(Mark Peterson/WHL)

By Ian Gustafson

Top Prospect

Lacombe’s Daxon Rudolph named alternate captain for CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Nov 12, 2025 | 11:52 AM

Lacombe’s Daxon Rudolph has been named to the leadership group for Team CHL at the upcoming CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

The 17-year-old Prince Albert Raiders defenceman will serve as an alternate captain alongside captain Caleb Malholtra of the Brantford Bulldogs and other alternate captains Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants, Xavier Villeneuve of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, and JP Hurlbert of the Kamloops Blazers.

“It means a lot to be part of the leadership group for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge,” Rudolph said in a media release. “Anytime you can represent on a stage like this, it’s a big honour. I’m very proud and I’m looking forward to the experience.”

Lin and Villeneuve will serve as alternate captains for both games, while Hurlbert will wear an ‘A’ for Game 1 in Calgary and Rudolph will do so for Game 2 in Lethbridge.

Rudolph is off to an impressive start to his sophomore season in the Western Hockey League with five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 17 games.

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He was selected by Prince Albert first overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and, since then, has become an important member on the blue line for the 13-1-3-0 Raiders.

Last month, he was named as one of 27 players who were given an ‘A’ rating in NHL Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch list.

This means Rudolph is one of the top prospects heading into the 2026 NHL Draft next year and is projected to be selected in the first round.

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge is a two-game series that spotlights the top NHL draft-eligible prospects from the CHL against the U.S. National Under-18 Team.

Those hoping to catch the action can view both games live on TSN and RDS on November 25 in Calgary and November 26 in Lethbridge. Both games are set for 6 p.m. mountain time.