Skip to content

Merkley to serve as alternate captain for Team WHL

Kelowna Rockets' forward part of leadership group for Canada-Russia series
Tri-City Americans v Kelowna Rockets
Centre Nick Merkley will wear a letter for Team WHL for the CIBC Canada Russia Series.

Hockey Canada is tapping into Nick Merkley's leadership for the first two games of the CIBC Canada-Russia Series.

The 19-year-old centre has been named one Team WHL's two alternate captains for the first two games of the series, Nov. 7 in Prince George and Nov. 8 in Edmonton.

Everett's Noah Juulsen will serve as captain for Team WHL, while Tri-City's Tyler Wotherspoon will join Merkley as an assistant.

Drafted in the first round, 30th overall, of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, the 19-year-old Merkley serves as an alternate captain for the Rockets and has tallied four assists in nine games to start the 2016-17 campaign.

A product of Calgary, AB., Merkley previously skated in two games for Team WHL during the 2015 event.

He also represented Team Canada at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup, managing four assists and a plus-9 rating in five games as Canada won gold.

In 191 career WHL regular season games, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward has notched 200 points (62G, 139A).