The Western Hockey League defeated Team Russia 2-1 on Monday in the first game of the CIBC Canada Russia Series from the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, British Columbia. Lethbridge Hurricanes center Jordy Bellerive of Vancouver, British Columbia scored the game winning goal at 10:31 of the third period from Prince Albert Raiders center Brett Leason of Calgary, Alberta and Edmonton Oil Kings right winger Trey Fix-Wolansky of Edmonton, Alberta.
The WHL All-Stars took an early 1-0 lead on a first period goal by Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens of Whitehorse, Yukon. Moose Jaw Warriors defenseman Jett Woo of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Connor Dewar of The Pas, Manitoba picked up the assists. The Russians tied it 26 seconds later on a goal by Pavel Shen from Stepan Starkov and Alexander Yaremchuk. It was a strong game for WHL goaltender Ian Scott of the Raiders. He made 27 saves in the victory.
The WHL will next play Team Russia on Tuesday night from the Langley Events Centre, the home of the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. The series will then shift to Ontario on Thursday as Russia will face the Ontario Hockey League stars from the Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, Ontario. The OHL All-Stars will also play Russia at the Tribute Communities Centre from Oshawa, Ontario on Monday. The series will then shift to Quebec next week as Russia will face the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League All-Stars on November 13 from Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet in Sherbrooke, Quebec and Centre Marcel Dionne from Drummondville, Quebec on November 15.
