and Saginaw in the OHL, while the latter was chosen by St. Louis in the sixth round in 2010 (164th overall) after five QMJHL seasons with Saint John and Halifax.
NOTE: Hockey Canada will announce the lineup of players invited to the National Junior Team selection camp on Dec. 1.
CIS ROSTER
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Name                          University      Hometown                 HT      WT     Age     CIS Eligibility
Goaltenders
Kevin Bailie                 Queen’s          Belleville, Ont.             6-3      190     23       3
Corbin Boes                Dalhousie       Saskatoon, Sask.         6-3      224     22       2
Jordon Cooke             Saskatchewan Leduc, Alta.                5-10    185     22       2
Defencemen
Spencer Abraham       Queen’s           Campbellville, Ont.     5-10    172     22       2
Kenny Bradford           Windsor          St. Catharines, Ont.    6-2      225     24       4
Tim Campbell              Lethbridge      Thornhill, Ont.             6-1      195     24       4
Samuel Labrecque      McGill               Granby, Que.              5-6      182     23       5
Martin Lefebvre           UQTR              Terrebonne, Que.        5-11    193     23       3
Jordan Murray             UNB                Riverview, N.B.             6-1      205     22       3
Matthew Pufahl         Acadia            Saskatoon, Sask.         6-2      208     22       2
Jordan Rowley             Alberta            Edmonton, Alta.          6-0      185     25       5
Forwards
Guillaume Asselin       UQTR              Quebec City, Que.       5-11    194     23       3
Colin Behenna           Waterloo         Waterloo, Ont.            5-8      170     24       4
Jordan DePape         Manitoba         Winnipeg, Man.          6-0      190     23       3
Tyler Fiddler               Mount Royal    Prince Albert, Sask.     5-11    185     25       5
Liam Heelis                McGill               Georgetown, Ont.       6-0      197     25       5
Olivier Hinse              Concordia        Sherbrooke, Que.        6-2      220     24       4
Eric Locke                  StFX                Toronto, Ont.               5-10    185     22       2
Stephen MacAulay     Saint Mary’s    Cole Harbour, N.S.       6-2      185     23       3
Chris Maniccia            Brock              St. Catharines, Ont.     5-11    190     21       3
Michael McNamee      Carleton          Perth, Ont.                  6-2      191     23       3
Kruise Reddick           Alberta            Manor, Sask.               5-9      185     25       5
Alex Saulnier              Moncton          Moncton, N.B.             5-11    191     23       3
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Shawn Camp (University of Guelph)
Assistant Coach: Darren Burns (Acadia University)
Assistant Coach: Brett Gibson (Queen’s University)
Assistant Coach: Mike Sirant (University of Manitoba)
CHL EXPERIENCE
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Goaltenders
Kevin Bailie                Oshawa (2008-09 / 2011-12), London (2012-13)
Corbin Boes               Brandon (2010-11 / 2012-13), Lethbridge (2013-14), Portland (2013-14)
Jordon Cooke             Kelowna (2010-11 / 2013-14)
Defencemen
Spencer Abraham       Brampton (2010-11 / 2012-13), Erie (2012-13 / 2013-14)
Kenny Bradford           (GOJHL product)
Tim Campbell              Guelph (2008-09 / 2010-11)
Samuel Labrecque      (NCAA transfer)
Martin Lefebvre          Quebec (2008-09 / 2012-13)
Jordan Murray            Acadie-Bathurst (2010-11 / 2011-12), Drummondville (2012-13)
Matthew Pufahl          Red Deer (2010-11 / 2011-12), Saskatoon (2011-12 / 2012-13), Everett (2013-14)
Jordan Rowley            Kamloops (2005-06 / 2008-09), Prince Albert (2008-09 / 2010-11)
Forwards
Guillaume Asselin       Montreal (2008-09 / 2009-10), Chicoutimi (2010-11 / 2012-13)
Colin Behenna            Barrie (2008-09 / 2011-12)
Jordan DePape           Brandon (2009-10), Kamloops (2009-10 / 2012-13), Red Deer (2012-13)
Tyler Fiddler               Calgary (2007-08 / 2010-11)
Liam Heelis                 Peterborough (2006-07 / 2009-10), Owen Sound (2010-11)
Olivier Hinse               Victo. (08-09 / 09-10), Que. (09-10 / 11-12), Sherb. (11-12), B.-Boisbriand (11-12)
Eric Locke                   Windsor (2010-11), Barrie (2010-11 / 2011-12), Saginaw (2011-12 / 2013-14)
Stephen MacAulay     Saint John (2008-09 / 2012-13), Halifax (2012-13)
Chris Maniccia             (NCAA transfer)
Michael McNamee       Quebec (2011-12), Sherbrooke (2012-13)
Kruise Reddick            Tri-City (2006-07 / 2010-11)
Alex Saulnier              Moncton (2009-10 / 2012-13)