Learn more about the US NTDP ahead of the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota
We know that Team CHL for the upcoming CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota was composed of players from the Canadian Hockey League’s three member leagues – the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
But how about their opponents in the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP)?
Established in 1996, the program is the pinnacle of USA Hockey’s amateur player development program. The NTDP scouts and selects the top 22 players in two age groups (Under-17 and Under-18) to train and develop in a highly competitive environment.
The team is a full member of the United States Hockey League (USHL) where both programs split games – the U17 Team plays approximately 35 games and the U18 Team plays approximately 25– yet their record is combined in the league standings.
The U18 team – who will be on the ice at this month’s CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota – take part in a pair of major international events over the course of their season: the U18 Five Nations and the U18 World Championships.
In fact, the team just returned home from the former where they went 3-0-1 during the 2024 tournament in Czechia. The 2025 U18 World Championships will take place in Texas April 23 – May 3.
This year’s U18 roster recently had 19 players named to NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List for the 2025 NHL Draft. Forward William Moore and defenceman Charlton Trethewey were each given a Grade ‘A’ rating that indicates a likely first round selection in next summer’s draft. Between both teams, 16 ‘A’ rated players are expected to hit the ice.
Blueliner Asher Barnett was given a ‘C’ rating that indicates he will likely be a mid-round pick at the 2025 NHL Draft.
A native of Glencoe, IL., Barnett is in his second season with the NTDP and is committed to the University of Michigan in 2026.
In four USHL games this year, the 17-year-old has a goal and two assists while in all competitions, he’s amassed nine points (two goals) in 18 contests.
“At the NTDP, we are definitely a work first and physical team,” Barnett said. “We have skill all over the ice but also a lot of grit. We are a team that is going to be spirited and relentless and we’re never going to give up.”
Barnett describes the style of hockey that head coach Greg Moore enforces as a “hard, heavy brand.”
“We’re going to get pucks deep and we’re going to forecheck real hard,” Barnett said. “We’re going to move pucks quick and we’re get pucks in. We’re going to control the game in the offensive zone and break it out as quick as we can in the defensive zone.”
While there’s some familiarity between Team CHL and the NTDP – especially at the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge – there’s excitement among the U.S. players to experience a new challenge against Team CHL.
“The bigger names like Michael Misa, Porter Martone, those guys will be fun to play against and try and shut down and it’s going to be great challenge,” Barnett said. “But the process doesn’t change; I’m just excited to play everybody.”
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 first game will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at Canada Life Place in London, Ont., while the second contest will be held the following night on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ont.
Fans interested in buying tickets for either game can do so in person at the box office or online:
