CHL announces roster for CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Fifteen of the 27 players given ‘A’ ratings in Central Scouting’s first rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft will play for Team CHL in the second annual CHL USA Prospects Challenge next month in Alberta.

The CHL roster, unveiled Tuesday by the league, pits draft-eligible players from Canada’s three major-junior leagues against members of the U.S. under-18 team Nov. 15 in Calgary and Nov. 26 in Lethbridge, Alta.

Players given ‘A’ ratings are considered first-round prospects.

Among the top CHLers in the game are defencemen Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants), Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders), Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada), and forwards Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires), JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers) and Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs).

Goalie Harrison Boettiger (Kelowna Rockets) switches sides in this year’s games after playing last year for the U.S. under-19 team.

NHL clubs and a group of CHL coaches and general managers assembled the club.

Three of the top lottery candidates for next year’s draft are playing outside the CHL this season and not in the game — forwards Gavin McKenna (Penn State), Ivar Stenberg (Frolunda, Sweden) and defenceman Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota). McKenna and Verhoeff transferred to the NCAA from the CHL after a rule change allowed ex-CHL players to play U.S. college hockey.

Last year, Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer played in the CHL USA Challenge and went on to be picked first overall by the New York Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft.

This yearâ€s roster features 10 players from the OHL, eight from the WHL and four from the QMJHL.

Here is a list of players for Team CHL in this yearâ€s game:

Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires, Oakville, Ont.)

Maddox Dagenais (Quebec Remparts, Saint-Lazare, Que.)

Alessandro Di Iirio (Sarnia Sting, Vaughan, Ont.)

Beckham Edwards (Sarnia Sting, Komoka, Ont.)

Chase Harrington (Spokane Chiefs, Prince George, B.C.)

JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers, Allen, Texas)

Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit, Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs, Toronto)

Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes, Kobylice, Czechia)

Mathis Preston (Spokane Chiefs, Penticton, B.C.)

Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals, Brighton, Mich.)

Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs, London, Ont.)

Egor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres, Tyumen, Russia)

Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars, Cypress River, Man.)

Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants, Richmond, B.C.)

Charlie Morrison (Quebec Remparts, Miramichi, N.B.)

Giorgos Pantelas (Brandon Wheat Kings, Victoria, B.C.)

Chase Reid (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Chesterfield, Mich.)

Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders, Lacombe, Alta.)

Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Les Cedres, Que.)

Harrison Boettiger (Kelowna Rockets, Wheat Rudge, Colo.)

Zachary Jovanovski (Guelph Storm, Tecumseh, Ont.)

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