Battalion’s Ryan Oulahen named head coach of Team CHL for 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Primaris

TORONTO — North Bay Battalion head coach and assistant general manager Ryan Oulahen will lead Team CHL behind the bench at the 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Primaris, the Canadian Hockey League announced today.

The two-game series takes place Dec. 1-2 in Chicoutimi and Quebec City, pitting top 2027 NHL Draft prospects from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL against the U.S. National Under-18 Team.

Oulahen reunites with the staff that helped Canada capture gold at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton this summer, where the team went a perfect 5-0 and capped the tournament with an 8-1 win over the United States in the final. The victory marked Oulahen’s third Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal, following titles as an assistant coach in 2018 and 2024.

He also returns to the event after serving as an assistant coach at the inaugural CHL USA Prospects Challenge in 2024, when Team CHL claimed a series victory over the U.S. in London and Oshawa.

“I am extremely honoured to represent the CHL in this year’s CHL USA Prospects Challenge,” said Oulahen. “Having the opportunity to work with the coaching staff from the Hlinka Gretzky Cup is very special as well. We built a lot of trust and chemistry together and look forward to preparing this talented group of CHL players.”

A native of Newmarket, Ont., Oulahen guided the Battalion to three consecutive Central Division titles and Eastern Conference Championship Series appearances from 2022-24, earning selection as the OHL’s Third All-Star Team coach in both 2022-23 and 2023-24. Before his return to North Bay, he spent parts of three seasons as head coach of the Flint Firebirds and six seasons as an assistant coach with the Battalion.

Oulahen’s international résumé also includes three appearances at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, including as head coach of Canada White in 2017.

A former Battalion captain, Oulahen played three OHL seasons with the franchise before spending four seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2003 NHL Draft.

“Ryan and this staff have already delivered on the international stage, helping Canada capture gold at this summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said CHL President Dan MacKenzie. “Their success reflects the strength of coaching and player development across the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL. In a two-game series, building chemistry quickly is essential, and their experience working together will be a valuable asset for our players.”

Joining Oulahen behind the Team CHL bench are assistant coaches Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL), Brad MacKenzie (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) and Kyle Chipchura (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL). Matthew Smith (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL) will serve as video coach, while Yanick Lemay (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL) returns as general manager. All five coaches held the same roles with Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where Lemay served as assistant general manager.

Saginaw Spirit forward Dima Zhilkin is the OHL’s representative among the first four players named to Team CHL, joining Brock England (Seattle Thunderbirds / WHL), Alexis Joseph (Saint John Sea Dogs / QMJHL) and Carter Meyer (Quebec Remparts / QMJHL). England and Joseph were part of Canada’s gold-medal roster under Oulahen this summer. The remainder of the Team CHL roster will be announced in October.

About the 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Primaris

Now in its third year, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge brings together many of the top NHL Draft-eligible players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for a two-game series against the U.S. National Under-18 Team.

Across the first two editions of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, 42 of the 44 Team CHL players were subsequently selected in the NHL Draft, including 27 in the first round: 16 from the inaugural 2024 event and 11 from the 2025 edition.

Hosted by the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Quebec Remparts, this year’s series opens Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Georges-Vezina Centre in Chicoutimi, before moving to the Videotron Centre in Quebec City on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Tickets for both games are on sale now at CHL.ca/ProspectsChallenge.