Predicting the CHL’s roster for prospect showcase against the USNTDP
When the CHL and USA Hockey announced the start of a new, two-game showcase series for November, scouts were excited.
We hadn’t seen a true international prospect showcase since the old U-20 series between Canada and Russia. And even then, Canada split the teams by league, and it was more of a showcase for the players trying to make the World Junior Championship.
Instead, the focus here is on showing the best draft eligibles to the world. On Nov. 26 and 27, the CHL will host two games in Ontario, with games in London and Oshawa. NHL Central Scouting will put together the CHL’s roster using 2025 NHL Draft prospects from the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL. USA will ice its National Team Development Program roster, which competes against USHL and NCAA competition all season long.
Canada will have the edge in pure skill, but the USNTDP will have the chemistry factor from playing together for well over a year now. LJ Mooney, Charlie Trethewey and William Moore are among the most notable players for the USNTDP, a group that won silver at the 2023 U-17 World Championship.
The roster will remain the same through the two games unless players are needed to be swapped out due to injuries or other factors. For a breakdown on 40 of the top prospects for 2025, including players on both teams, click here.
With the CHL’s lineup expected to be announced next week, here’s a look at what a 13-forward, seven-defenseman and two-goaltender group could look like:
Forwards:
Porter Martone, RW (Brampton Steelheads): It’s easy to like Martone, who is one of the most difficult players to beat in 1-on-1 situations. He’s aggressive, smart, skilled, and a natural-born leader already. Even when he’s not at 100 percent, Martone has found ways to remain productive on the scoresheet with Brampton. Could he end up overtaking James Hagens as the top prospect this year? It’s not out of the question.
Roger McQueen, C (Brandon Wheat Kings): McQueen is already off to an excellent start in Brandon, making him one of the most talked-about prospects early on. At 6-foot-5, he’s hard to miss out there, bringing out traits similar to those of Cayden Lindstrom last year. McQueen can push players away like it’s nothing, and he’s got the all-around talent to be thrust into just about any role.
Michael Misa, LW (Saginaw Spirit): Did you doubt Misa before? Your mistake. He’s producing at a rate of two points per game and has shown no signs of slowing down in his third year in the OHL. Saginaw is going to be a difficult team to contain down the stretch, especially if Misa continues to do things with the puck that he’s pulling off.
Malcolm Spence, LW (Erie Otters): Spence is an absolute menace on the ice, and he’s got the skill to step it up. He gets in the way of just about everyone, has some of the best chirps in the class and then will make you pay with a nice goal. He hasn’t had an explosive start to the year, statistically, but he’s still kicking butt and looking like the best player on most shifts.
Caleb Desnoyers, C (Moncton Wildcats): Desnoyers’ speed, skill, and two-way smarts should put him in the conversation to go in the top 10 in 2025. He’s not someone who’ll get caught slacking off and just floating around – he’s fully committed to getting the puck every time he can. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, he put on some serious muscle since his QMJHL Draft year, and it’s starting to show with his play.
Jake O’Brien, C (Brantford Bulldogs): O’Brien was the OHL rookie of the year last season after surprising everyone with his 51 assists. He isn’t flashy, but he passes so quickly and effectively with very little difficulty. Right now, he’s off to a decent start in the OHL, but I want to see more intensity and a willingness to shoot from more dangerous areas. But there’s still lot to like here from a two-way perspective.
Cole Reschny, C (Victoria Royals): Reschny was one of the most impressive rookies in the CHL last year, moving about at a near-point-per-game pace. A stout playmaker, Reschny has quick feet, an active motor, and is great at getting himself in spots to pick up rebounds. He’s small at 5-foot-9, but he’s smart enough to get himself out of trouble.
Émile Guité, LW (Chicoutimi Saguenéens): Guité can be a bit hot or cold at times – he looked great at the Hlinka but has had a quieter start to the season in Chicoutimi. I think we’re still going to see the highly skilled winger break through at some point because he understands how to manipulate defenders and get into open space as well as anyone.
Brady Martin, RW (Soo Greyhounds): Mark my words: Martin is going to be one of the draft’s biggest surprises. He’s a talented forward who can do a lot for a team, but he didn’t get to prove himself in the OHL last year due to an injury. Even if he doesn’t make it to the NHL as a point producer, he’s got the mobility and tenacity you want from someone who makes themselves difficult to play against. Martin just wants the puck at all times.
Justin Carbonneau, RW (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada): Carbonneau has been one of the top players in the QMJHL this year, helping to solidify himself as a first-round talent this year. Carbonneau is a great skater who loves the puck on his stick and has some decent size, too. He’s really growing on me the more I watch him.
Braeden Cootes, C (Seattle Thunderbirds): Cootes might become more of an energy forward in the NHL, and that’s OK. The thing that really stands out here is just how much he wants the puck, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Cootes is also a solid playmaker, often easily finding teammates in open space.
Lynden Lakovic, LW (Moose Jaw Warriors): A big dude who can score? Lakovic is intriguing for his 6-foot-4 frame and his ability to generate offense from all over the ice. He had a decent 2023-24 campaign but is on pace for around 40 goals and 85 points this year as a key piece of the Warriors’ attack.
Cameron Schmidt, RW (Vancouver Giants): Schmidt might be small at 5-foot-8, but he’s a speedy puckhandler capable of some serious damage with the puck. He’s up to 11 goals and 15 points in his first nine games, and after scoring 31 a year ago, he looks destined for over 50 this year. Schmidt’s lack of size could be seen as an issue, but he’s excellent in front of the net and isn’t afraid of anyone.
Also considered: Bill Zonnon, LW (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies), Filip Ekberg, LW (Ottawa 67’s), Carter Bear, LW (Everett Silvertips), Nathan Behm, RW (Kamloops Blazers), Liam Kilfoil, C (Halifax Mooseheads)
Defensemen:
Matthew Schaefer, LHD (Erie Otters): Schaefer hasn’t played during the OHL campaign due to mono, but he was one of the best players at both the U-18 World Championship and the recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He’s the clear No. 1 defenseman by most evaluators I’ve talked to based on his pure, raw skill. He also has great size at 6-foot-2 and is as mobile as it gets. Schaefer is a future top-pairing blueliner, and he happens to be one of the youngest players in the draft class, too.
Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD (Barrie Colts): If you get a chance to see the Colts play in person, do it. Aitcheson is physical, plays a ton on the penalty kill, moves well, and takes away space as well as anyone. I don’t see him being much of a point producer in the NHL, but he’s just a mean dude out there.
Jackson Smith, LHD (Tri-City Americans): At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Smith already has an excellent frame for his age. He’s a pain in the rear end to try and beat in 1-on-1 situations because he loves getting in your face as much as possible. He’s quite well-rounded for his age and I think he has a chance to shoot up some draft boards.
Blake Fiddler, RHD (Edmonton Oil Kings): Sometimes, you just need someone who can move players around, and Fiddler can do it. The 6-foot-4 blueliner is a big-bodied defender who clears forwards away from his net and pushes opponents to the perimeter. He’s also off to a solid season for the Oil Kings, where he could end up with close to 50 points.
Alex Huang, RHD (Chicoutimi Saguenéens): Huang isn’t big, but he isn’t afraid to get aggressive. He plays a good two-way game and might be one of the more skilled defenders in this draft. The Chicoutimi Saguenéens star likes to slow things down before suddenly beating everyone with his speed and creativity.
Reese Hamilton, LHD (Calgary Hitmen): The first thing you’ll notice about Hamilton is his skating. He’s not big, but he makes up for that with pure mobility and two-way play. He can play a variety of different roles to help ensure his spot in a lineup – something that’ll be valuable at the next level.
Owen Conrad, LHD (Charlottetown Islanders): Conrad is an athletic, strong defenseman who can move the puck and take space away. Conrad’s offense might not be a shining element of his game, but he’s playing with more aggressiveness than we’ve seen from him at other levels – and he’s dang good in his own zone.
Also considered: Henry Brzustewicz, RHD (London Knights), Cameron Reid, LHD (Kitchener Rangers), Carson Cameron, RHD (Peterborough Petes), Quinn Beauchesne, RHD (Guelph Storm), Peyton Kettles, RHD (Swift Current Broncos)
Goalies:
Jack Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads): Ivankovic was putting on a clinic in the OHL before he was suspended four games for fighting. Ivankovic has the mobility you want from any star goalie prospect, and despite being small, he’s got the results to back him that suggest that he’s going to be an impact NHLer one day.
Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George Cougars): Ravensbergen will be in the hunt to make Canada’s World Junior team, and a good showing in this tournament won’t hurt. He’s a 6-foot-4 goaltender coming off an incredible Draft-1 season with the Cougars and has the makings of a first-round pick. Stylistically, he reminds me a bit of Yaroslav Askarov, maybe without all the flash.
Also considered: Gabriel D’Aigle (Victoriaville Tigres), Matthew Hutchison (Vancouver Giants), Spencer Michnik (Victoria Royals), Koen Cleaver (Lethbridge Hurricanes)
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