CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada Game One Player to Watch: Lynden Lakovic, Moose Jaw Warriors

Oshawa, Ont.- Need a big goal?

Look no further than Lynden Lakovic.

The 2024 WHL Champion came in clutch for the CHL with a goal, an assist and a +3 rating in Game One of the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada on Tuesday night.

While the evening ended in a lopsided 6-1 win for the CHL contingent, Lakovic’s snipe less than six minutes into the match helped quell the nerves of players with an abundance of NHL scouts in attendance.

“I think everyone is a little bit nervous coming into these games,” Lakovic admitted. “I think that first goal for myself and the team kind of settled us in the game a little bit and maybe got the nerves out for at least myself.”

Lakovic credited Calgary Hitmen forward Ben Kindel for an electric stretch feed that launched him up ice on a breakaway.

🎥 HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT 🎥

The All-WHL connection opened the scoring last night!@MJWARRIORS | @WHLHitmen | #WHLHoN#CHLUSAProspectsChallenge | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/BnTqPKhh3S

— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 27, 2024

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound left-winger picked up a helper after an unwitting dump-in took a fortuitous bounce for Brady Martin to bury for a 3-0 lead and nearly scored again on a shorthanded breakaway.

“He’s got real good speed for a big guy,” Team CHL Head Coach and Kelowna Rockets bench boss Kris Mallette said. “When he had those chances, he was really good. Seen it a lot in Moose Jaw, having that ability to really open it up.

“He skates well. I think the physicality is something that probably they (NHL scouts) want to see a little bit more of. You know, making sure that he is responsible, but still not taking away from his gift- and his gift is his ability to skate and score goals.”

That’s exactly what Lakovic is hoping to showcase in the finale in Oshawa on Wednesday night.

“For me as a big body, I think that’s something I need to I need to do,” The 17-year-old explained. “I need to use it more and play a little physical, get my bumps.

“I think people know what I can do with the puck, but it’s my off-puck details that I want to show here. I thought I did a great job of that last night, playing physical, being strong on pucks, and my forecheck was pretty good, I thought, and stripping d-men. So I think I’ve got to do it all over again tonight.”

NHL Central Scouting tagged Lakovic as an ‘A’ prospect, or potential first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, in the agency’s preliminary player list in October.

Lakovic also played a massive role in Moose Jaw’s first WHL Championship in franchise history with four game-winning goals in the 2024 WHL Playoffs, highlighted by overtime goals in Games 6 and 7 to eliminate the Saskatoon Blades in the Eastern Conference Championship.

He currently boasts 12 goals (including three game-winners) and 16 assists for 28 points in 23 games with the Warriors in his second full WHL season.

Lakovic and nine other top WHL prospects will try to complete the series sweep in when puck drops on the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge finale at 7:00 p.m. EST at the Tribute Communities Centre, home of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals.

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.