OHL releases roster for Canada Russia Series

Mississauga defenseman Nicolas Hague and Windsor forward Gabriel Vilardi, top prospects for the 2017 NHL Draft, were among the 25 players picked to play for the Ontario Hockey League against Russia in the 2016 Canada Russia Series.
The games will be played in North Bay, Ontario, on Nov. 10 and Hamilton, Ontario on Nov. 14.
The six-game series will begin on Nov. 7 in Prince George, British Columbia, where players from the Western Hockey League take on the Russian National Junior Team. The next night, the WHL and Russia play in Edmonton. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will play Russia in Chicoutimi, Quebec, on Nov. 15 and Baie-Comeau, Quebec, on Nov. 17. Rosters for those games, as well as for Russia, will be released at a later date.

The WHL released its roster Thursday.
Hague (6-foot-5, 206 pounds), a left-handed defenseman, received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting in its preliminary list of players to watch. He leads OHL defensemen with seven goals and is tied for second with 12 points in 11 games.
"He's a big defenseman who is a fluid skater," Central Scouting's Matt Ryan said. "He moves the puck extremely well, enabling his team to create a ton of offense. He shows an ability to run the power play and has an excellent shot that he gets through with consistency."
Vilardi (6-3, 201) has five goals and 11 points in seven games. He missed Windsor's first five games because of a knee injury, but also received an A rating from Central Scouting.
"He's a highly skilled center with good size and deceptive skating ability," Ryan said. "He maneuvers extremely well in traffic and is able to create time and space for himself effectively."
Hague will play in both games; Vilardi will play in the game in North Bay.
Others playing in both games are goaltender Evan Cormier (New Jersey Devils), and forwards William Bitten (Montreal Canadiens), Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues), Adam Mascherin (Florida Panthers), Brett McKenzie (Vancouver Canucks), Michael McLeod (New Jersey Devils), Zachary Senyshyn (Boston Bruins), Givani Smith (Detroit Red Wings), Blake Speers (New Jersey Devils) and Mitchell Stephens (Tampa Bay Lightning).
TEAM OHL ROSTER
NORTH BAY
GOALTENDERS: Evan Cormier, Saginaw (New Jersey Devils)\; Dylan Wells, Peterborough (Buffalo Sabres)
DEFENSEMEN: Kyle Capobianco, Sudbury (Arizona Coyotes); Nicolas Hague, Mississauga (2017 draft eligible)\; Matt Spencer, Peterborough (Tampa Bay Lightning); Logan Stanley, Windsor (Winnipeg Jets); Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa (New York Islanders)
FORWARDS: Will Bitten, Hamilton (Montreal Canadiens)\; Anthony Cirelli, Oshawa (Tampa Bay Lightning); Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia (St. Louis Blues)\; Adam Mascherin, Kitchener (Florida Panthers)\; Brett McKenzie, North Bay (Vancouver Canucks)\; Michael McLeod, Mississauga (New Jersey Devils)\; Zachary Senyshyn, Sault Ste. Marie (Boston Bruins)\; Givani Smith, Guelph (Detroit Red Wings)\; Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie (New Jersey Devils)\; Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw (Tampa Bay Lightning)\; Gabriel Vilardi, Windsor (2017 draft eligible)
HAMILTON
GOALTENDERS: Evan Cormier, Saginaw (New Jersey Devils)\; Michael McNiven, Owen Sound (Montreal Canadiens)
DEFENSEMEN: Jacob Friend, Owen Sound (Los Angeles Kings); Nicolas Hague, Mississauga (2017 draft eligible)\; Garrett McFadden, Guelph (2017 draft eligible); Victor Mete, London (Montreal Canadiens); Markus Phillips, Owen Sound (2017 draft eligible)
FORWARDS: Will Bitten, Hamilton (Montreal Canadiens)\; Graham Knott, Niagara (Chicago Blackhawks); Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia (St. Louis Blues)\; Adam Mascherin, Kitchener (Florida Panthers)\; Brett McKenzie, North Bay (Vancouver Canucks)\; Michael McLeod, Mississauga (New Jersey Devils)\; Taylor Raddysh, Erie (Tampa Bay Lightning); Zachary Senyshyn, Sault Ste. Marie (Boston Bruins)\; Givani Smith, Guelph (Detroit Red Wings)\; Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie (New Jersey Devils)\; Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw (Tampa Bay Lightning)\
\- playing both games*