Prospects Challenge: CHL 6, U.S. national team 1

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The inaugural game of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge quickly turned into a recruitment brochure for major junior hockey.

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The collection of Canadian Hockey League NHL draft blue-chippers took control with a three-goal second period in a 6-1 waxing of the United States under-18 team before 4,769 Tuesday at Canada Life Place in London.

“Obviously, we know the U.S. is a big rival with Canada,” Erie Otters star defenceman Matthew Schaefer said. “We want to prove how good the CHL really is and I feel like we really brought that. Hopefully, we can bring it again (in Oshawa).”

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The home squad started with five massive hits in the opening two minutes, then went to work in the offensive zone. Team CHL outshot the USA Hockey entry 29-16, dominated on special teams and won the majority of the faceoffs.

“They have a lot of skill,” U.S. defenceman Drew Schock IV said. “We recognize that. We appreciate that skill, but it’s also a good challenge for us. It didn’t go our way but as a team we’re going to come back and shut them down (Wednesday) and come back stronger.”

WHAT IS THIS?: The Canadian Hockey League wanted a replacement for the annual Canada Russia series, which was officially kicked to the curb after Russian president Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine two years ago.

It was also a chance to re-format the Top Prospects Game and provide a rooting interest for ticket buyers and TV watchers.

This new property features the CHL’s best NHL hopefuls against the United States under-18 national team, whose roster is mostly committed to NCAA schools. So it naturally had more of that major junior vs. U.S. college heat to it.

Plus, most of these guys will make up the two countries’ world junior teams in two years. London’s downtown arena was selected to hold the opener and the two-game series moves to Oshawa Wednesday. The series will rotate through the Quebec Maritime and Western leagues over the following two years.

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WHO’S PLAYING: The best hockey prospects in North America laced up in front of numerous NHL scouts. Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads, Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit and the Otters’ Schaefer are leading the conversation for the first overall pick honour in the 2005 NHL draft. James Hagens, the top American and a Knights draft pick, wasn’t available since he is playing his freshman season at Boston College.

Hopefully in the future, the universities can be convinced to allow their young draft-eligible players to take part in the series. Even still, the two games are expected to feature 50 per cent of the first round picks next summer.

AMERICAN CONTENT: What is the United States national team development program? It’s a system aimed at recruiting the very best American talent and putting them together for their under-17 and under-18 seasons. The USA Hockey set-up used to be housed in Ann Arbor, Mich., but more recently moved to Plymouth, Mich., after the Whalers’ OHL franchise relocated to Flint to become the Firebirds.

The U.S. teams’ grads are a who’s who of Stars and Stripes power. Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk, for example, all played there in their formative years.

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RESILIENT STAR: Schaefer had a jarring start to his OHL journey. A few months after the 2023 first overall pick joined the Erie Otters, he lost his billet mom in Erie. Then, his mother Jennifer passed away due to cancer in February. His sophomore season and NHL draft year was delayed this fall because of a bout with mononucleosis but he is operating on all cylinders now.

He has six goals and 18 points in 14 games with the high-flying Otters and was named CHL player of the game Tuesday after a dazzling end-to-end rush tally.

“I feel like I’ve been back to normal for a while,” the Stoney Creek native said. “It’s so good to be back playing. I’ve grown so close with the guys. I had a tough (first) year with my mom and the guys really became close with me and made me feel so happy and welcome last year. It’s good to be back with (them) so I can get my mind off things.

“From family to ownership to teammates and friends . . . I probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for what they’ve done for me.”

Schaefer logs a ton of minutes for the Otters, coached by wily veteran Stan Butler.

“He’s been great,” teammate Malcolm Spence said of the rearguard. “He can skate forever. He was a huge addition for us when he came in last year. He played a lot (as a rookie) and continues to shine as a 17-year-old. The sky’s the limit for him.”

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AROUND THE RINK: Team CHL players wore half visors while the Americans sported full face shields or cages. There were plenty of scrums and on-ice wrestling bouts throughout the game. “It’s also harder with players wearing cages,” CHL coach Kris Mallette said. “I think they’re used to being able to let some of that aggression out rather than just hug and hold. I thought they got caught up in it more than they should have but they’re human. We’ll handle it better moving forward because there is no use for it.” . . . Should Team CHL have put a London Knight or two on its roster? Of course. The players don’t necessarily have to be Canadian so goaltender Aleksei Medvedev, a Russian by nationality, and American defenceman Henry Brzustewicz, could have been in the mix. Medvedev, in particular, has garnered a ton of NHL interest and it would be surprising if he isn’t picked in the first three rounds in June at Los Angeles . . . How many times has Michael Misa watched a replay of old Saginaw teammate Josh Bloom’s Memorial Cup-winning goal last spring against London? “I don’t know. Too many,” the 2022 OHL first-overall pick said. “Any time I do see it, it definitely brings a smile to my face.” The Knights and Spirit rarely face each other anymore without somebody getting suspended. “Definitely a big rivalry,” Misa said. “Every time we do play them, there’s a lot of chirping on the ice and hatred. It’s always good battles. I enjoy playing them.” . . . Porter Martone, second behind Misa in the OHL scoring race, didn’t feel much of an adjustment when the Mississauga Steelheads relocated to Brampton this season. “It’s been good,” the 18-year-old said. “It’s a five-minute longer drive. I’m still living with the same billets. They’ve welcomed us (in Brampton) with open arms.” The second go-round in the city hasn’t seen a big boost in ticket sales, though. Brampton is last in the 20-team OHL in attendance . . . Martone, from Peterborough, has a soft spot for London Knights great and Oilers veteran Corey Perry. “I like to model my game after him and also the Tkachuk brothers,” he said. “I like how they play a hard game but also have a ton of skill. I like to take things from all three of those guys’ games and put it into my own.” Once he’s in the NHL, will he be able to hold his own against Matthew and Brady Tkachuk in a scrap? “I don’t know,” he said with a grin. “We’ll have to see about that.” . . . Team CHL certainly didn’t hand out jersey numbers by goals and points. OHL scoring leader Michael Misa, who wears No. 77 in Saginaw, was issued No. 66. Barrie defenceman Kashawn Aitcheson – who is older than the Spirit star – wore No. 77 with no argument. “When they were giving out the numbers, they just said I was ‘66’ and he was ‘77,’” Misa said. “It’s all good, though. I used to wear ‘66’ anyways (in minor hockey).” . . . Kitchener defenceman Cameron Reid, who hails from nearby Aylmer, was responsible for the most tickets purchased for the game – and it wasn’t close. The Rangers sent a fan bus jammed with all his teammates to check out the contest. “They wanted to watch and show support and a lot of family and friends from the area (are here),” Reid said. “I grew up my whole life watching London Knights games and it feels a lot more special. It was a little weird being in the (rival) dressing room, though. I’m going to have to look around and check it out.” . . . This was the first game in the building for U.S. forward Will Moore, the 2022 London Knights first-round pick. The 17-year-old is committed to Boston College and didn’t report to the OHL club, so his rights were traded to Barrie in January.

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rpyette@postmedia.com

CHL USA PROSPECTS CHALLENGE

CHL 6, USA 1
CHL goals: Lynden Lakovic, Cameron Schmidt, Brady Martin, Matthew Schaefer, Malcolm Spence, Kashawn Aitcheson
USA goal: Jack Murtagh
Next: The same teams meet Wednesday, 7 p.m. in Oshawa.

Tuesday at Canada Life Place

CHL 6, USA 1

First period
1., CHL, Lakovic 1 (Kindel) 5:44
Penalties – Belle, USA (holding) 6:39, Beauchesne, CHL (tripping) 12:59, Lindberg, USA (roughing) Aitcheson, CHL (interference) 19:56.

Second period
2. CHL, Schmidt 1 (Schaefer, Misa) 0:38
3. CHL, Martin 1 (Lakovic) 3:57
4. CHL, Schaefer 1 (Ravensbergen) 5:31 (pp)
Penalties – Martone, CHL (hooking) 1:43, Lansing, USA (high-sticking) 4:49, Misa, CHL (hooking) 9:23, O’Neill, USA, Schmidt, CHL (roughing) 12:50, Phillips, USA, Schaefer, CHL (roughing) 20:00.

Third period
5. CHL, Spence 1 (Misa, Schmidt) 6:47 (pp)
6. CHL, Aitcheson 1 (O’Brien, Carbonneau) 14:09
7. USA, Murtagh 1 (McKinney, Moore) 17:46 (pp)
Penalties – Trethewey, USA (roughing), Desnoyers, CHL (roughing, holding) 4:35, Gallant, USA (high-sticking) 6:37, Phillips, USA (head check) 12:06, Reid, CHL (tripping) 16:23, Reid CHL (holding) 19:15.

Shots on goal by
USA 7 3 6–16
CHL 12 9 8–29

Power plays: USA 1-6. CHL 2-4.

Goalies: Quinlan, USA (L, 0-1). Ravensbergen, CHL (W, 1-0).

Referees – Chad Ingalls, Mac Nichol. Linesmen – Luke Pye, Brian Birkhoff.

Attendance – 4,769 (9,061)

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