Nine 2027 NHL Draft prospects added to CHL roster for CHL USA Prospects Challenge
Some enticing names are set to represent the Canadian Hockey League in an annual battle against their southern rivals.
On Thursday, the CHL announced that nine 2027 NHL Draft-eligible prospects have been named to the Team CHL roster as they prepare to take on the U.S. Under-18 Team in the 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge.
Forwards Ryerson Edgar (Niagara IceDogs, OHL), Aleks Kulemin (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL), Kayden Stroeder (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL) and Jaakko Wycisk (Guelph Storm, OHL) will be joined by defensemen Brock Cripps (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL), Levi Harper (Saginaw Spirit, OHL), Malik L’Italien (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL) and Cooper McAslan (London Knights, OHL), along with goaltender Vilmer Salén Forsberg (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL).
One of the biggest names on the roster, despite his physical stature, is Cripps. Ranked eighth in Steven Ellis’ preseason prospect rankings on Daily Faceoff. He’s off to a terrific start with the Raiders, having posted 17 points through 14 games, after registering 37 points during his rookie campaign. Fellow blueliner Harper was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team, as well as the CHL All-Rookie Team, after posting an impressive 57 points in 68 games. The University of Michigan commit has 10 points in eight games with the Spirit thus far.
Up front, Ryerspm Edgar, another future Wolverine, is off to another solid start in Niagara, having posted seven goals and 14 points in 13 contests. Salen Forsberg has made his presence known in the couple of months of his rookie season in Brantford. In nine games, he has a 6-2-0-1 record, with a 2.19 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and one shutout.
The nine players join the four originally named to the CHL roster – Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL), Dima Zhilkin (Saginaw Spirit, OHL), Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL), and Carter Meyer (Quebec Remparts, QMJHL). All 13 players received an ‘A’ rating by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2026-27 season. Nine players were also on Canada’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August.
This will be the third edition of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. After the CHL ran roughshod over the United States in the inaugural event in 2024, the American squad bounced back last year, winning the two-game set in “Super Overtime” in Alberta.
This year’s team is led by North Bay Battalion head coach Ryan Oulahan. Game 1 is set for Dec. 1, in Chicoutimi, Que., with Centre Videotron hosting the second game of the series, scheduled for Dec. 2.