Three Hurricanes named to Team WHL for Canada/Russia series

For the first time, the Lethbridge Hurricanes will have three players representing them in the CHL’s Canada / Russia Series. In a way this series serves as an all-star nod for the leagues across the CHL and Team WHL.

Getting the shoulder tap this time around from the Hurricanes include the captian, centre Jordy Bellerive, a top prospect in the upcoming NHL draft in C/RW Dylan Cozens and Penguins prospect defensman Calen Addison.

 

Bellerive is in his second season as the Hurricanes captain and currently is second in team scoring with 13 points in just 10 games. Those points include a pretty even split with six goals and seven assists. Bellerive is proving to be a better two-way player this season as well. He has worked hard to become a more well-rounded centre and it shows with him being around the 50% mark in the faceoff dot. Of his six goals, half have come with the man advantage and he has two game winners as well. He will prove to be an asset for team WHL when the Russian squad comes calling.

Cozens is being pegged a top-10 selection (and even top five by some) in the NHL draft in 2019. His play on the ice is starting to reflect that. The product from Yukon leads Lethbridge in scoring, one point ahead of his linemate, Bellerive with 14 points. Cozens has been a setup machine with nine assists of those 14 points and adding a respectable five goals over the 10 games played by Lethbridge to this point. There will be a lot of eyes on the forward who can play both centre and right wing. He has spent the greater part of his ice time playing on the wing but still has had a good showing in the faceoff dot winning 60.9%. It will be interesting to use how the coaches for team WHL use him versus the Russians.

Addison is coming off a very successful season that saw him vaulted into a second round pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has been counted on by the ‘Canes coaching staff to lead the power play and has often been playing alongside rookie defencemen Alex Cotton or Nolan Jones. The Brandon product has produced just one goal but has added a team-high 10 helpers. His 11 points put him tied for fifth in team scoring. The one downside to his game is the unflattering minus 11 if you believe in that stat, being only 10 games in. Addison will most likely be asked to help Team WHL run one of the PP units.

All three Hurricanes players are well on their way to having incredible or even career seasons in the WHL and being selected to this series will be looked at has an honour. Congratulations to all three gentlemen, proof that hard work pays off.