CHL USA Prospects Challenge Game 1 Player to Watch: Cameron Schmidt
London, Ont. – The Western Hockey League’s top goal scorer is ready to make a splash in the first-ever CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada clash.
Vancouver Giants star Cameron Schmidt is currently pacing the entire league with 23 goals (including seven power-play tallies and four game-winners) and 12 assists for 35 points in 21 outings.
Needless to say, Prince George Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen is happy to be wearing the same sweater as his B.C. Division rival this week.
“He’s just super fast, super shifty,” Ravensbergen said prior to Game One. “Whenever he plays us, he usually gets a couple of breakaways and he has a great shot to go along with that, so it makes him a really dangerous player and he’ll probably be able to showcase some of that tonight.”
For his part, Schmidt hopes his high-scoring ways spill over from the Western League to the first-ever showdown between the CHL and the U.S. National Team Development Program, but he’s ready to contribute in any way he can on an all-WHL line along with Everett’s Carter Bear and Seattle’s Braeden Cootes.
“They’re awesome,” Schmidt said. “Get to play against them all season, so it’s cool to be on their side for once. They’ve got great skill.
“We’re excited. We’ve been looking forward to getting this game started, and we’re just happy to be here.”
But 17-year-old Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medalist is also stepping into the NHL Draft spotlight with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Despite his international success- he also scored the overtime goal to claim gold for Canada White at the 2023 World U-17 Hockey Challenge- Schmidt has been knocked down some mock draft boards because of his 5-foot-7 stature.
“I just want to show them what I can do out here,” Schmidt shrugged. “There’s been all the talk about my size and all that. I just want to show everybody that that’s not a factor in my game.
“I’m just ready to prove it wrong.”
Team CHL bench boss Kris Mallette also isn’t fretting about Schmidt’s size- after all, he sees more than enough of his dynamic talent when the G-men square up against Mallette’s Kelowna Rockets.
“He always finds a way to get open,” Mallette stressed. “You give him an inch, and he takes it and he’s tough to handle down low. He’s got real quick feet, good on his edges, and when he’s got an opportunity to let it fly he can make goalies look silly.”
Despite initially being listed as a ‘B’ prospect, or potential second-to-third-round pick, by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s preliminary player list, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has the youngster sitting at the sixth overall spot in his latest 2025 NHL Draft ranking.
“Very few players in this draft are as skilled as Cameron Schmidt,” Button told TSN for the November 25 edition of Craig’s List. “When you look at every single area that you evaluate a hockey player on, it’s excellent with Cameron Schmidt.
“Skating, quickness, shot, hockey sense, puck-handling, [ability to] operate in traffic, be a difference-maker and compete. I want to hear one person argue against his excellent skill level and tell me how many players have more skill than him in this draft.”
Schmidt and nine other WHL stars will look to flex their skill and pick up some bragging rights when puck drops on Game One at 7:00 p.m. MST at Canada Life Place, home of the OHL’s London Knights.
The match will be broadcast LIVE on TSN with Game 1 available on TSN 4/5 for Canadian viewers.
United States-based fans can tune in to the NHL Network and WHL Live online.
