The USNTDP claimed the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge title in super overtime Wednesday night in Lethbridge, AB.
Team CHL had won Game 2 of the series 4-3 to force a decisive overtime period that was won by the visitors thanks to Victor Plante’s game-winner at 5:53.
In Game 2 itself, JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers), Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs), Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting) and Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) had goals for Team CHL as Zach Jovanovski (Guelph Storm) stopped 23 shots. AJ Garcia, Plante and Jamie Glance found the back of the net for the USNTDP as Luke Carrithers made 34 saves.
Villeneuve scored the game-winner to initially force overtime as he re-directed Carson Carels’ (Prince George Cougars) point shot on the power play with 3:11 remaining to give Team CHL a 4-3 victory.
The game opened with a bang as it didn’t take long for Team CHL to strike first after defeat 24 hours earlier; Hurlbert unleashed a one-timer just 34 seconds in off of Daxon Rudolph’s (Prince Albert Raiders) cross-ice feed to give the hosts its first lead of the series.
But the visitors battled back and a pair of goals in 1:55 gave them the lead; Garcia scored from the low slot at 4:36 before Plante was the beneficiary of a Team CHL turnover in their own zone as he made it 2-1 for the USNTDP.
Glance’s second goal in as many nights made it 3-1 for the Americans as he scored on a 5-on-3 power play just 67 seconds into the second frame before Team CHL captain Malhotra sparked life into his side with a shorthanded breakaway 37 seconds later.
Team CHL found themselves level with 3:29 left in the period as Maddox Dagenais (Quebec Remparts) found Di Iorio alone down low who beat Carrithers over high glove side to make it 3-3 after 40 minutes before Villeneuve scored the game-winner to force super overtime.
In the event’s two-year history, each side has now claimed a title after Team CHL won the inaugural event in 2024. Across four games, Team CHL holds a 3-1-0 advantage.
