Givani Smith (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

Saginaw’s Stephens and Cormier, Red Wings prospect Smith named 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series rosters

Givani Smith (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
Givani Smith (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

 

By @StefanKubus –

The Ontario Hockey League announced its rosters for the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Saginaw Spirit forward Mitchell Stephens and goaltender Evan Cormier, as well as Guelph Storm forward Givani Smith – the Detroit Red Wings’ second-round pick in 2016 – were among the 25 names chosen to represent the OHL in the series.

Stephens – a second-round draft pick of Tampa Bay in 2015 – is in his fourth season with the Spirit. After posting 38 points in 39 games last season, he’s off to a good start this year with six points in seven games.

Cormier, a fourth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2016, has made the last seven starts for the Spirit, posting a 2-3-1-1 record with a 3.52 goals-against average and .898 save percentage. It will be his first time participating in the series.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-2 Smith is also off to a red-hot start for his Guelph Storm, having posted 11 points through the team’s first ten games. This comes after a breakout second season that saw him net 23 goals and 42 points to go along with 146 penalty minutes.

Team OHL will compete against the Russian national junior team in Game 3 of the series in North Bay, Ontario on Thursday, Nov. 10, with Game 4 to be played in Hamilton on Monday, Nov. 14. The series also includes two games in the Western Hockey League prior to both OHL games, and ends with two games hosted by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

In 13 years of competition against the Russian national junior team, the OHL has a record of 22-3-1 in this series.