Defenceman Andrey Pedan of the Guelph Storm and forward Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting have been named to the preliminary roster for the Canada-Russia Challenge in August.

The pair are among six Canadian Hockey League players named to the Russian roster that also includes Buffalo Sabres first round pick Mikahil Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts, goaltender Andrei Makarov of the Saskatoon Blades, as well as Artem Sergeev and Anton Zlobin of the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

The four-game under-20 tournament commemorating the 1972 Summit Series starts in Yaroslavl, Russia, on Aug. 8 and 9 and then visits the Metro Centre in Halifax on Aug. 13 and 14.

Yakupov recently became the sixth straight CHL player to be chosen first overall at the NHL Entry Draft when he was selected by the Edmonton Oilers.  Yakupov competed with Russia and won silver at the 2012 World Junior Championship and recorded 69 points in 42 games with the Sting last season.

Pedan was chosen 63rd overall by the New York Islanders in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and is coming off his second season with the Storm where he scored 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points in 63 games while recording 152 penalty minutes.

Last month Hockey Canada announced the Canadian roster for the event which included 26 CHL players with 12 from the OHL.  See the CHL players here.

For more information please visit www.hockeycanada.ca.