Predicting the CHL’s roster for 2026 Prospects Challenge against the USNTDP

Oct 14, 2026, 09:00 EDT

Credit: BRIAN LIESSE

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge has quickly become one of the most exciting showcases of the draft year. And, now, one of the two teams is looking to take the bragging rights back.

The Canadian Hockey League swept the first series in convincing fashion back in 2024 with a group led by Matthew Schaefer, Porter Martone and Michael Misa. The USA Hockey National Team Development Program bounced back in 2025, with Wyatt Cullen leading the charge as the Americans won in overtime of the series-deciding game in Western Canada.

Who’s going to take the all-time series lead this year? Chicoutimi and Québec City will play host to the two-day showcase Dec. 1-2, featuring some of the best 2027 NHL Draft talent both countries have to offer. NHL Central Scouting will put together the CHL’s roster using prospects from the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL. It doesn’t matter what country the player is from – this isn’t the Canadian national team. USA Hockey will ice its U-18 National Team Development Program roster, which competes against USHL and NCAA competition all season long.

The CHL already announced its first four players back in September, with another dozen or so set to be announced around Oct. 21. The final selections will be made in early-to-mid November before the event kicks off in December.

Here’s a look at what the roster could look like:

Forwards (13)

Noah Davidson, C (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)
Brock England, C (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL)
Jamie Glance, RW (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL)
Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, C (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)
Jaxon Jacobson, C (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)
Alexis Joseph, C (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL)
Ryan Kaczynski, LW (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)
Aleks Kulemin, C (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL)
Carter Meyer, C (Québec Remparts, QMJHL)
James Scantlebury, C (Québec Remparts, QMJHL)
Kayden Stroeder, C (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)
Jaakko Wycisk, C (Guelph Storm, OHL)
Dima Zhilkin, C (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)

While the CHL doesn’t have a high-end superstar forward, it does have unbelievable depth. This was one of the tougher groups to manage because there were so many legit first-round candidates to choose from. A total of 17 active CHL forwards made up DFO’s top 40 list earlier this month, meaning at least four had to be cut. There were also Soo Greyhounds wingers Ryan Kaczynski and Noah Laus, who just missed out on the top 40, who deserved some serious consideration. The pair have been absolutely dominant so far, with Kaczynski scoring at a goal-per-game pace.

The elephant in the room? There’s a boatload of centers here. Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup team realized that back in August but ultimately built a gold-medal contender. Brock England and Jaakko Wycisk were among the stars of the Hlinka while playing on the wing, and I imagine that’ll remain the case here. I also really liked Dima Zhilkin – Canada’s top forward – on the wing at the World Junior Summer Showcase. If I had to guess which players will primarily stay at center, I’ll go with Alexis Joseph, Kayden Stroeder, Carter Meyer (with James Scantlebury on his wing) and Aleks Kulemin.

This is a fast, hard-working forward group with plenty of high-end shooters. Kaczynski is on an absolute roll and should be given every opportunity to obliterate goalies in Quebec. Jamie Glance played in this event a year ago (and stood out), and the storyline of beating his former program would be a fun one to watch.

There’s a good chance every single forward listed above ends up going in the first two rounds. This is the perfect opportunity for fringe first-round talents to prove they can become difference-makers. The most interesting storyline might come from the Q – after years of hearing that it’s the weakest of the CHL’s three leagues, could players like Meyer and Joseph establish themselves as true first-line talents?

Also considered: Noah Laus, C (Soo Greyhounds, OHL); Maxmilian Mareš, C (Rimouski Océanic, QMJHL); Keaton Ardagh, RW (Brampton Steelheads, OHL); Camryn Warren, RW (Guelph Storm, OHL); Luca Santala, RW (Kitchener Rangers, OHL); Gavin Burcar, C (Spokane Chiefs, WHL), Ryerson Edgar, C (Niagara IceDogs, OHL); Roberts Naudiņš, LW (Penticton Vees, WHL); Brock Chitaroni, RW (Ottawa 67’s, OHL)

Defensemen (7)

David Buchman, LHD (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)
Brock Cripps, RHD (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
Kohyn Eshkawkogan, RHD (Ottawa 67’s, OHL)
Levi Harper, RHD (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
Malik L’Italien, LHD (Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL)
Cooper McAslan, RHD (London Knights, OHL)
Vladimir Shtyrkhunov, RHD (Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL)

This was a much more straightforward group to select. Brock Cripps, Levi Harper and Malik L’Italien feel like safe bets to go in the first round this year, while Cooper McAslan and Vladimir Shtyrkhunov are also in the conversation. Cripps and Harper are two of my personal favorites; they might lack size, but they’re dominant with the puck and are capable of flashy, high-octane moves in the vein of Xavier Villeneuve (who was dominant at this event last year).

A strong start for David Buchman made it tough to keep him off this list. The Brantford Bulldogs standout is averaging just under a point-per-game while easily being one of the CHL’s most consistent defenders. He’s small at 5-foot-11, but he loves to take space away and is strong defensively, too. A lack of high-end skating hurts, and he doesn’t engage physically too often. But right now, he’s having one of the hottest stretches of play of any CHLer and deserves to be in the conversation. I could see the CHL taking Boston Tait instead, though.

Also considered: Genc Ula, LHD (Sudbury Wolves, OHL); Boston Tait, LHD (Wenatchee Wild, WHL); William Dubé, LHD (Chicoutimi Saguenéens, QMJHL); Matthew Perreault, RHD (Peterborough Petes, OHL)

Goaltenders (2)

Vilmer Salén Forsberg, G (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)
Eric Tu (Calgary Hitmen, WHL)

Vilmer Salén Forsberg emerged as a potential top goaltending prospect at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He had some so-so moments with Sweden, but his 6-foot-6 frame, mixed with his raw athleticism, made him intriguing. He made the move to the OHL this year, where he found himself making more than 40 saves in multiple games early in the season. He hasn’t had a bad game yet; scouts absolutely love him.

On the other side (statistically), Eric Tu is considered by many to be one of the top goalies in the draft. His numbers are ugly for the most part, but he faces far too many high-danger chances in Calgary. He’s more than capable of stealing victories, something he proved during his international debut with China’s men’s team last year. Tu is a 6-foot-3 keeper who works hard, has quick hands and skates exceptionally well. Consistency will be a talking point the rest of the year, but Tu’s competitive nature makes him so fascinating.

Also considered: Hagen Bach (Barrie Colts, OHL); Carter Esler (Spokane Chiefs, WHL); Patrick Déniger (Quebec Remparts, QMJHL)

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