Miles from Mistissini
Israel Mianscum left home to chase his hockey dreams at a very young age, leaning on his family and his heritage to see him through
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November 2, 2019
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Imagine you’re 11 years old. It’s autumn in a northern First Nations community in Quebec, the weather is turning crisp and your hockey talent has already outgrown the surrounding area.
When most kids were trying to figure out a costume for Halloween, Israel Mianscum was trying to navigate through a new way of life, 147 kilometres from home without family or friends and playing hockey in a league with kids a year older.
Understandably, it wasn’t easy. Avoiding homesickness was impossible, but his mother made a deal – one she honoured faithfully; the family would drive nearly two hours every weekend from its home in Mistissini, a Cree community of around 4,000 people, to culturally identical Ouje-Bougoumou to visit him weekly in the pursuit of his hockey dreams.
If the move wasn’t difficult enough to start, it was further complicated by the loss of two family members – a grandfather and an uncle that same October. At that point just barely into the transition, it could have been easy to acquiesce and return home.
But the touchstone of daily phone calls and frequent visits from family eased the change and five years later there are few shoulder checks.
“He struggled to stay put at first,” says Tiffany Neeposh, Mianscum’s mom. “We knew he really wanted to play hockey and I knew he would be more broken if he came home.
“We did everything we could for him to stay there. He got used to it after a while. It was quite a year for him. He’s so much stronger today living without us.”
Of course, the longing for home didn’t just dissipate after one season. In fact, it took a few years to truly adjust.
What always eased the original move away from Mistissini was the comfort of being around other players that spoke Cree.
And in Quebec, where French is the dominant language and English a distant second, being able to speak your own tongue created cultural stability and a soothing environment for a wistful teenager.
However, at 14 and a few more moves down the hockey road, Mianscum suddenly found himself isolated and miles away from his upbringing as a member of the Citadelles de Rouyn-Noranda, a Midget Espoir team in western Quebec.
“That was a hard year for me,” he says. “I was alone. There was nobody to talk to me in my language. It was tougher for me than at 11.”
To cope, there was nothing else to do but pour his mind and body deeper into hockey and continue to develop. The results were impressive. He posted 29 goals and 56 points in 29 games to lead the league in scoring and earn MVP honours, despite being one of the youngest players.
“Looking back on what I did to leave to play hockey kind of amazes me now,” says the six-foot-one, 192-pound centre. “I’m proud of myself. I’m not homesick now.”
He graduated to the Forestiers de Amos of the Ligue de hockey midget AAA du Québec last season and had another stellar offensive campaign with 21 goals and 35 points in 36 games.
Those numbers and other assets eventually attracted the attention of the Sherbrooke Phoenix, who selected Mianscum with the 10th pick of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft last summer.
“The draft was exciting,” he says. “It was really fun. It was the best day of my life so far. That’s probably one of the best moments for my family. It makes all the sacrifices worth it.”
Mianscum started skating at the age of two. He was a natural, but the early beginning was aided by the annual construction of a backyard rink at home under the guidance and assembly of his mother and father, Louie.
His ability to propel himself around the ice so early in life certainly made it easy for his parents to realize he was special. And his mother knew it was inevitable that he was going to have to leave home in order to pursue his hockey dreams.
“From the very beginning he was very competitive,” says Neeposh, a hockey player herself. “We knew from there he was going to be different. He was so determined. He was always on the rink doing extra stuff like shooting pucks. He was always competing. Hockey is his passion.”
Now 16, Mianscum has found his way from small-town Quebec to the international stage as a member of Canada White at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
“Israel is a real interesting prospect,” says Brad McEwen, head scout with Hockey Canada. “He has a good skill-set plus size, which makes him a double threat. He can play a bigger game or can play a skill game to create offence.”
“It’s a dream come true for me to play for Team Canada,” says Mianscum. “To represent [my country] is an honour. I’m proud of myself and I know my community is too.”
As a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, Mianscum looks to their Aboriginal goaltender Carey Price for inspiration. He admits to also following Edmonton Oilers defenceman Ethan Bear, too.
He hopes one day he’ll get even closer to realizing his goal of playing with or against either one of those players in the National Hockey League, thus becoming the first Quebec Cree player in the NHL.
“That’s everyone’s goal,” he says of the NHL. “It’s my goal too. That’s what I want to do. But there is so many things I need to improve on. I’ll take it day-by-day. I just need to make sure I play my game all the time.”
And it appears he’s right at home doing that.
Hockey Canada announces hosts for six events
Six tournaments will be hosted across six provinces between November 2022 and May 2023
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May 11, 2022
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CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has announced the dates and host communities for six events taking place during the 2022-23 season, including the return of the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup and World Junior A Challenge for the first time since 2019.
The communities of Langley and Delta, B.C., will host the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge from Nov. 5-12, bringing some of the top young players in the world to Metro Vancouver.
The 2022 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup will run from Nov. 27-Dec. 3 in Bridgewater, N.S., marking the first time that the event has been held in the Maritimes since 2016.
A showcase of Canadian and international Junior A talent, the 2022 World Junior A Challenge will take place in Cornwall, Ont., from Dec. 11-18.
Two of Hockey Canada’s national championships will return to their typical April schedule in 2023, with the puck dropping at the Esso Cup in Prince Albert, Sask., on April 23 and the TELUS Cup beginning April 24 in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
The Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, will be hosted in Portage la Prairie, Man., in May 2023, bringing Canada’s National Junior A Championship to Manitoba for a fourth time.
“We are excited to announce the host communities for six events taking place in 2022-23, and we cannot wait to bring some of the top hockey events in the world to fans across Canada,” said Dean McIntosh, vice-president of events and properties for Hockey Canada. “Hosting events of this magnitude would not be possible without our incredible local partners, and we are very grateful for their support as we count down to puck drop.”
Tickets are available now for the 2022 World Junior A Challenge in Cornwall, Ont., at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, while on-sale dates for the remaining events will be announced at a later date.
For more information on Hockey Canada, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, become a Hockey Canada Insider, or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Team Canada Black wins 2021 Capital City Challenge
Team Canada Red finishes second in Ottawa; Team Canada White wins third-place game
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December 1, 2021
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OTTAWA, Ont. – Team Canada Black has been crowned champions at the 2021 Capital City Challenge after downing Team Canada Red 5-4 in an overtime thriller in the tournament final on Wednesday night.
Team Canada Black jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period after goals by Ty Halaburda (Victoria, B.C./Vancouver, WHL) and Alex Pharand (Sudbury, Ont./Hamilton, OHL), but Matthew Wood (Nanaimo, B.C./Victoria, BCHL) and Natan Éthier (Rosemère, Que./Saint-Eustache, LHM18AAAQ) responded with goals for Team Canada Red to even the score at 2-2. The teams traded goals in the second as Halaburda notched his second goal of the game and Owen Outwater (Orleans, Ont./North Bay, OHL) scored just over two minutes later to tie the game again.
The final minute of the third period was a wild one. Riley Heidt (Saskatoon, Sask./Prince George, WHL) fired home a rebound with 29 seconds to go to put Red ahead, but Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C./Winnipeg, WHL) netted his tournament-leading seventh goal on a shot off the face-off with 0.4 seconds left to send the game to overtime. Calum Ritchie (Oakville, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) was the extra-time hero, beating Team Canada Red goaltender Jackson Unger (Calgary, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) on a breakaway in the extra frame.
“It was a little bit of a blur. I saw the puck bounce off the boards and I had the opportunity to get a breakaway, so I just skated as hard as I could,” Ritchie said. “Muscle memory from practice took over, and to be honest I do not really remember [scoring], but it was such a great feeling to get the game-winner.”
Team Canada Black netminder Mason Vaccari (Mississauga, Ont./Cobourg, OJHL) stopped 30 shots, while Unger made 35 saves.
Team Canada White defeats National Women’s Team in third-place game
In the third-place game earlier on Wednesday, five different skaters found the back of the net for Team Canada White as it defeated Canada’s National Women’s Team 5-1.
Carey Terrance (Akwesasne, N.Y./Erie, OHL) kick-started the offence for Canada White, opening the scoring less than three minutes into the game. Tyler Peddle (Antigonish, N.S./Drummondville, QMJHL) added a goal and an assist, and Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) chipped in with a pair of helpers.
Goaltender Scott Ratzlaff (Irma, Alta./Seattle, WHL) made 12 saves in the win.
“Our players were a little bit disappointed after yesterday’s result, but overall I am proud of the way they finished the tournament,” said Canada White head coach Rob Wilson (Toronto/Peterborough, Ont.). “We had such a great group of players and staff, and it was a pleasure to be a part of this team. I am looking forward to watching our players flourish as they continue on in their careers.”
Emma Maltais (Burlington, Ont./Ohio State University, WCHA) scored the lone goal for Canada’s National Women’s Team, while goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./PWHPA) turned in a 38-save performance.
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
Capital City Recap: Tuesday, November 30
Zach Benson’s 11 tournament points helped Canada Black to reach the final; Brayden Yager netted a goal and an assist to give Canada Red a chance at the top prize.
November 30, 2021
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OTTAWA, Ont. – Team Canada Red and Team Canada Black punched their tickets to the 2021 Capital City Challenge final after semifinal wins on Tuesday night, while Team Canada White will take on the National Women’s Team in the third-place game tomorrow afternoon.
TEAM CANADA RED 6, TEAM CANADA WHITE 2 Brayden Yager (Saskatoon, Sask./Moose Jaw, WHL) and Bradley Nadeau (Saint-Fran çois, N.B./Penticton) lead the offence for Canada Red, with Yager scoring a short-handed goal and adding an assist as well as Nadeau chipping in with a pair of assists. Kalan Lind (Shaunavon, Sask./Red Deer, WHL) scored both goals for Canada White, and Andrew Cristall (Vancouver, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) contributed two helpers.
“From day one, we have been talking about staying connected as a team. I thought we were great on the forecheck tonight and we were responsible in the defensive zone, which helped us a lot. We played well as five-man units, got some good bounces and scored a few good goals, and we competed hard right to the end of the game.”
- Canada Red forward Riley Heidt (Saskatoon, Sask./Prince George, WHL) on the team’s performance
“I thought I competed hard, and I thought my linemates made a lot of good plays. All over the ice, we had some good chemistry, and obviously Andrew [Cristall] made some great passes to me that I was able to bury in the net. I wanted to keep competing, throw my body around and do everything I could to help the team. I blocked some shots in the third period and wanted to help us even up the game, but unfortunately we did not get the result we wanted.”
- Canada White forward Lind on his performance
TEAM CANADA BLACK 4, NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM 3 (OT) Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C./Winnipeg, WHL) scored 11 seconds into three-on-three overtime to lift Canada Black to a 4-3 win over the National Women’s Team, securing a spot in the final at the Capital City Challenge. The National Women’s Team scored three goals in less than four minutes in the second period to erase a three-goal deficit, but it could not complete the comeback and will play in the third-place game tomorrow.
“It was three-on-three hockey and there was a lot of open ice. It was a big faceoff win by [Calum] Ritchie, and then Tanner [Molendyk] made a great pass to Ritchie. Obviously, he made a great saucer pass to me, and I was able to find the back of the net on a great play all around.”
- Canada Black forward Benson on his overtime winner
- National Women’s Team defenceman Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont./PWHPA) on coming back from a three-goal deficit
NEXT GAMES (DEC. 1) National Women’s Team vs. Team Canada White (2:30 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM Team Canada Red vs. Team Canada Black (7 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM
STANDINGS Team Canada Black 3-0-0-0 | 21GF 8GA | 9 points Team Canada Red 2-0-0-1 | 13GF 9GA | 6 points Team Canada White 1-0-0-2 | 14GF 17GA | 3 points National Women’s Team 0-0-0-3 | 4GF 18GA | 0 points
LEADING SCORERS Zach Benson (Black) 6G 5A 11P Calum Ritchie (Black) 4G 3A 7P Ethan Gauthier (White) 1G 6A 7P Matthew Wood (Red) 3G 3A 6P Mathieu Cataford (White) 2G 3A 5P
LEADING GOALTENDERS Jackson Unger (Red) 3-0 / 1.33 GAA / .952 SV% Ann-Renée Desbiens (NWT) 0-2 / 4.00 GAA / .925 SV% Joseph Costanzo (Black) 2-0 / 2.00 GAA / .886 SV% Scott Ratzlaff (White) 0-2 / 4.03 GAA / 0.879 SV% Mason Vaccari (Black) 2-0 / 3.50 GAA / .873 SV%
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
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Capital City Recap: Monday, November 29
Zach Benson and Calum Ritchie had a hat trick apiece and combined for six assists in Black’s victory over White
November 29, 2021
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OTTAWA, Ont. – Preliminary-round action wrapped up at the 2021 Capital City Challenge on Monday night, and Team Canada Black secured its spot atop the standings with a 10-5 win over Team Canada White.
TEAM CANADA BLACK 10, TEAM CANADA WHITE 5 It was an offensive affair in the final game of the preliminary round, with Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C./Winnipeg, WHL) and Calum Ritchie (Oakville, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) leading the charge for Canada Black. Benson finished the night with a hat trick and four assists, while Ritchie posted a hat trick and a pair of helpers. Despite the loss, Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) had a three-point night (one goal, two assists) and Matthew Soto (Oakville, Ont./Kingston, OHL) chipped in with a goal and an assist for Canada White.
“Our line has been moving the puck well. We have a lot of speed and have been using that to our advantage. Playing with Calum [Ritchie] is great, he is a great guy off the ice and a very skilled player with a lot of hockey IQ on the ice, so he is fun to play with. You add in Ty [Halaburda], who is so fast and physical. He works hard, never takes a shift off and wins puck battles, and they are both great linemates.” - Benson on playing with Ritchie and Ty Halaburda (Victoria, B.C./Vancouver, WHL)
“I like the way we start games. We were strong on the puck and got some good pressure today, and we were able to generate a lot of offence. Our transition game is very quick, and that is because our defence are moving the puck up quickly. We have a lot of speed and have been taking advantage of the power play, and I like the commitment of our team. From our first day here, we have focused on building chemistry and our team is buying into that. Our players deserve what they have worked for, and I am very happy for them.” - Canada Black head coach Stéphane Julien (Shawinigan, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) on his team’s success
“We took eight minor penalties, and that is just too many and it is really hurting us. We have to stop taking those penalties, even going back to our game against [Canada Red], we had two five-on-three penalty kills. If we do that tomorrow, we will unfortunately be on the losing end. We have played well at five-on-five, but we found ourselves having to fight back, and we cannot do that in tomorrow’s game.” - Canada White head coach Rob Wilson (Toronto/Peterborough, Ont.) on limiting penalties
NEXT GAMES (NOV. 30 - SEMIFINALS) Team Canada White vs. Team Canada Red (2:30 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM National Women’s Team vs. Team Canada Black (7 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM
STANDINGS Team Canada Black 3-0-0-0 | 21GF 8GA | 9 points Team Canada Red 2-0-0-1 | 13GF 9GA | 6 points Team Canada White 1-0-0-2 | 14GF 17GA | 3 points National Women’s Team 0-0-0-3 | 4GF 18GA | 0 points
LEADING SCORERS Zach Benson (Black) 5G 4A 9P Calum Ritchie (Black) 4G 3A 7P Ethan Gauthier (White) 1G 6A 7P Matthew Wood (Red) 3G 3A 6P Mathieu Cataford (White) 2G 3A 5P
LEADING GOALTENDERS Jackson Unger (Red) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .960 SV% Joseph Costanzo (Black) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .933 SV% Ann-Renée Desbiens (NWT) 0-1 / 4.00 GAA / .929 SV% Scott Ratzlaff (White) 0-1 / 3.00 GAA / 0.893 SV% Mason Vaccari (Black) 1-0 / 3.50 GAA / .873 SV%
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
Capital City Recap: Sunday, November 28
Ann-Renée Desbiens made 52 saves, but Nick Lardis recorded two points in Black’s win; Matthew Wood registered three points to help lead Red past White
November 28, 2021
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OTTAWA, Ont. – Day three is in the books at the 2021 Capital City Challenge; Team Canada Red picked up its second-consecutive win and Team Canada Black moved into top spot in the standings heading into the final day of preliminary-round action.
TEAM CANADA RED 4, TEAM CANADA WHITE 2 A second-straight three-point performance from Matthew Wood (Nanaimo, B.C./Victoria, BCHL) and 26 saves by Jackson Unger (Calgary, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) led Canada Red to its second win. Tyler Peddle (Antigonish, N.S./Drummondville, QMJHL) and Andrew Cristall (Vancouver, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) added goals in the third period for Canada White, but it fell short of completing the comeback.
“I was not really expecting to be named captain. It is great news for me, and I have always tried to be a leader on any team I have played for. I think I am doing a great job of being a leader in this short tournament, but it is definitely an amazing feeling. I am a friendly guy, and in the room I like to talk to everyone and make new friends. I think it is part of my responsibility to connect with everyone on our team.” - Canada Red forward Émile Perron (Gatineau, Que./Cape Breton, QMJHL) on being named captain
“It feels amazing [to wear the Maple Leaf]. As a child, I always watched all the guys that played for Team Canada, so this is a really special opportunity for me. I have been enjoying the experience so far, and it is a definitely a nice feeling to put on the Canada jersey.” - Canada White forward Chris Barlas (Ottawa, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) on wearing the Maple Leaf
TEAM CANADA BLACK 4, NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM 1 Four different forwards found the back of the net and 10 different skaters recorded at least one point for Canada Black as it downed the National Women’s Team in the evening match-up. Ty Halaburda (Victoria, B.C./Vancouver, WHL) netted the eventual game-winner for Canada Black, while Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./PWHPA) made 52 saves for the National Women’s Team.
“It was an honour to be able to play against [the National Women’s Team]. We did not really know what to expect, but I definitely gained a lot of respect for the players on that team. They use their sticks so well. There is less body contact, but they are so skilled and are able to strip the puck off you pretty well. This experience is going to make watching the Olympics that much better.” - Canada Black captain Cameron Allen (Toronto, Ont./Guelph, OHL) on playing the National Women’s Team
“Every game we play is very different, but any time you have the opportunity to play against a high-level competition you just try your best and try to give your team an opportunity to win. I think that is what I did today. I would not necessarily say it was the best performance of my career, but I had a lot of fun out there and it was a big challenge.” - Desbiens on her 52-save performance
STANDINGS Team Canada Black 2-0-0-0 | 11GF 3GA | 6 points Team Canada Red 2-0-0-1 | 13GF 9GA | 6 points Team Canada White 1-0-0-1 | 9GF 7GA | 3 points National Women’s Team 0-0-0-3 | 4GF 18GA | 0 points
LEADING SCORERS Matthew Wood (Red) 3G 3A 6P Brayden Yager (Red) 3G 1A 4P Mathieu Cataford (White) 1G 3A 4P Étienne Morin (Red) 0G 4A 4P Ethan Gauthier (White) 0G 4A 4P
LEADING GOALTENDERS Jackson Unger (Red) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .960 SV% Joseph Costanzo (Black) 1-0 / 1.00 GAA / .933 SV% Mason Vaccari (Black) 1-0 / 2.00 GAA / .933 SV% Ann-Renée Desbiens (NWT) 0-1 / 4.00 GAA / .929 SV% Scott Ratzlaff (White) 0-1 / 3.00 GAA / .893 SV%
NEXT GAME (NOV. 29) Team Canada Black vs. Team Canada White (7 p.m. ET) - STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
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What makes Shane Wright exceptional is just as much about who he is off the ice as what he does on it.
Gaining their stripes
After years on the ice as players, several Capital City Challenge participants have donned black and white to give back to the game they love
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November 28, 2021
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After playing the game his whole life, it’s no surprise that Caden Price loves hockey. So, when an opportunity came up to spend more time at the rink as a referee, he jumped at it.
“I would have been 13 years old [when I started refereeing],” says the 16-year-old, who is a defenceman with Team Canada Black at the Capital City Challenge in Ottawa. “A couple of my buddies thought it would be a good idea.
“I think a huge part was just giving back and I enjoy the sport so much playing myself. Just to go out there and watch and ref tournaments, I think it was a great experience.”
Price is not the only player who began refereeing because he loves the game. His Team Canada Black teammate, Cameron Allen, took a step into the world of officiating last year with two of his friends to ref an outdoor league for players under nine years old.
“I like being on the ice, I like watching hockey,” Allen, 16, says. “I just like getting involved and learning it from another side. Even though it’s young kids, [it’s fun] to see the game from a different angle and to be out there with the players and to see the way the game is when you’re not playing.”
That passion for being on the ice turned into an excellent first job for both players.
“I guess it’s a story forever,” Allen says. “You know, when you get older, your kids ask you [what your first job was and] it was refereeing. Just being involved in the sport in other ways is great, and having that as my first job, it’s even better.”
The financial aspect also had an additional benefit for Price.
“I wanted data really bad on my phone,” he says. “But [my mom] said the
only way I was getting it is if I pay for it. So, I thought what better way
to get out in the community and give back.”
Caden Price
It can be a tricky balancing act for players who take on officiating on top of their busy team schedule. Since Allen was refereeing younger players, the timing worked out that he could ref earlier in the evening and then head to his practices afterwards. Price says he once officiated 19 games in one month in addition to the time he was spending at the rink with his team.
“It was definitely busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Price says. “I just love the rink, I love what I was doing and I love playing hockey.”
For many experienced players, refereeing is a great avenue to invest in the future of the game they are passionate about, whether it’s a long-term or a short-term commitment. Team Canada White defenceman Kaden Hammell, 16, was happy to help one of his coaches by refereeing a few games one weekend.
“It was nothing too serious, but it was definitely fun,” he says. “It was definitely a cool experience to see [the game] from a reffing standpoint.”
The opportunity to participate in the game as a referee at a young age also opens a potential career path for players to consider.
“I think a referee job would be super cool for sure, no matter what league you’re in,” Hammell says. “Obviously we all love hockey, so I think it’d be cool to be around all the guys. I mean, you even see in the NHL… all the [players] talking to the refs, just chatting them up. I think it’d definitely be cool.”
At the very least, participating on both sides of the ice can certainly benefit a player in their game play. That unique perspective also provides an added level of compassion for officials.
“It gives me a good understanding of what the referees are going through in those situations,” Price says. “Just knowing that they are doing their best and they’re taking time out their day to do this.”
“Being a referee is a hard job, no doubt about it,” Hammell adds.
And for those who love the game as much as Price, Hammell and Allen do, there’s a clear consensus to encourage others to get involved.
“If you love the game, it’s a really good job to get into and just helping the next generation,” Allen says. “You’ve got to be patient, you just got to try to make the best call and never be biased at all.
“Especially for the younger ages, it’s not as hard, so just building your way up, not thinking you’re bigger than the game. Just go out there, not trying to be a hero, and call the game fairly and be genuine with it.”
Capital City Recap: Saturday, November 27
Matthew Wood registered three points and Jackson Unger made 22 saves as Canada Red shut out Canada’s National Women’s Team
November 27, 2021
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OTTAWA, Ont. – In the only game on the schedule Saturday at the 2021 Capital City Challenge, Team Canada Red prevailed over Canada’s National Women’s Team to pick up its first win of the tournament at TD Place Arena.
TEAM CANADA RED 7, NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM 0 Team Canada Red improved to 1-1 as Jackson Unger (Calgary, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) posted a 22-save shutout and Matthew Wood (Nanaimo, B.C./Victoria, BCHL) turned in a three-point performance with a goal and two assists. National Women’s Team goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta.) turned aside 36 shots, while the team’s penalty kill went two-for-three on the night.
“The fact that we are playing a small piece in preparing [the National Women’s Team] for competition at the Olympics is special. I have young daughters, and this is a big deal for me having a young player that aspires to be in their position one day. It was really neat to be a part of, and for our players it is such a unique opportunity. We had to adjust our game to some degree in regards to the physicality, but I thought we were outplayed in that area of the game. If our players did not already have a great amount of respect for the women’s team, they certainly do now.” - Canada Red head coach Kris Mallette (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) on playing Canada's National Women’s Team
“I am starting to feel more confident. I feel like I am getting into a good rhythm and have been able to shake off a bit of the nerves of playing in a big tournament like this, and I hope I can continue to build off my goal tonight as we move forward. It is pretty cool to be able to play against a team that will be playing in Olympics. Everyone in Canada knows Marie-Philip Poulin, so it was a fun experience to be able to play against players like that.” - Canada Red forward Harrison Lodewyk (Red Deer, Alta./Prince Albert, WHL) on gaining confidence and playing against Olympic hopefuls
“It was a different start to the year having a world championship in August, but getting the Rivalry Series under our belts is an important part of the process. We have also played some games against Junior A teams, which allows us to play more defensive hockey, and then these games against the U17 teams are another great opportunity for us. The size and the speed of these players takes us out of our comfort zone a little bit and gives us another chance to defend more. The key to it all when it is all said and done is going to be the mix of experience we are getting, and merging everything we have learned about our opposition as well as ourselves.” - National Women’s Team head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, N.S.) on the unique season schedule
STANDINGS Team Canada Black 1-0-0-0 | 7GF 2GA | 3 points Team Canada White 1-0-0-0 | 7GF 3GA | 3 points Team Canada Red 1-0-0-1 | 9GF 7GA | 3 points National Women’s Team 0-0-0-2 | 3GF 14GA | 0 points
LEADING SCORERS Matthew Wood (Red) 1G 2A 3P Mathieu Cataford (White) 1G 2A 3P Ethan Gauthier (White) 0G 3A 3P Brayden Yager (Red) 2G 0A 2P Marie-Philip Poulin (NWT) 2G 0A 2P
LEADING GOALTENDERS Jackson Unger (Red) 1-0 / 0.00 GAA / 1.000 SV% Mason Vaccari (Black) 1-0 / 2.00 GAA / .933 SV% Nathaniel Day (White) 1-0 / 3.00 GAA / .842 SV% Kyle Hagen (Red) 0-1 / 7.00 GAA / .781 SV% Kristen Campbell (NWT) 0-1 / 7.00 GAA / .854 SV% Emerance Maschmeyer (NWT) 0-1 / 7.00 GAA / .837 SV%
NEXT GAMES (NOV. 28) Team Canada Red vs. Team Canada White (2:30 p.m. ET) – STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM Team Canada Black vs. National Women’s Team (7 p.m. ET) – STATISTICS | LIVESTREAM
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
U17: The anatomy of a warm-up
Vicky Fyfe put her players through their paces ahead of Black’s opening game at U17 camp.
Capital City Recap: Friday, November 26
Cataford and Gauthier led White to an opening win; Canada Black dominated in its Ottawa opener
November 26, 2021
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OTTAWA, Ont. – Team Canada White and Team Canada Black kicked off the 2021 Capital City Challenge with opening-day wins, while Canada's National Women’s Team and Team Canada Red will look to rebound tomorrow night at TD Place Arena.
TEAM CANADA WHITE 7, NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM 3 Seven different skaters scored for Team Canada White, and Ethan Gauthier (Drummondville, Que./Sherbrooke, QMJHL) added a trio of assists to help lead White to an opening-game win over Canada’s National Women’s Team. Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que.) had a pair of third-period goals for the women's team.
“When you’re putting on the Maple Leaf for the first time, it is a really special moment. I thought both teams competed hard, but we got out-worked badly in the third period. We did not play with the same work ethic that [the National Women’s Team] did, and I tip my hat off to them. Overall, both teams played well and it was important for us to get a win and start the tournament off the right way.” - Canada White head coach Rob Wilson (Toronto/Peterborough, OHL) on playing Canada’s National Women’s Team
“It has been a while since we have played against boys coming off the series against Finland and the U.S., but anytime we play the boys teams at this age group, they are fast, physical and maybe a little bit bigger than us. The individual skill is very apparent in this group and there’s a lot of great hockey players out there. We are lucky we get to be part of their process. They are a part of our [preparations for Beijing] and I think we will push each other a lot this week.” - National Women’s Team forward Emily Clark (Saskatoon, Sask.) on the level of competition playing against the under-17 teams
TEAM CANADA BLACK 7, TEAM CANADA RED 2 A first-minute goal from Vincent Collard (Chicoutimi, Que./Baie-Comeau, QMJHL) led to an offensive explosion, with seven different players finding the back of the net and Calum Ritchie (Oakville, Ont./Oshawa, OHL) chipping in with one goal and an assist for Team Canada Black. Brayden Yager (Saskatoon, Sask./Moose Jaw, WHL) and Luca Pinelli (Stoney Creek, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) scored in the third period for Team Canada Red.
“We have been able to build a lot of chemistry already, and that was probably a reason for tonight’s result. We have done a lot of team bonding over the past few days and our team has really come together. Our line had a strong game tonight, and Ty [Halaburda] and [Zach] Benson are really great players, which makes my job easy.” - Ritchie on playing with Ty Halaburda (Victoria, B.C./Vancouver, WHL) and Zach Benson (Chilliwack, B.C./Winnipeg, WHL)
“Towards the end of the game, we were getting a lot of chances. That pass [from Nadeau] was pretty crazy, and to be honest I did not even see it coming. It was a nice through-the-legs and behind-the-back play, which was a really great play. Our chemistry is starting to build, and by the end of the tournament I know we are going to be a really good team.” - Yager on building chemistry with his teammates
STANDINGS Team Canada Black 1-0-0-0 | 7GF 2GA | 3 points Team Canada White 1-0-0-0 | 7GF 3GA | 3 points National Women’s Team 0-0-0-1 | 3GF 7GA | 0 points Team Canada Red 0-0-0-1 | 2GF 7GA | 0 points
LEADING SCORERS Mathieu Cataford (White) 1G 2A 3P Ethan Gauthier (White) 0G 3A 3P Marie-Philip Poulin (NWT) 2G 0A 2P Vincent Collard (Black) 1G 1A 2P Calum Ritchie (Black) 1G 1A 2P
LEADING GOALTENDERS Mason Vaccari (Black) 1-0 / 2.00 GAA / .933 SV% Nathaniel Day (White) 1-0 / 3.00 GAA / .842 SV% Kyle Hagen (Red) 0-1 / 7.00 GAA / .781 SV% Kristen Campbell (NWT) 0-1 / 7.00 GAA / .854 SV%
NEXT GAME (NOV. 27) National Women’s Team vs. Team Canada Red (7 p.m. ET)
For more information on Hockey Canada and the 2021 Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
By the numbers: U17s at the Capital City Challenge
A closer look at the 66 players who will wear the Maple Leaf for the first time in Ottawa
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November 26, 2021
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Sixty-six players are set to wear black, red or white and face off against Canada’s National Women’s Team (and each other) at the 2021 Capital City Challenge in Ottawa.
With no national under-17 development camp this summer, this is their introduction to the Program of Excellence and Canadian hockey fans, so let’s take a look at a few facts and figures:
1 – player drafted first overall in their CHL draft (Ethan Gauthier – Sherbrooke, QMJHL, 2021)
2 – sons of former NHLers; the fathers of Oliver Bonk (Radek) and Ethan Gauthier (Denis) combined for 574 points (211-363—574) in 1,523 games with seven different teams
5 – members of the Oakville Rangers during the 2020-21 season (Nick Lardis, Luke Misa, Owen Outwater, Calum Ritchie, Matthew Soto), most of any minor hockey team
5’11½” 172 – average height and weight of the players; Ethan Miedema (6’3¼” 201) is the biggest player, and Bradley Nadeau (5’7” 138) is the smallest
24 – players from Ontario, more than any other province (Quebec – 12; British Columbia – 8; Alberta – 7; Saskatchewan – 7; New Brunswick – 3; Nova Scotia – 2; New York – 1; Newfoundland & Labrador – 1; Prince Edward Island – 1)
26 – points (in 12 games) for Matthew Wood; the Victoria Grizzlies forward has 14 goals and 12 assists to lead all Canadians who cracked the U17 roster, four points up on Zach Benson (11-11—22 in 15 GP)
43 – Canadian Hockey League teams, out of 60, represented with players or prospects (OHL – 18/20; WHL – 15/22; QMJHL – 10/18); the Océanic de Rimouski (QMJHL) lead with four representatives, one more than Drummondville (QMJHL), Halifax (QMJHL), Kingston (OHL) and London (OHL)
45 – players selected in the first round of their respective CHL drafts (OHL – 16; QMJHL – 16; WHL – 13); there were also players selected in the second (13), third (four), fourth (two), sixth (one) and seventh (one) rounds
185 – Canadian minor hockey games played during the 2020-21 season by all players; the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out all games in Ontario and Quebec, and players in Western Canada were limited to only a handful of games each
521 – population (according to the 2016 Census of Canada) of Irma, Alta., hometown of Canada White goaltender Scott Ratzlaff and the smallest of any player
4,444 – kilometres (according to Google Maps) from Ottawa to Nanaimo, B.C., hometown of Canada Red forward Matthew Wood and the furthest of any community with a U17 representative
U17: Campers pushed to the limit in testing
The 112 players at U17 camp spent time in the WinSport Canada gym, going through a variety of tests that pushed them to their li
Hockey Canada names 66-player under-17 roster for Capital City Challenge
Three men’s U17 teams to play Canada’s National Women’s Team in Ottawa
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November 5, 2021
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CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada announced Friday the 66 players selected to wear the Maple Leaf at the Capital City Challenge, a four-team tournament featuring three men’s under-17 teams and Canada’s National Women’s Team, Nov. 26-Dec. 1 in Ottawa.
The 66 players will be divided into three teams – Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White – and will compete against Canada’s National Women’s Team as part of its centralization schedule. The rosters for Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red and Team Canada White will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The under-17 roster was selected by Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), senior vice-president of hockey operations, Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.), director of player personnel, and Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), head scout for the U17 program. U17 Program of Excellence management group lead Philippe Boucher (Saint-Apollinaire, Que./Drummondville, QMJHL) and manager of hockey operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), as well as regional scouts Pierre Cholette (Quebec), Rob Simpson (Ontario), Darren Sutherland (Atlantic) and Darrell Woodley (Ontario), also provided input with support from Hockey Canada’s 13 Members.
“We are excited to unveil the 66 players that will suit up for our three men’s under-17 teams at the Capital City Challenge and have the unique opportunity to compete against Canada’s National Women’s Team in Ottawa,” said Salmond. “Although this has not been a traditional year for our Program of Excellence and the under-17 group, we are excited to introduce these athletes to an event that replicates short-term, international competition.”
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF UNDER-17 STAFF
The Capital City Challenge opens on Nov. 26 at TD Place Arena, home of the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League. Canada’s centralization roster will face Team Canada White in the tournament opener at 12 p.m. ET, followed by Team Canada Black taking on Team Canada Red at 7 p.m. ET.
Full-event ticket packages can be purchased for $80 (plus applicable fees) starting Monday, Nov. 8, while single-game tickets will be available starting as low as $5 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.
Since 2001, 10 Canadians that have competed with one of Canada’s national men’s under-17 teams have been selected first overall in the NHL Draft (Rick Nash, 2002; Marc-André Fleury, 2003; John Tavares, 2009; Taylor Hall, 2010, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 2011; Nathan MacKinnon, 2013; Aaron Ekblad, 2014; Connor McDavid, 2015; Alexis Lafrenière, 2020; Owen Power, 2021).
For more information on Hockey Canada and the Capital City Challenge, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and by using #OurGameIsBack.
For more information: |
Dominick Saillant
Director, Communications
Hockey Canada
514-895-9706
[email protected]
Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada
403-284-6484
[email protected]
Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada
Office: 403-777-4567
Mobile: 905-906-5327
[email protected]
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