CHL-USHL Prospects Challenge 2025 players to watch

The hockey scouting world descends on Calgary and Lethbridge, Alberta this week for the 2025 CHL-USHL Prospects Challenge, a premier showcase featuring the top draft-eligible talent from across North America. With 15 “A-rated” prospects—projected first-round selections for the 2026 NHL Draft—headlining Team CHL, this two-game series offers a critical platform for elite teenagers to cement their draft status. For many, it represents one of few opportunities to make a lasting impression on NHL general managers and executives before June’s draft.

The inaugural 2024 event proved a massive success, with 16 of 22 Team CHL members selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. This year’s installment, hosted by the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes, promises even greater stakes as scouts evaluate how these prospects perform against elite peer competition rather than junior league opposition. The absence of NCAA draft elites like Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff, who made the unprecedented jump from CHL to college hockey this season, only heightens the spotlight on those taking the ice in Alberta.

Elite CHL forwards at the 2025 prospects challenge

Ethan Belchetz: The OHL’s premier power forward

The Windsor Spitfires’ Ethan Belchetz enters as the top OHL prospect on display, and scouts are buzzing about his unique combination of size and skill. At 6-foot-5, the Oakville native has drawn comparisons to a rhinoceros on skates—an imposing physical presence who scores goals with remarkable ease. What separates Belchetz is his timing; many of his goals come when his team needs them most, a clutch factor that NHL executives covet.

The tighter, more structured style expected in the Prospects Challenge will test Belchetz’s ability to translate his OHL dominance to a higher level. This environment provides the perfect stage to showcase himself as one of the draft class’s premier offensive threats. A standout performance would validate growing belief that he can develop into an impactful NHL power forward who changes games with both his physicality and scoring touch.

Scouts will watch closely to see if Belchetz can leverage his frame to create space against the USHL’s disciplined defense. His ability to maintain possession along the boards and drive the net will be crucial indicators of his pro potential. The international-style ice and elevated competition will reveal whether his offensive instincts can translate when he can’t simply overpower opponents.

JP Hurlbert: WHL scoring machine

Leading the WHL in scoring through the early season, JP Hurlbert has been nothing short of spectacular for the Kamloops Blazers. The Allen, Texas native averages nearly two points per game, relying on elite instincts, a lethal shot, and high-end playmaking abilities that have made him nearly unstoppable in junior hockey. His speed and creativity have produced highlight-reel goals on a weekly basis.

However, scouts arrive in Alberta with specific questions about Hurlbert’s game. They want to see improved pace and a willingness to make tougher plays rather than relying on teammates to feed him scoring chances. The Prospects Challenge demands players create their own offense, and Hurlbert must demonstrate he can execute in tight spaces against elite defenders. His performance alongside a true play-driver will showcase his ability to complement top-tier talent.

The two-game series represents a proving ground for Hurlbert’s transition game. Can he maintain his production when every opponent matches his skill level? His success will depend on playing in harder areas, making connective plays, and elevating his compete level. A strong showing could solidify his status as a top-15 pick, while struggles might raise concerns about his ability to create offense independently.

American prospects to watch in Alberta

Victor Plante: NTDP’s creative playmaker

Victor Plante headlines the U.S. National Team Development Program contingent as their leading scorer, bringing familiar traits for scouts who followed his older brothers Zam and Max through their draft-eligible seasons. The youngest Plante possesses elite hockey sense and playmaking vision that enables him to create offense against more mature competition in USHL play. His ability to read the game two steps ahead of defenders makes him a constant threat.

Despite his smaller stature, Plante compensates with tenacious forechecking and an aggressive approach to forcing turnovers. His compete level never wavers, and he consistently battles against larger opponents. The challenge in Calgary will be facing the CHL’s top shutdown defenders, whose stick work and physicality will test Plante’s skill set in ways he hasn’t experienced this season. This matchup provides essential data on his ability to drive offense against premier defensive talent.

NHL teams view Plante as a potential middle-six forward at the next level, but he must prove he can stand out against his peer group. The Prospects Challenge offers the perfect proving ground. If he can maintain his creative edge while adding to his physical involvement, Plante could cement his status as a first-round prospect. His performance will be particularly revealing when matched against bigger defenders like Daxon Rudolph and Ryan Lin.

Mikey Berchild: The silent sniper

Mikey Berchild may not cut an imposing figure, but goaltenders across the USHL speak reverently about his release. The NTDP forward possesses one of the draft class’s most deceptive shots, with an ability to catch netminders off-guard that translates even against older competition. His speed and elite puck skill allow him to create advantageous shooting positions, reminiscent of Phil Kessel in his prime.

What makes Berchild particularly dangerous is his capacity to score off the rush at full stride. His well-rounded offensive package features high-end puck skills that let him play through defenders and generate quality chances. Against Team CHL’s structured defense, Berchild will need every tool in his arsenal to find open ice. A standout performance could propel him into first-round consideration and validate his offensive prowess.

The challenge for Berchild lies in proving he can maintain his scoring touch when he can’t simply outskate opponents. The CHL defense corps features mobile, intelligent blueliners who excel at closing gaps and limiting rush opportunities. Scouts want to see if Berchild can adapt by creating offense in the cycle game and finding soft spots in defensive coverage.

Game-breaking defensemen at the showcase

Ryan Lin: The undersized offensive catalyst

Ryan Lin represents the modern NHL defender—undersized but offensively brilliant. The Richmond, British Columbia native has been a one-man breakout machine for the Vancouver Giants, notching 28 points in 24 games while quarterbacking the power play with creativity and poise. His ability to read transition play and thread passes through the tightest lanes has scouts projecting him as a potential top-10 selection.

Lin’s defensive development has been equally impressive this season. Once questioned for his play without the puck, he’s taken significant strides in using his intelligence and positioning to neutralize larger opponents. The Prospects Challenge will test these improvements against the USHL’s best forwards. His performance in his own zone will be as scrutinized as his offensive contributions.

The two-game set gives Lin a platform to showcase his complete game. If he can tilt the ice offensively while defending capably against elite competition, he’ll cement his status as one of the draft’s premier defensemen. His ability to activate from the blue line and create offense in transition makes him a critical piece for Team CHL’s success.

Luke Schairer: The NTDP’s defensive anchor

Luke Schairer stands as the USNTDP’s best hope for a first-round selection this season, and for good reason. The big, right-handed defender combines good mobility with exceptional poise, rarely getting caught off balance or making rushed decisions. His defensive positioning and ability to close gaps have been his calling card throughout his development.

What intrigues scouts is Schairer’s untapped offensive potential. He shows flashes of rush activation and has room to develop his puck-moving game. Against Team CHL’s stacked forward group, he’ll be counted on for major shutdown minutes against players like Ethan Belchetz and JP Hurlbert. Keeping these elite scorers quiet would significantly boost his draft stock.

The Prospects Challenge represents a proving ground for Schairer’s NHL projection as a middle-pairing defender. His ability to drive play in transition and facilitate positive possession against such high-end talent will be closely monitored. If he can demonstrate offensive growth while maintaining his defensive reliability, Schairer could solidify his place in the first-round conversation.

European influence at the prospects challenge

Adam Novotný: Czech offensive weapon

Peterborough Petes forward Adam Novotný brings a unique European flair to Team CHL as one of just two international players on the roster. The Czech native has adapted quickly to the smaller North American ice surface, using his skill and creativity to become a key offensive contributor. His vision and playmaking abilities reflect the technical development common in Czech hockey programs.

Novotný’s performance in Alberta takes on added importance as scouts evaluate how his game translates against American competition. The USNTDP features several defensively responsible forwards who will test his ability to create offense against structured systems. His showing could influence how NHL teams view European prospects in what many consider a deep North American draft class.

The Petes forward has the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of recent Czech stars who’ve excelled in the CHL. A strong performance against the USHL’s best would demonstrate his readiness for the North American pro game and potentially elevate his draft stock into the second round.

Egor Shilov: Russian rookie sensation

Egor Shilov has taken the QMJHL by storm, pacing all rookies with 21 points in just 12 games for the Victoriaville Tigres. The Russian forward combines elite skill with a developing physical game that has scouts intrigued about his long-term projection. His ability to produce at such a high rate in his first CHL season speaks to his adaptability and hockey sense.

The Prospects Challenge presents Shilov with his stiffest competition to date. The USNTDP features defensively disciplined players who will limit the time and space he’s enjoyed in the QMJHL. How he responds to this challenge will be telling for NHL teams evaluating his ability to produce against elite peer competition.

Shilov’s inclusion highlights the CHL’s global reach and the increasing diversity of talent in Canadian junior hockey. His performance alongside his North American counterparts will be closely watched by scouts looking to compare development paths. Success in this showcase would validate the CHL as a premier destination for European prospects aiming for the NHL.

What this means for the 2026 NHL draft

Impression management for draft stock

The CHL-USHL Prospects Challenge 2025 players to watch have a unique opportunity to either solidify or reshape their draft narratives in just two games. Every shift matters when NHL general managers and scouting directors are watching live, many for the first time this season. A single standout play can tip the scales when draft weekend arrives in June, particularly for players on the first-round bubble.

The event’s structure—a two-game series with full team practices—allows scouts to evaluate not just skill but intangibles. How players handle adversity, respond to coaching, and compete when fatigued provides invaluable data points. These details often separate prospects with similar physical tools and production histories.

Team chemistry will also factor heavily. The CHL squad features players who’ve never shared the ice, while the USNTDP group trains together daily. This dynamic could reveal which CHL prospects can quickly adapt to new linemates and systems—a critical skill for NHL success.

The event’s timing—midway through the junior season—allows for mid-year reassessment. Players like Alessandro Di Iorio, who missed significant time with injury, can reintroduce themselves to scouts who haven’t seen them since last season. For others, it’s about maintaining momentum from strong starts against their toughest test yet.

The presence of 32 NHL clubs ensures comprehensive coverage of every player. With multiple scouts from each organization in attendance, prospects receive the most thorough evaluation of their season. This collective assessment often drives consensus within the scouting community.

The 2025 CHL-USHL Prospects Challenge concludes a pivotal evaluation period for NHL teams. As scouts depart Alberta and return to their junior circuits, the impressions formed over these two games will influence draft boards for the remaining six months of the season. For the prospects themselves, the experience provides invaluable exposure to elite competition and a taste of the professional evaluation process they’ll navigate throughout their careers.