Lethbridge has been named one of the host cities for a big hockey event.
The city and Calgary will host the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. It is a two-game series that sees the top NHL Draft-eligible prospects from the CHL member leagues (WHL, OHL and QMJHL) compete against players from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team.
The first game is set for Tuesday, November 25 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, with the second matchup on Wednesday, November 26 at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
“We are thrilled to bring the CHL USA Prospects Challenge to Calgary and Lethbridge this November,” says Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL.
“These two passionate hockey communities will provide an exceptional backdrop to highlight the CHL’s top prospects eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, giving fans in both of these markets the opportunity to see a premier best-on-best competition featuring the next generation of NHL talent.”
At the inaugural event last November, hosted by London and Oshawa in Ontario, 22 players from the WHL, OHL and QMJHL competed. Of those, 16 were picked in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
“The Western Hockey League is excited to welcome the CHL USA Prospects Challenge to Calgary and Lethbridge,” says WHL Commissioner Dan Near.
“The Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes will serve as excellent hosts for this world-class event, and we thank both clubs and their communities for welcoming this event with open arms. We look forward to showcasing the best players from across the entire Canadian Hockey League and are eager to once again ignite the great rivalry that exists on the ice between Canada and the United States.”
The November showcase will mark the first time in six years that the CHL has brought a national event to Alberta.
The most recent was the 2019 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Red Deer.
“We are very excited to be able to have this marquee event come to the City of Lethbridge and the VisitLethbridge.com Arena. We think it will be a great thing for our community, our organization, and especially our fans to be able to see the best of the best from both Canada and the United States go head to head on our ice,” notes Terry Huisman, General Manager of Business Operations for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“We believe that our community and the City of Lethbridge will do a great job of hosting this event while being able to showcase what Lethbridge is all about and what we have to offer. We look forward to helping grow this event and take it to another level.”
The challenge will see the prospects compete in front of NHL scouts and fans to try and improve their draft stock. In Calgary and Lethbridge, the CHL roster will be made up of 17 and 18-year-old players eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Participants will be selected from a pool of top 2026 NHL Draft-eligible prospects, determined through a survey between all 32 NHL clubs. The CHL’s coaching staff and management will then work together to finalize the roster to represent the league.
