The CHL announced the players it will send to the CHL USA Prospects Challenge for two games featuring hockey’s future.
The challenge is set to showcase the best NHL draft-eligible players from the CHL as they take on the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in a two-game series. The first game is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Canada Life Place in London, Ont., while the second contest will be held the following night at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ont.
With the event coming up in about a month, the CHL revealed its roster. It features 10 players from each of the OHL and the WHL, while the QMJHL has two representatives. Notably absent is Roger McQueen of the Brandon Wheat Kings, who is injured and will be unavailable.
Here it is!
Team CHL's 22-man roster revealed for the 2024 #CHLUSAProspectsChallenge presented by @Kubota
Don’t miss out, get your tickets now!
🎟️ https://t.co/6Zt8kTJgcS— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) October 22, 2024
The group looks quite strong on paper, led by Michael Misa, who leads the entire CHL in goal-scoring with 14 goals through 10 games and sits second in OHL scoring. Porter Martone sits just one point behind Misa for third in OHL scoring. The duo will lead a strong forward group that also features WHL leading scorer Cameron Schmidt and top 10 WHL scorers Carter Bear and Lynden Lakovic. Forwards Justin Carbonneau and Caleb Desnoyers are the two representatives for the QMJHL.
On the back end, Matthew Schaefer immediately stands out as the top-tier blueliner. He hasn’t played a game yet this season as he recovers from mononucleosis, however, so his status will be worth monitoring as we get closer to the event.
Jackson Smith and Blake Fiddler are two of the bigger names on the back end. Fiddler captained Team USA at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in the summer, so going up against the Americans will be fun to watch.
In net, standout netminders Jack Ivankovic from Brampton in the OHL and Joshua Ravensbergen from Prince George in the WHL will man the crease. Both goalies have put up incredible numbers over the last couple of years and have been off to great starts this season. They will likely be battling it out as the top netminder taken at the NHL draft in June 2025.
Some notable omissions are forwards Emile Guite (Chicoutimi, QMJHL) and Jordan Gavin (Tri-City, WHL), as well as defenseman Alex Huang (Chicoutimi, QMJHL).
The full roster for the CHL is below. Changes due to injury and availability could be made up until the event.
Forwards
Carter Bear, Everett (WHL)
Justin Carbonneau, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Braeden Cootes, Seattle (WHL)
Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL)
Benjamin Kindel, Calgary (WHL)
Lynden Lakovic, Moose Jaw (WHL)
Brady Martin, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Porter Martone, Brampton (OHL)
Michael Misa, Saginaw (OHL)
Jake O’Brien, Brantford (OHL)
Cole Reschny, Victoria (WHL)
Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver (WHL)
Malcolm Spence, Erie (OHL)
Defensemen
Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie (OHL)
Quinn Beauchesne, Guelph (OHL)
Blake Fiddler, Edmonton (WHL)
Reese Hamilton, Calgary (WHL)
Cameron Reid, Kitchener (OHL)
Matthew Schaefer, Erie (OHL)
Jackson Smith, Tri-City (WHL)
Goaltenders
Jack Ivankovic, Brampton (OHL)
Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George (WHL)
The Format
The CHL USA Prospects Challenge replaces the CHL Top Prospects game that has been a fixture in the junior hockey calendar in Canada for years. It will be a part of the calendar for the next three seasons as the CHL and NTDP look to build off the rivalry built between Canada and the United States over decades of classic hockey clashes.
The format of the mini-series will see teams earn two points for a win and zero points for a loss, regardless of whether a game ends in regulation, overtime or a shootout. If a game is tied after regulation, teams will play a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period, followed by a three-round shootout if necessary. If either game is still tied after three players have shot for each team, the shootout will continue in a sudden-death fashion using different players until a team wins the game.
If after the completion of the second game of the series, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge has the CHL and NTDP’s U-18 team tied at two points each, the teams will play a 3-on-3 20-minute period(s) until a goal is scored to determine the winner of the series.
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News Summary:
- CHL Unveils Roster For CHL USA Prospects Challenge: Top NHL Draft Talents Stand Out
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.