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.”
Sergey has been in sports journalism since 2007 as a reporter, editor, and manager. He has covered the Olympic Games, soccer World Cups, the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, the European championships, the Stanley Cup Finals, IOC events, and many others. Sergey interviewed the sport's greatest athletes, coaches, and executives. Since 2016, he has been an Independent Senior Editor of NHL.com/ru.
