Eric Young | CHL
FCHockey
Staff
November 27, 2024

Caleb Desnoyers and what we learned in Game 2 of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge

When it comes to the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, the Canadian Hockey League has one over on the US National Team Development Program.

Well, technically two.

Caleb Desnoyers of Moncton in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League had a goal and an assist, and Team CHL nabbed its second straight victory in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, earning the two-game sweep with a 3-2 win in Oshawa, ON on Wednesday.

Here’s what we learned from Game 1 of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

DESNOYERS ON DISPLAY

Desnoyers is sneaky good. He’s overtly good, too, as the CHL USA Prospects Challenge can attest.

Desnoyers, No. 7 in FCHockey’s Preliminary ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft, served as a fixture on Team CHL’s top line with Michael Misa and Porter Martone, and finished the two-game, 24-hour set with one of the most impactful performances.

Some of his play, such as his efforts in Game 1, didn’t necessarily litter the scoresheet. Others, like his exploits in Game 2, did.

“Desnoyers’ details and the maturity of his game stood out in Game 1,” FCHockey scout Kareem Elshafey said. “Those qualities were there in Game 2 again, however the impressive part of his performance was the offensive ability he displayed. With a nice deflection to open the scoring and a dart of a pass on Misa’s redirection in the second period, Desnoyers showed he can play with top players and hang with them.”

Desnoyers has done plenty of hanging in the QMJHL.

The 17-year-old — he doesn’t turn 18 until April — has an impressive 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists) in 20 games this season, putting him near the top of the charts amongst draft-eligibles in his circuit.

“He’s a man,” Team CHL coach Kris Mallette told reporters postgame. “He plays a big-man’s game. He’s heavy on draws, he’s hard on forecheck, and then you can add some skill into that. He obviously sets up a real nice goal for us, was around it in the dot. He just is a huge competitor. I love his compete all the time. To be rewarded that way… he’s trusted.”

SETTING THE MARTONE

Porter Martone, ranked No. 2 behind only American-born forward James Hagens, elevated his game in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge finale.

Martone, who has had himself a healthy start to his draft-eligible season, has NHL-ready size and skill, which the USNTDP found out Wednesday.

“He has elite puck control and patience, and his size allows him to threaten dangerous areas near the net while still scanning for passing lanes,” said FCHockey scout Joseph Aleong, who was in attendance for Game 2 of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. “He has the powerful skating and skill to be an impact top-six forward at the NHL level down the road.”

Martone has absolutely assaulted the OHL this season with a 2.05 point-per-game pacing that has him tops in the league. In fact, only CHL USA Prospects Challenge linemate Michael Misa has cobbled together more overall production; Misa has 46 points (23 goals, 23 assists) in 23 games to Martone’s 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 21 games.

RESCHNY COMES IN CLUTCH

It’s not the first big goal Cole Reschny has scored. Won’t be the last, either.

He’s done it with Victoria in the Western Hockey League. He’s done it for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

He’s now done it at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

Reschny, with just over a minute remaining in Game 2 and with overtime looming, set the stage for his latest heroics to secure the two-game sweep for his side with an absolute snipe with 72 seconds left.

“It was huge,” said Mallette, who also coaches Kelowna in the Western Hockey League. “We got into a bit of a rhythm where he found himself on the bench a little more than probably I’d like to have him out there, but in joking aside I was like ‘I’m just resting you up because I know you’re clutch.’ It was good. I’ve seen him do it at the Hlinka and I’ve seen him do  against us. He’s a player when the game’s on the line he’s not afraid to put it in.”

MURTAGH, TOO

He wasn’t on the winnings side of things, but that didn’t diminish the contributions Jack Murtagh made to the NTDP’s push to even the series in Game 2.

Murtagh, who also scored in Game 1, displayed more of that sniping prowess he has that’s netted him nine goals in 14 games with the Americans over the course of their regular-season schedule.

“I was most impressed with Murtagh’s motor and consistent high level of compete throughout Game 2,” FCHockey scout Mike Kennedy, also in attendance for the series finale, said. “That, coupled with his lethal shot, leads me to believe he holds the upside of a top-six winger at the next level.

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