Brampton stars leading CHL team at Prospects Challenge series in London and Oshawa

The NHL’s future stars will be coming to Oshawa and London next week for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, a two-game series featuring the top draft-eligible prospects from the two international hockey rivals.

It will be the Canadian Hockey League’s best against the top prospects from USA Hockey ‘s National Development U18 program at London’s Budweiser Gardens on Tuesday, November 26 and again the next night at Oshawa’s Tribute Communities Centre.

The event is expected to feature at least half of the players projected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL draft, so there will be no shortage of scouts in attendance.

The CHL players selected for the games were chosen by NHL Central Scouting after consultation with the 32 NHL teams.

“I think it’s a great way to test same aged kids from all across North America in a two-game set,” David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting Director told NHL.com. “I think it’s really a great scouting opportunity.”

There are ten players from the Ontario Hockey League suiting up for the CHL side, including three members of the Brampton Steelheads. Brampton captain Porter Marone will assume the same leadership group for the CHL in the series.

The 6’3” Martone, now 17, led the Steelheads in goal scoring last year and also served as captain for Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the 2024 World U18 championships.

Budweiser Gardens in London

Among the top players from the USA team is centre William Moore, who played for Toronto Marlboros U16’s two years ago.

The format of the games will see teams earn two points for a win and zero points for a loss, regardless of whether a game ends in regulation, overtime or a shootout. If a game is tied after regulation, teams will play a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period, followed by a three-round shootout if necessary. If either game is still tied after three players have shot for each team, the shootout will continue in a sudden-death fashion using different players until a team wins the game.

If after the completion of the second game of the series, the teams are tied at two points each, the teams will play a 3-on-3 20-minute period(s) until a goal is scored to determine the winner of the series.

The CHL USA Top Prospects Game replaces the annual CHL Top Prospects Game, which featured more than 40 of the top draft-eligible players from the CHL facing off in a game.

“We are really excited to be heading to two strong hockey markets in London and Oshawa for the inaugural edition of this brand-new event,” CHL president Dan MacKenzie said. “The CHL USA Prospects Challenge will be a can’t-miss, two-game series on the prospect calendar not only for this season but for years to come. We look forward to bringing it to life in London and Oshawa this November and providing our incredible fans with a chance to come watch a future generation of NHL stars.”

Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa