The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canada-based major junior ice hockey leagues. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. For the 2023–24 season, its three leagues and 60 teams represent nine Canadian provinces as well as four American states.
Alexei Vyacheslavovich Kovalev is a Russian professional ice hockey coach, executive and former professional player. He is currently serving as the assistant coach for HC Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Sergei Viktorovich Samsonov is a Russian former professional ice hockey forward who is now a scout for the Carolina Hurricanes. He played in the NHL with six teams from 1997 to 2011. Internationally Samsonov played for the Russian national team in several tournaments, including the 2002 Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.
Andrei Nikolaevich Kovalenko is a Russian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins. He is currently the chairman of the Kontinental Hockey League players association.
Igor Sergeevich Ulanov is a Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ulanov was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the tenth round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.
Nikita Sergeyevich Alexeev, sometimes transliterated as Alexeyev, is a Russian former professional ice hockey forward who last played in the Kontinental Hockey League with Severstal Cherepovets. He formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks. He was a first round pick, 8th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft for the Lightning.
Alexei Zhitnik is a Ukrainian-Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Zhitnik has played more games in the National Hockey League (NHL) (1,085) than any other Soviet-born defenceman. He has represented the Soviet Union, CIS, and Russia internationally; and Ukraine during two NHL All-Star Games. His number, 13, has been honored by Sokil Kyiv.
Oleg Fedorovych Tverdovsky is a Russian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played professionally from 1994 to 2013. He was selected 2nd overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1994 NHL entry draft, playing 713 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, and Los Angeles Kings. He won 2 Stanley Cups with the Devils in 2003, and the Canes in 2006.
Lasse Juhani Kukkonen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played for Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga. Earlier in his career, he had a four-year stint in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers. After his career in ice hockey, Kukkonen is working as a lecturer and trainer specialising in mental coaching and leadership.
The 2005–06 OHL season was the 26th season of the Ontario Hockey League. The Canadian Hockey League adopted the new playing rules and enforcement recently adopted by the National Hockey League in efforts to speed up the game, and make it more exciting for fans. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The J. Ross Robertson Cup was won by the Peterborough Petes, who defeated the London Knights in the final.
Andrei Viktorovich Nazarov is a Russian former professional ice hockey player and head coach of HC Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has formerly managed the Kazakh team Barys Astana, the Ukrainian national team and been joint coach of the Russian National Hockey Team. He has been nicknamed "the Russian Bear", and in his coaching career, "the Russian Keenan".
Alexander Ivanovich Korolyuk is a Russian former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks before playing the remainder of his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Nino Niederreiter is a Swiss professional ice hockey winger for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest-drafted Swiss hockey player in NHL history at the time. Niederreiter made his NHL debut with the Islanders early in the 2010–11 season before being returned to his junior club, the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Prior to coming to North America, Niederreiter had played in the junior system of the Swiss team HC Davos and appeared in three playoff games for the senior club in 2010.
Vladimir Andreyevich Tarasenko is a Russian professional ice hockey right winger for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to playing in the NHL, he played in the system of Sibir Novosibirsk organization, first playing for the senior team in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2008–09. He spent a total of three seasons with Novosibirsk before being traded to SKA Saint Petersburg in 2012. Tarasenko was selected in the first round, 16th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, joining the team for the 2012–13 season. He spent parts of 11 seasons in St. Louis, becoming one of the franchise's leading scorers, playing in three NHL All-Star Games, and winning the Stanley Cup in 2019. Tarasenko was then traded to the New York Rangers in February 2023, and later played for the Ottawa Senators before a trade to the Panthers.
Nail Railovich Yakupov is a Russian professional ice hockey forward for Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, and also played with the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. Due to his draft position, short NHL career and low point totals, Yakupov is widely regarded as one of the biggest draft busts in NHL history.
Vladislav Yevgenievich Namestnikov is a Russian professional ice hockey centre for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 27th overall by the Lightning in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, and has previously played in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars.
Mikhail Olegovich Grigorenko is a Russian professional ice hockey forward for HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Valery Knyazev is a Russian ice hockey player. He currently plays with HC Sibir Novosibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Andrei Igorevich Svechnikov is a Russian professional ice hockey winger for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Hurricanes selected him second overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Artemi Yurevich Kniazev is a Russian professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), as a prospect on loan from the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut in 2021. Internationally, Kniyazev played for the Russian national junior team at the 2021 World Junior Championships.
