Photo from Hockey Canada
PLYMOUTH, Mich. - USA Hockey's National Team Development Program announced today that, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League, it will take part in the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, presented by Kubota, which is being added to the calendar for the next three seasons.
The CHL-USA Prospects Challenge is a two-game series that will have players from the NTDP competing against the top first-year NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL’s three-member leagues – Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
The first edition of this new event is set to take place in November 2024 with specific details on the date, location and event format to come at a later date. Over the next three years, each of the CHL's three leagues will have an opportunity to serve as host.
“We’re very much looking forward to this new event with the CHL,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “It will provide our players with an additional opportunity to compete on the international stage at a high level as part of their overall development.”
“The Canadian Hockey League is excited to partner with USA Hockey to add this one-of-a-kind event for both our players and fans to enjoy over the coming seasons,” said Dan MacKenzie, president of the CHL. “Serving as a best-on-best showcase, the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge will provide our top draft-eligible players from across the CHL with a great opportunity to demonstrate their elite talent and world-class skill set as they work towards hearing their name called at the NHL Draft.”
“This Prospects Challenge will give NHL Clubs and CHL fans the unique opportunity to see the best Canadian and American NHL draft-eligible prospects compete in a two-game series, and it will provide the only time during the hockey season that some of the top-ranked prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft class will compete in a best-on-best patriotic rivalry,” said Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting. “This event provides an exclusive advance look at these top prospects and is the perfect venue for the CHL and USA Hockey players to showcase their skills and attributes.”
Photo by Hockey Canada
NOTE: Fans interested in learning more about the 2024 CHL-USA Prospects Challenge can enter their contact information by clicking here. Once entered, fans will be placed on a list to receive further event information.
ABOUT THE NTDP: USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program is a two-year residency program for high-performance players that is located at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. The goal of the full-time development program is to prepare student-athletes under the age of 18 for participation on U.S. National Teams and success in their future hockey careers. Its efforts focus not only on high-caliber participation on the ice, but creating well-rounded individuals off the ice.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE: The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is the world’s largest development hockey league with 51 Canadian and nine American teams participating in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League (NHL) and U SPORTS than any other league. Throughout the 2023-24 season, of the 1,000-plus players who played a game in the NHL, over 430 came through the CHL. At the 2023 NHL Draft, 80 CHL players were selected, including 11 in the first round.
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