Hockey

Canada Hosts Hockey Series Between Young Russian Players and CHL Teams

Published: Jun 12, 2025, 4:06 PM
3 min read
Updated: Jul 8, 2025, 6:42 AM
Fact checked by:
Marco D'Amico
Team CHL celebrates a 6-1 win against Team USA during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Team CHL celebrates a 6-1 win against Team USA during the CHL USA Prospects Challenge (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

The CHL Canada–Russia Series had been an annual event since 2003, where young Russian hockey players competed against teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Western Hockey League. The last series took place in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and since 2022 it has not been held in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Although the 2025 games are not officially linked to the earlier series, a Russian team will play Canadian teams in Toronto and Charlottetown from June 14–19, marking the first such encounters in six years.

Talent-Filled Russian Roster

The Russian team, mostly born in 2008–09, primarily features players from the CSKA Moscow hockey system, along with representatives from Lokomotiv, Sibir, Torpedo, Avangard, and Traktor. Mikhail Deyev serves as head coach. The players on this team are clients of Gold Star Agency, which is organizing this trip.

“This is a very strong and talented team,” Dan Milstein, CEO and certified NHL agent with Gold Star Hockey, told RG. “I’d especially recommend watching right-handed defenseman Vladimir Shtyrkhunov. He has the potential to become one of Russia’s greatest defensemen ever.”

The first game takes place on June 14 in Toronto at Scotiabank Pond at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Russian squad will face an OHL team featuring notable forwards Camryn Warren (North Bay Battalion, CHL draft pick No. 6 overall) and Jake Murray (Erie Otters, pick No. 12). The OHL team also includes Eli Tverdovsky (Kamloops Blazers, WHL, 1st round, pick No. 6) and Aleks Kulemin (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL, 1st round, pick No. 9), sons of former NHL players Oleg Tverdovsky and Nikolai Kulemin.

After Toronto, the event moves to Charlottetown for the Andrews 2025 International Hockey Showcase, featuring two divisions of four teams each.

“It’s an elite event focused on quality competition,” Dan Milstein noted.

The showcase brochure emphasizes daily practices and four games per team across four days (totaling 16 games), offering “valuable exposure to scouts, coaches, and managers from NHL, NCAA, CHL, USHL, and Tier II clubs.”

Participating players were born between 2008–2010 and will be eligible for the NHL Draft within two to three years. Scouts from all 32 NHL teams have registered to attend.

Pre-Draft Camp in Miami

Following the showcase, Milstein will host a pre-draft camp in Miami starting June 20 for the second consecutive year.

“It’s a mini combine but includes on-ice sessions,” Dan Milstein said. “There will also be individual interviews. Representatives from all 32 NHL teams, including at least 20 general managers, will attend.”

At least 36 players have confirmed attendance, including defensemen Bogdan Konyushkov (2023 – Montreal Canadiens, Round 4, No. 110), Matthew Mania (2023 – Los Angeles Kings, Round 5, No. 150), and Egor Surin (2024 – Nashville Predators, Round 1, No. 22). Three goalies ranked among the top 15 European goalies for the 2025 NHL Draft—Pyotr Andreyanov (No. 1, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, MHL), Semyon Frolov (No. 2, MHK Spartak Moskva, MHL), and Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko (No. 11, Tolpar Ufa, MHL)—will also participate.

Milstein added that Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov might briefly visit the camp.

“Ivan continues training in Montreal and may join us in Miami briefly to support the players during the draft,” Milstein said. “He remains fully focused on preparing for the upcoming NHL season, learning French, and adapting to life in Canada.”

Head of News Department
Sergey Demidov is Head of News at RG.org and has covered global sports since 2007. His work spans the Olympics, FIFA World Cups, IOC events, and Stanley Cup Finals. A former sports department deputy chief editor at Gazeta.Ru and TASS News Agency, and current senior editor at NHL.com/ru, Sergey has interviewed stars like Alex Ovechkin and Jaromir Jagr, former WADA and FIFA presidents Craig Reedy and Sepp Blatter, and coaches like Fabio Capello. He specializes in hockey and publishes in English and Russian.
Interests:
NHL
EPL
FIFA
UCL
NFL
NBA
BWF
Hiking
Reading
Movies
Food

More RG Exclusive Interviews

Hockey
Interview
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey

Beckett Sennecke is coming off a dominant season and says he’s open to whatever path the Anaheim Ducks believe is best for his NHL development.

7
07/26/2025
Andrew Knoll
Andrew Knoll
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey
Hockey
Interview
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid

Returning NHL goalie Ivan Prosvetov joins the Calgary Flames on a one-year deal, determined to secure the starter’s job and face star Connor McDavid.

6
07/23/2025
Sergey Demidov
Sergey Demidov
Ivan Prosvetov Eyes Flames’ Starting Role, Ready For McDavid
Hockey
Interview
Jeff Gorton, Canadiens See Serious Value in Their Goaltending

Jeff Gorton sat down with RG in an exclusive interview and discussed the present and future states of his team’s goaltending.

8
07/20/2025
James Murphy
James Murphy
Jeff Gorton, Canadiens See Serious Value in Their Goaltending
Hockey
Interview
Source: McKenna Sweepstakes Expected to Spur Earlier NHL Trade Activity

Parity stalled trades this summer, but the 2026 McKenna sweepstakes may spark early NHL sell-offs by U.S. Thanksgiving, sources say.

12
07/19/2025
Marco D'Amico
Marco D'Amico
Source: McKenna Sweepstakes Expected to Spur Earlier NHL Trade Activity
Prev
...
Next

Hockey Writers

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.