Schemitsch named to U Sports All-star squad
Set to faceoff against Team Canada Jr hopefuls
TORONTO (U Sports) –U Sports unveiled Monday its roster for a two-game exhibition series between the U Sports men’s hockey all-stars and Canada’s National Junior Team prospects. Acadia’s Geoff Schemitsch will join the U Sports all-star squad. Last season, Axeman Matthew Pufahl was named to the team.
The two-game set, which was announced last month, will take place at the Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau, home of the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, on Monday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. ET and Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. ET as part of the National Junior Team’s preparation for the 41st IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal (Dec. 26 – Jan. 5).
The 23-player U Sports lineup – all but one with CHL experience – is comprised of 11 standouts from the OUA conference and six apiece from the AUS and Canada West leagues. Twelve of the 23 players have represented U Sports against the World Junior hopefuls in the past, including 11 returnees from last year’s inaugural national all-star squad which split the two-game series, winning the first game 5-4 in a shootout. The OUA contingent will look to make their case for a spot on the 2017 Winter Universiade roster, with head coach Brett Gibson also serving as the FISU Games bench boss.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for these 23 U Sports athletes from across the country to showcase how great of a product we have,” said Gibson. “It also comes with a great responsibility to be a small part of the preparation for our Canadian under-20 team in their quest for a gold medal.”
Protecting the U Sports net in Boisbriand will be goaltenders Kevin Bailie from Queen’s, Corbin Boes from Dalhousie and Jordon Cooke from Saskatchewan, who all suited up in last year’s event.
Boes, in his third season with the Tigers, leads the nation in save percentage (.933) while Cooke sits third in goals-against average (1.98) among goaltenders with at least 10 games played.
On defence, the eight-member unit includes Spencer Abraham of Queen’s, Tim Campbell of Lethbridge, Nathan Chiarlitti of McGill, Martin Lefebvre of UQTR, Kendall McFaull of Saskatchewan, Jordan Murray of UNB, Geoff Schemitsch of Acadia and Derek Sheppard of York.
Murray, who was named the AUS nominee for last season’s BLG Award as Male Athlete of the Year, ranks first in scoring by defencemen with nine goals and 28 points in 18 games this season.
McFaull and Schemitsch are both former NHL draft picks. McFaull was selected by Atlanta in the sixth round in 2010 (155th overall) after skating for Moose Jaw in the OHL, while Schemitsch was chosen by Tampa Bay in the fourth round in 2010 (96th overall) after five OHL seasons with Owen Sound and Oshawa.
The 12 forwards selected are Guillaume Asselin of UQTR, Holden Cook of StFX, Jamie Crooks of Alberta, Jordan DePape of Manitoba, Michael Fine of Ryerson, Olivier Hinse of Concordia, Philippe Maillet of UNB, Michael McNamee of Carleton, Elgin Pearce of Calgary, Mathieu Pompei of McGill, Allain Saulnier of Moncton and Brett Welychka of Carleton.
Saulnier, who spent four seasons in the QMJHL with Moncton, recorded a U Sports-leading 33 points in 18 games during the first half of the regular season.
Asselin, who starred in the QMJHL with Montreal and Chicoutimi, was voted U Sports player of the year in 2015-16 playing for UQTR. The former Juniors and Saguenéens forward has 12 goals in 10 games for the Patriotes.
U SPORTS ROSTER
No. Name / University / Hometown / HT / WT / Age / Elig.
Goaltenders
30 Kevin Bailie* / Queen’s / Belleville, Ont. / 6’3″ / 195 / 24 / 4
1 Corbin Boes* / Dalhousie / Saskatoon, Sask / 6’3″ / 224 / 23 / 3
29 Jordon Cooke* / Saskatchewan / Leduc, Alta. / 5’10” / 180 / 23 / 3
Defencemen
9 Spencer Abraham* / Queen’s / Campbellville, Ont. / 5’10” / 178 / 23 / 3
5 Tim Campbell* / Lethbridge / Thornhill, Ont. / 6’1″ / 195 / 25 / 5
15 Nathan Chiarlitti / McGill / Maple, Ont. / 5’11” / 190 / 24 / 4
22 Martin Lefebvre* / UQTR / Terrebonne, Que. / 5’11” / 185 / 24 / 4
2 Kendall McFaull / Saskatchewan / Rosetown, Sask. / 6’3″/ 210 / 24 / 4
4 Jordan Murray* / UNB / Riverview, N.B. / 6’1″ / 205 / 23 / 4
3 Geoff Schemitsch / Acadia / Thornhill, Ont. / 6’2″ / 195 / 24 / 4
6 Derek Sheppard / York / Ajax, Ont. / 6’1″/ 215 / 22 / 3
Forwards
11 Guillaume Asselin* / UQTR / Quebec City, Que. / 5’11” / 195 / 24 / 4
14 Holden Cook / StFX / Oshawa, Ont. / 6’0″ / 180 / 22 / 2
10 Jamie Crooks / Alberta / Vermilion, Alta. / 5’11” / 181 / 24 / 4
19 Jordan DePape* / Manitoba //Winnipeg, Man. / 6’0″ / 190 / 24 / 4
20 Michael Fine** / Ryerson / Toronto, Ont. / 6’0″ / 201 / 25 / 5
18 Olivier Hinse* / Concordia / Sherbrooke, Que. / 6’2″ / 217 / 25 / 5
16 Philippe Maillet / UNB / Terrebonne, Que. / 5’10” / 190 / 24 / 4
12 Michael McNamee* / Carleton / Perth, Ont. / 6’2″ / 197 / 24 / 4
7 Elgin Pearce / Calgary / Port Coquitlam, B.C. / 6’0″ / 175 / 24 / 4
21 Mathieu Pompei / McGill / Laval, Que. / 5’7″ / 166 /25 / 5
8 Allain Saulnier / Moncton / Cap-Pelé, N.B. / 5’11″/ 180 / 24 / 4
17 Brett Welychka / Carleton / London, Ont. / 5’10” / 188 / 22 / 2
*Returning player from 2015
**Fine played for the CIS Toronto Selects (Ryerson, Toronto, & York All-Stars) in the 2014 event
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Brett Gibson (Queen’s University)
Assistant Coach: Mark Howell (University of Calgary)
Assistant Coach: Marc-Etienne Hubert (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)
Assistant Coach: Brad Peddle (St. Francis Xavier University)
Trainer: James Sawchuk (Queen’s University)
Equipment Manager: Trevor Black (University of Waterloo)
Equipment Manager: Jean Huynh (McGill University)
CHL EXPERIENCE
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)
Tim Campbell Guelph (2008-09 / 2010-11)
Nathan Chiarlitti Sarnia (2008-09 / 2011-12), Owen Sound (2012-13)
Martin Lefebvre Quebec (2008-09 / 2012-13)
Kendall McFaull Moose Jaw (2009-10 / 2012-13)
Jordan Murray Acadie-Bathurst (2010-11 / 2011-12), Drummondville (2012-13)
Geoff Schemitsch Owen Sound (2009-10 / 2011-12), Oshawa (2011-12 / 2012-13)
Derek Sheppard Gatineau (2012-13 / 2013-14)
Forwards
Guillaume Asselin Montreal (2008-09 / 2009-10), Chicoutimi (2010-11 / 2012-13)
Holden Cook Owen Sound (2010-11 / 2014-15)
Jamie Crooks Saskatoon (08-09 / 09-10), Chilliwack (09-10 / 10-11), Victoria (11-12 / 12-13)
Jordan DePape Brandon (2009-10), Kamloops (2009-10 / 2012-13), Red Deer (2012-13)
Michael Fine Sault Ste. Marie (07-08 / 09-10), Kingston (09-10 / 10-11), Saginaw (11-12)
Olivier Hinse Victo. (08-09 / 09-10), Que. (09-10 / 11-12), Sherb. (11-12), B.-Boisbriand (11-12)
Philippe Maillet Victoriaville (2009-10 / 2012-13)
Michael McNamee Quebec (2011-12), Sherbrooke (2012-13)
Elgin Pearce Kootenay (2009-10 / 2012-13), Medicine Hat (2012-13)
Mathieu Pompei MJAHL product – Yarmouth Mariners
Allain Saulnier Moncton (2009-10 / 2012-13)
Brett Welychka London (2010-11 / 2014-15), Belleville (2014-15)
Historical Results – U Sports/CIS All-stars vs. Canadian World Junior prospects
U Sports/CIS national all-star team
2016 Boisbriand, Que. U Sports All-Stars vs. Canada NJT (two-game series)
2015 Toronto Game 1: CIS All-Stars 5, Canada NJT 4 (SO)
Game 2: Canada NJT 5, CIS All-Stars 0
CIS Selects (schools & conferences)
2014 Toronto Game 1: Canada NJT 10, CIS Toronto Selects (Ryerson/Toronto/York) 3
Game 2: Canada NJT 3, CIS Toronto Selects 0
2013 Toronto CIS Toronto Selects 3, Canada NJT 0
2012 Calgary Game 1: Alberta 4, Canada NJT 1
Game 2: Canada NJT 2,
Canada West Selects (Alberta/Calgary/ Lethbridge/Mt. Royal) 0
2011 Calgary Canada NJT 7, Canada West Selects (Calgary/Lethbridge) 4
2010 Toronto Canada NJT 6, OUA All-Stars 2
2009 Regina CIS Saskatchewan All-Stars (Regina/Saskatchewan) 4, Canada NJT 2
About Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada is the governing body for hockey in Canada and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with a membership through its 13 provincial branch associations of over 700,000 players, coaches and officials. Hockey Canada is a not-for-profit organization that creates leading-edge hockey development programs for its members to deliver in communities across Canada; provides consistent rules and regulations and various other membership services from coast to coast to coast; manages numerous regional, national, and international hockey championships and events; and leads the operation of all teams that represent Canada in international ice hockey competition. Hockey Canada’s mission is to “lead, develop and promote positive hockey experiences.” For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook and Twitter.
About U Sports
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