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Boettiger, Hurlbert see sequence from different aspect; Cullen rising into prospect to observe
©<\/span> Jenn Pierce, CHL
CALGARY —<\/strong> Wyatt Cullen, a C rated skater on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary gamers to observe record, had a aim and an help for USA Hockey’s Nationwide Workforce Growth Program Beneath-18 Workforce in a 4-2 win towards the Canadian Hockey League in Sport 1 of the CHL USA Prospects Problem at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday.
The win was the first-ever for the NTDP within the occasion, which started final season. Workforce CHL swept the two-game sequence in 2024, 6-1 and 3-2.
Cullen, the son of former NHL ahead Matt Cullen<\/a>, scored a power-play aim on a wrist shot from the excessive slot at 6:46 of the third interval for a 3-1 lead.
“He is an fascinating one, as a result of he is grown like 9 inches since our Beneath-17 tryout camp,” NTDP coach Nick Fohr mentioned of Cullen. “He was 5-foot-3 or 5-foot-4 at our tryout camp, and he was 120-some kilos, and now he is nearly 6-1 and 170 in like 18 months. What a change. And he is nonetheless simply scratching the floor of the kind of participant he will be.”
Brady Knowling (B rated), who’s dedicated to Boston College in 2027-28, made 42 saves and was named participant of the sport.
“I feel the group performed very well in entrance of me,” Knowling mentioned. “Lots of blocked photographs. I can not take all of the credit score. As quickly as they performed final yr, we talked about it, and we mentioned we did not need that to occur to us. We have been going to come back out representing Workforce USA, and that is what we did tonight.”
Dayne Beuker (B rated), Sammy Nelson (2027 NHL Draft eligible) and Jamie Look (2027 draft eligible) every scored for the NTDP, which had only one A rated skater on the roster in defenseman Luke Schairer.
Mathis Preston (A rated), a ahead from Spokane within the Western Hockey League, had a aim and an help for Workforce CHL. Chase Reid (A rated) of Sault Ste. Marie within the Ontario Hockey League scored, and Harrison Boettiger (B rated) of Kelowna (WHL) made 22 saves.
Workforce CHL had 13 A-rated skaters on the roster.
“I hate to lose, and I hate them from the underside of my coronary heart,” CHL defenseman Xavier Villeneuve (A rated) mentioned. “Dropping tonight hurts.”
CHL held a 44-26 shot benefit and was 0-for-5 on the ability play. The U.S. was 1-for-2 on the ability play.
The Prospects Problem sequence will conclude at VisitLethbridge.com Enviornment in Lethbridge, Alberta, on Wednesday.
“I feel we have been too informal going into this sport,” CHL captain Caleb Malhotra (Brantford, OHL) mentioned. “Finally, we thought we had it within the bag to start out and no person in there put their finest foot ahead and we all know that. We will come higher [Wednesday].”
Listed below are 4 issues realized from the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Problem:
CHL goalie Boettiger (6-2, 189) and ahead J.P. Hurlbert have every had the distinctive distinction of representing either side of the CHL USA Prospects Problem.
Boettiger, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, was a member of the NTDP eventually yr’s occasion, stopping 35 photographs in a 3-2 loss towards Workforce CHL within the second sport of the two-game CHL sweep. He performs for Kelowna (WHL) this season. He’s dedicated to the College of Denver subsequent season.
“I performed with a bunch of them on the U-18 group final yr,” Boettiger mentioned. “It was identical to apply final yr, going at one another, chirping.”
Hurlbert (6-0, 182) of Allen, Texas, performed for the NTDP final yr, however served as an alternate captain for Workforce CHL this season. He had 37 factors (19 objectives, 18 assists) in 56 video games with the NTDP Beneath-17 Workforce in 2024-25 and this yr leads the WHL with 18 objectives and 44 factors in 25 video games as a rookie with Kamloops. The College of Michigan commit had six photographs on aim and was 4-for-14 on face-offs.
“I’ve a variety of nice pals over there and individuals who I performed with and towards for a really very long time,” Hurlbert mentioned. “I used to be excited to play for the CHL, make new pals and study the sport from different individuals.”
Cullen, who not too long ago returned from harm and has 5 factors (one aim, 4 assists) in 5 video games with the NTDP this season, actually made an affect in his first massive check.
“It was a extremely cool expertise for me scoring a aim like that in a giant sport,” Cullen mentioned. “I received placed on the ability play immediately, and that is enormous for me. I feel I am a extremely gifted participant. It was good to showcase on the market what I can do.”
Fohr is pleased with how far Cullen has come since Beneath-17 tryout camp. Cullen is dedicated to the College of Minnesota in 2027-28.
“The [NHL scouts] are going to see him now, and get to expertise him,” Fohr mentioned. “He is such a artful hockey participant. He is nonetheless not one hundred pc as much as full pace. He is solely performed 5 video games and he is combating it a little bit bit nonetheless, digging via the harm that he had at first of the yr. However he is coming and he is nonetheless getting his legs beneath him.”
Ethan Belchetz, one of many extra extremely touted A rated skaters collaborating within the sport, was upset together with his efficiency and is set to make amends in Sport 2 on Wednesday.
“I did not suppose I performed very properly tonight,” mentioned Belchetz, who took seven photographs and had a plus-1 ranking. “I will discuss to the coach later to search out out what he was considering. However from a private standpoint, I wasn’t very proud of the best way I performed.”
Belchetz leads Windsor (OHL) with 16 objectives and is second with 28 factors in 23 video games this season.
“I simply did not suppose I used to be very engaged, and I wasn’t shifting my toes,” he mentioned. “All of the issues that I often convey to the desk, I wasn’t actually doing. Hopefully, tomorrow can be a greater evening for me.”
©<\/span> Jenn Pierce, CHL
NHL Corridor of Fame ahead Lanny McDonald<\/a> made a shock look throughout the morning skate for Workforce CHL to supply phrases of encouragement and a Calgary custom forward of Sport 1.
“We’ve got a white hat custom in Calgary to welcome newcomers to the town and we’re very pleased with that,” McDonald advised the group. “However earlier than that, keep in mind, you bought right here by being the very best of the very best, however you can not win if you happen to play as a person. You may solely win if you happen to play as a group. Sure, you bought every kind of scouts up within the stands. They’re in search of what sort of group participant you might be.”
McDonald, whose 10-year time period as Hockey Corridor of Fame chairman led to June, then introduced the primary white cowboy hat to Malhotra (A rated).
“Cowboy hats aren’t in style in Europe in any respect, so that is my first,” mentioned A rated left wing Adam Novotny (Peterborough, OHL), who was born in Czechia. “I used to be watching some highlights from his video games with the Calgary Flames prior to now. It was nice to have him with us on the ice.”
McDonald, whose No. 9 uniform was retired by the Flames in 1990, was launched to the group by CHL coach Willie Desjardins (Medication Hat, WHL).
“He is achieved so many issues; he is one in all three within the rafters in order that’s fairly spectacular,” Desjardins mentioned. “It is so nice the best way he offers again to the sport; I feel that is one thing all of us can study from. It is essential that all of us try this.”
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n