Di Iorio and Malhotra Reunite at 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge
Two familiar faces will be sharing the ice once again as Alessandro Di Iorio and Caleb Malhotra reunite on Team CHL for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Both 2008-born forwards are regarded as top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft, and their reunion brings back memories of their time together with the Vaughan Kings AAA program.
The pair played side by side from U14 through U16, helping Vaughan reach the OHL Cup Final in their U16 season before falling to fellow CHL teammate Ethan Belchetz and the Oakville Rangers. That run cemented their bond, and now, years later, they’re thrilled to be teammates again.
“Getting to play with Alessandro again is going to be really fun, obviously,” said Malhotra. “He’s a great player, but being there with a really good buddy will make this experience that much better.”
Di Iorio echoed the sentiment:
“Very excited. I played with him for a couple of years in Vaughan in minor hockey. He’s a great guy, been to his house a lot of times, great family, know him very well, and I’m super excited to see him again. We had a really tight group in Vaughan and he’s a super great guy, as you can see with him being the captain – he’s a leader. I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
Though their OHL schedules keep them busy with Malhotra in Brantford and Di Iorio in Sarnia, the two make an effort to stay in touch.
“I try to keep in touch a good amount,” Malhotra admitted. “I like to see how he’s doing and see what’s new.”
Di Iorio added:
“I try to text him a lot and see how he’s doing. It’s his first year in the OHL. When he was in the BC, we kept in touch a bit more last year just because he was a little bit further. But again, we’re competitors too and we want to win. So when we play against each other, it’s always a little competitive.”
Now, with the CHL USA Prospects Challenge providing a chance to play together again, both players are eager to rekindle their chemistry and showcase their talents on a big stage.
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About the CHL USA Prospects Challenge
First introduced in 2024, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a best-on-best, two-game series spotlighting the top NHL Draft-eligible players from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL facing off against the U.S. National Under-18 Team. The inaugural edition, held last November in London and Oshawa, proved a major success – 16 of 22 players on Team CHL were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 2025 edition, hosted by the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes, will once again spotlight elite NHL prospects projected to headline the 2026 NHL Draft – including Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars / WHL), Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires / OHL), and Egor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres / QMJHL) among the 15 CHL players who earned an “A” rating (first-round candidate) on NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List. Full Team CHL roster details are linked here, with player notes and profiles accessible here. Fans can catch both games live in Canada on TSN and RDS on November 25 (Calgary) and November 26 (Lethbridge), with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. ET. In the United States, both games will air live on NHL Network and can be streamed outside of Canada on Victory+. Tickets for both games are available now at chl.ca/prospectschallenge.
