It's a tournament Cochrane's Dillion Dube has been invited to attend twice before and he's had to bow out due to injuries.

So, third time lucky?

He hopes so, and so does Team WHL, who have named him captain of their squad for the upcoming elite junior Canada-Russia Series.

Dube, 19, knew he was in the running for a leadership position, but didn't expect to be named captain.

"I didn't know they were going to name me captain. I thought I would just be playing a leadership role and help out some guys. It's a huge honour to be named."

He also enjoys the opportunity to skate with other top junior players in the running to make this year's Team Canada for the IIHF Junior World Cup. Dube was on that team last year and earned three assists in seven games in Canada's silver medal performance.

"It gives you a chance to get use to all the systems. It's like an extended tryout, so it's nice to be part of this tournament."

Dube is currently in his fourth full season with the Kelowna Rockets and wears an 'A'. Between attending Calgary Flames and Team Canada camps there's been a tremendous amount of travel and he's now starting to get up to speed with his teammates on the Rockets.

"I'm getting use to everything again. I didn't get to come to camp so I'm just becoming familar with all the guys and it's taking off. It's been a lot of fun."

Team WHL is one of the three Canadian teams participating in the Canada-Russia junior tournament that opens in Moose Jaw, SK on Nov. 6. The tournament was created in 2003.

Connor Bouchard update

In other junior hockey news, the rosters have been set for the red, black and white Canadian teams in the upcming World U17 Hockey Challenge being hosted by Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, B.C. from Nov. 5 to 11.

Cochrane's Connor Bouchard, who's in his rookie season with the Tri-City Americans, has been named to Team Canada White.