Game 1 of this year’s Prospects Challenge is in the books, with Team USA prevailing over Team CHL by a score of 4-2, one of Team USA’s goals coming by way of an empty-netter late in the third period. Team CHL outshot Team USA by a fairly wide margin of 44-26. Thanks in large part to Team USA goaltender Brady Knowling (projected 2nd/3rd rounder), Team CHL failed to convert most of its numerous scoring chances. Knowling made some very good saves, and made many difficult stops look easy due to excellent positioning. For his efforts, Knowling was named the player of the game.
Aside from Knowling, arguably the most effective player for Team USA was Mikey Berchild. Although slightly undersized at 5’10” and 181 pounds, the B-rated prospect (like Knowling, a projected 2nd/3rd rounder) consistently drove the net and battled hard with larger players for loose pucks and positioning. Berchild had one assist, a nice touch pass to teammate Dayne Beuker for the opening score. Also assisting on the goal was Team USA forward Wyatt Cullen, who scored the game-winner later in the contest to make the case for an enhanced draft rating (currently projected as a 4th/5th round pick).
For Team CHL, the players standing out to me the most were forwards Caleb Malhotra and Alessandro Di Iorio, as well as d-man Chase Reid. Malhotra’s ability to generate scoring chances in numerous ways is at an elite level, as is Di Iorio’s very impressive acceleration and Reid’s offensive prowess from the back-end. Speaking of skilled d-men reminds not to leave out the QMJHL’s Xavier Villeneuve. He is so shifty and adept on his edges, there is no way to completely contain Villeneuve in the offensive zone.
Now it is on to Lethbridge, where I’m sure the entertainment will continue.