CHL stomps Americans in first-ever Prospects Challenge game

The first game of the inaugural CHL-USA Prospects Challenge went the Canadians' way.

The CHL's top draft-eligible prospects beat their American counterparts in the U.S. national team development program 6-1 in the initial contest of a two-game series on Tuesday in London, Ont.

Lynden Lakovic of the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors opened the scoring in the first period, taking a stretch pass from Ben Kindel (Calgary Hitmen) and depositing a breakaway chance off the bar and into the net.

The CHL broke things open with three goals in the second period, courtesy of Cameron Schmidt (Vancouver Giants), Brady Martin (Soo Greyhounds) and Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters).

Malcolm Spence (Erie) added a power-play marker in the third period, and Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie Colts) scored a strange final goal of the game, blasting a shot home from the point with 5:51 remaining in the frame — even though no one, except seemingly Aitcheson — realized the puck touched twine.

Play continued after Aitcheson's goal until the 3:25 mark, when the horn blew to signal that the forward had indeed scored. When play resumed, the time that had elapsed since the Canadian's goal was added back to the clock.

Jack Murtagh scored the lone goal for the U.S., spoiling CHL goalie Joshua Ravensbergen's shutout bid with 2:14 left on the clock.

Schaefer, who also added an assist, was named player of the game.

Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was among those in attendance, with the broadcast reporting that over 300 NHL staffers were in the arena.

The teams return to the ice Wednesday in Oshawa, Ont. If the U.S. wins, the teams will play a 20-minute, three-on-three, sudden-death overtime period to determine an overall victor.

The series is replacing the CHL Top Prospects game, which used to featured 40 of the league's best players pitted against each other.