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 40^th 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 (189^th 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 (164^th 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

 

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

 

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)