CHL USA Prospects Challenge; OHL Scouting Reports

Team CHL emerged victorious in the inaugural CHL USA Prospect Challenge event, securing a dominant 6-1 win on Tuesday night in London. They followed this performance with a close 3-2 victory on Wednesday night in Oshawa, where Cole Reschny of the Victoria Royals scored the game-winner with just 1:12 remaining on the clock.

10 players from the OHL took part in the two games, showcasing the impressive group of talent emerging from the top development league in the world for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Below are scouting reports on all 10 players, starting with the player who looked the most dominant, Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer.

LHD, Matthew Schaefer – Erie Otters – 6-foot-2, 183 pounds

Matthew Schaefer proved to NHL personnel in attendance that he is by far the best defenseman available for the upcoming NHL draft and should challenge for first overall. His skating is immaculate and already at an above-average NHL level. He escapes pressure and leads pucks up ice using his feet with incredible speed and poise. His end-to-end goal on Tuesday was nothing short of spectacular.

Schaefer is just so good at controlling the play in every aspect of the game. He always knows where his teammates are and never gives a bad pass. His speed and intelligence off the puck allow him to be a highly effective defender who closes gaps at a rapid pace. He’s a future top-pairing, minute-munching defenseman for one lucky NHL team and should be considered in the running for first overall.

Related: Erie Defender Continues To Show Why He Could Be A Top NHL Draft Pick

RW, Porter Martone – Brampton Steelheads – 6-foot-3, 208 pounds

Captain for Team CHL, Porter Martone, didn’t have a spectacular showing in his two games, but he certainly made his competitiveness known in all the skirmishes he got into after the whistle. One thing is for sure: he’s got the qualities of a future leader in the NHL.

Martone has been drawing comparisons to prime Corey Perry, who also reigns from Peterborough, Ontario. There are a ton of similarities, too. Porter possesses elite soft hands to play pucks around defenders and has that physical power forward element. It felt like he was gripping his stick a little tighter and trying to do a bit too much with the puck at times in the event, but he’s a proven difference-maker and will be right there as well in the running for first overall in 2025.

C, Michael Misa – Saginaw Spirit – 6-foot-1, 184 pounds

Michael Misa had a productive showing, tallying one goal, two assists, and six shots on net. The OHL’s leading goal-scorer is a game-breaker who can take over shifts, but what was noticeable was his physical strength when finishing his hits. You can see he’s starting to physically mature.

Misa showed off his dynamic skating and ability to attack on arcs to throw defenders off-balance. Combined with his elite skating are his high-end hands and how quickly they work in unison with his feet. He’s hard to contain in the offensive zone because he’s constantly moving and looking to attack the soft spots in coverage.

It’s a three-horse race for the top OHL player available between Schaefer, Martone, and Misa, and the exceptional status Saginaw centerman is putting his hat in the ring with the season he’s been having.

LW, Malcolm Spence – Erie Otters – 6-foot-1, 203 pounds

Malcolm Spence already has so many elements in his game that resemble a pro player and had a very strong showcase with one goal and two assists. He manages the puck with astute intelligence, rarely committing giveaways off his stick. On the other side, he’s excellent at generating takeaways, using his acceleration and motor to strip players off the puck in both the offensive and defensive zones.

Spence is a first-round talent, but is he top-10 worthy? The skating, competitive drive, 200ft play, and ability to elevate the play of his more skillful linemates by doing the heavy lifting for his line will endear him to NHL teams. However, offensively, he’s not as talented of a puck handler or as highly skilled as, say, Michael Misa.

Related: What Are The Erie Otters Getting In Their Boston University Commit?

C, Brady Martin – Soo Greyhounds – Six Feet, 178 pounds

That hard-working “Man-strength” that Brady Martin has built up from his farming life is evident in his physical maturity and punishing play on the forecheck. Defenders won’t want to take a hit from him, or they will need some ice packs after the game.

You think about those third-line energy role forwards who wear down opposing teams through their physicality and aggressive forechecking presence. That’s a big aspect of Martin’s identity. He’s a top-line player for the Greyhounds but showed through this event, and previous international play, that he has the adaptable skill set to excel in a lesser role. Brady loves to attack defenders 1-on-1 but struggled to maintain puck control once completing his dekes.

Related: OHL Season Preview: 5 NHL Draft-Eligible Breakout Candidates To Track This Season

LHD, Cameron Reid – Kitchener Rangers – Six Feet, 193 pounds

Kitchener Rangers defender Cameron Reid showed how efficient and composed he is as a player. There are little to no mistakes in his game. He doesn’t give bad passes, supports his defense partner with excellent positioning and play-reading, and defends with a very strong gap control.

Reid has had a very productive offensive season to date in Kitchener (21 points in 24 games), but he didn’t display a dynamic offensive skill set as we’ve seen from Sam Dickinson and Zayne Parekh (first-rounders in 2024). However, NHL teams love to have reliable, steady defenders on their blueline, and that’s what Reid brings to the table.

C, Jake O’Brien – Brantford Bulldogs – 6-foot-2, 172 pounds

The 2023-24 OHL Rookie of the Year, Jake O’Brien, had a quiet two games and picked up one assist in Tuesday’s 6-1 victory. The strength of the former Toronto Jr. Canadiens is his vision and terrific playmaking ability. What we saw from him was his ability to hold onto pucks, spin-off checks along the perimeter, and find a passing option at a consistent rate.

O’Brien probably has spent a lot of time practicing his stickhandling. His hands are lightning-quick in tight spaces, and it allows him to buy himself more time and space through checks. He does need to be more selfish, shoot the puck more, and look to attack the slot more.

LHD, Kashawn Aitcheson – Barrie Colts – 6-foot-1, 196 pounds

The Barrie Colts defenseman came as advertised. NHL teams that want an old-fashioned, tough-as-nails defenseman on their roster will want to look at Kashawn Aitcheson as a potential first-rounder. He also roofed a wrister from the point that took two minutes after it went in to get called a goal.

Aitcheson’s defensive qualities shine the brightest, but he also moves the puck efficiently in transition and shows solid offensive instincts by constantly moving with the play in the attacking zone. His potential to become a two-way defenseman with an intense physical presence will have NHL teams lining up for his services at the upcoming draft.

Related: Top Prospect For The 2025 NHL Draft Suspended Following His Actions Against Porter Martone

RHD, Quinn Beauchesne – Guelph Storm – Six Feet, 185 pounds

Quinn Beauchesne plays a similar style to Cameron Reid but isn’t as polished or composed with the puck. He shares some similarities to Toronto Maple Leafs’ recent first-rounder Ben Danford. He’s an above-average skater with great lateral mobility to squash rush attacks early at the line. Also, he’s a fearless shot blocker and can be relied upon in a penalty-killing role.

Beauchesne’s efficiencies lie in his quick first passes on breakouts and skating. The question remains: what’s the standout skillset that can separate him from other defenders?

G, Jack Ivankovic – Brampton Steelheads – 5-foot-11, 178 pounds

Brampton Steelheads starting goalie Jack Ivankovic played Game 2 in Oshawa on Wednesday night. He had a quiet evening as Team CHL dominated the pace of play and limited the USNTDP to less than 20 shots. He let in a weak one-timer that squeaked under his pad, which tied the game up in the third period but responded well after that.

Ivankovic deserves credit for his performance, especially as he compensated for the weak goal he let in by making several outstanding saves, including stopping a breakaway and a 2-on-1 situation, which kept the game tied. His athleticism and quickness in the net are impressive and effectively make up for his lack of size.

Related: Winnipeg Jets Prospect Records Six-Points In Niagara’s Big Win Over Brampton; 2025 NHL Draft Top Prospect Jack Ivankovic Involved In Rare Goalie Fight

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