Team CHL Five to Watch: Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis
Team CHL’s 22-man roster for November’s CHL USA Prospects Challenge is full of players to keep an eye on.
Ahead of the two-game series against the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) on Nov. 25 (Calgary) and Nov. 26 (Lethbridge), Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis looks at five players he is eager to watch as they continue to build their stock ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Maddox Dagenais (Quebec/QMJHL): Dagenais was the first overall pick by the Quebec Ramparts in 2024. I feel like his numbers don’t tell the full story about just how effective he can be. He’s a volume shooter who often has to do a lot of heavy lifting for Quebec, and never really looks overwhelmed. He’s 6-foot-3, comes from good hockey bloodlines and plays with pace. This will be Dagenais’ best opportunity to fly up draft boards.
Adam Novotný (Peterborough/OHL): A projected first-round pick, Novotný played some of his best hockey around the time of the roster announcement. He loves to shoot the puck, but can still excel as a set-up guy. I think his two-way game deserves more love, as well. This feels like a perfect event for Novotný to prove what he’s capable of.
GAME 1 TICKETS (Calgary)
GAME 2 TICKETS (Lethbridge)
Beckham Edwards (Sarnia/OHL): Edwards is a buzzsaw, chasing after opponents to steal pucks and generate chances. He’s quick, smart and works his tail off every single shift. Teams love guys like Edwards – they’re moldable at the NHL level while showing a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
Giorgos Pantelas (Brandon/WHL): Pantelas had just 10 points in his first full WHL season. He matched that in just nine games this year. Add in his big frame and his impressive D-zone coverage and there’s a lot to love about his season. Pantelas plays with an edge, but does so without getting himself into too much trouble. He’s one of the biggest rising defenders out of the CHL early in the season.
Harrison Boettiger (Kelowna/WHL): Boettiger hasn’t played much this year on Kelowna, but has been impressive when called upon. He’s one of the top goaltending prospects for 2025-26 in a year where the race looks wide open. He’s also a returning player to this event, having played for USA last year. I liked Boettiger’s performance then, and I expect him to shine when called upon in Alberta.
Building off of one of hockey’s greatest rivalries between Canada and the United States, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge will see players from the CHL and NTDP’s U18 team compete before hundreds of NHL scouts and thousands of fans in an effort to improve their draft stock ahead of next year’s NHL Draft.
The 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge will be broadcast live across Canada on TSN and RDS. Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. ET both nights.
Tickets are available now at chl.ca/prospectschallenge.
TEAM CHL ROSTER — 2025 CHL USA PROSPECTS CHALLENGE
| Name | Team | League | Hometown | NHL CS Grade |
| Forwards (13) | ||||
| Ethan Belchetz | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | Oakville, ON | A |
| Maddox Dagenais | Québec Remparts | QMJHL | Saint-Lazare, QC | B |
| Alessandro Di Iorio | Sarnia Sting | OHL | Vaughan, ON | A |
| Beckham Edwards | Sarnia Sting | OHL | Komoka, ON | B |
| Chase Harrington | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | Prince George, BC | B |
| JP Hurlbert | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | Allen, TX (USA) | A |
| Nikita Klepov | Saginaw Spirit | OHL | Deerfield Beach, FL (USA) | A |
| Caleb Malhotra | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL | Toronto, ON | A |
| Adam Novotný | Peterborough Petes | OHL | Kobylice, CZE | A |
| Mathis Preston | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | Penticton, BC | A |
| Brooks Rogowski | Oshawa Generals | OHL | Brighton, MI (USA) | A |
| Ryan Roobroeck | Niagara IceDogs | OHL | London, ON | A |
| Egor Shilov | Victoriaville Tigres | QMJHL | Tyumen, RUS | A |
| Defencemen (7) | ||||
| Carson Carels | Prince George Cougars | WHL | Cypress River, MB | A |
| Ryan Lin | Vancouver Giants | WHL | Richmond, BC | A |
| Charlie Morrison | Québec Remparts | QMJHL | Miramichi, NB | B |
| Giorgos Pantelas | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | Victoria, BC | B |
| Chase Reid | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | Chesterfield, MI (USA) | A |
| Daxon Rudolph | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | Lacombe, AB | A |
| Xavier Villeneuve | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | QMJHL | Les Cèdres, QC | A |
| Goaltenders (2) | ||||
| Harrison Boettiger | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | Wheat Rudge, CO (USA) | B |
| Zachary Jovanovski | Guelph Storm | OHL | Tecumseh, ON | B |
Coaching & Support Staff
General Manager – Yanick Lemay (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)
Head Coach – Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL)
Assistant Coach – Jay McKee (Brantford Bulldogs / OHL)
Assistant Coach – Sylvain Favreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL)
Third Assistant Coach – Mike Johnston (Portland Winterhawks / WHL)
Video Coach – Jayce Desjardins (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL)
Head Athletic Therapist (Both Games) – Mikki Lanuk (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL)
Athletic Therapist (Calgary Game Only) – Adam Leckie (Calgary Hitmen / WHL)
Equipment Manager (Calgary Game Only) – Robin McDonald (Calgary Hitmen / WHL)
Athletic Therapist (Lethbridge Game Only) – Marty Palechuk (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL)
Equipment Manager (Lethbridge Game Only) – Rhett White (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL)
