Joseph named to Team CHL roster

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs forward Alexis Joseph was among the first four players named to Team CHL for this year's 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

The annual event, which is entering its third year, "will bring together many of the top players eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft as Team CHL faces the U.S. National Under-18 Team," states a CHL news release.

Along with Joseph, Carter Meyer of the Quebec Remparts was also named to the team. Non-QMJHL players invited were Brock England of the Seattle Thunderbirds and Dima Zhilkin of the Saginaw Spirit.

“Brock England and Dima Zhilkin are two dynamic, skilled forwards who generate offence,” said Karl Stewart, vice president and director of NHL Central Scouting, in the news release. “England is poised to have a breakout season after winning gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, while Zhilkin is poised to be a top scorer in the OHL. Alexis Joseph is that big, playmaking centre capable of being the difference-maker that all NHL teams covet, and Carter Meyer is a speedy centre with elite skills who is off to a great start in his first year in the CHL.”

Here's what the CHL said of Joseph:

A 6-foot-4, 210-pound centre from Lachenaie, Que., Joseph led all QMJHL 16-year-olds in scoring with 24 goals and 60 points in 54 games after Saint John selected him first overall in the 2025 QMJHL Draft. He finished second on the Sea Dogs in scoring and earned QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team honours. Internationally, Joseph captained Canada Red to gold at the 2025 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, leading the tournament with 13 points in five games and earning All-Star Team honours. After representing Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, he recorded one goal and two assists in five games while helping his country capture gold at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Joseph was also one of the first six players recently selected by NHL Central Scouting for the QMJHL Prospects Game, presented by BFL Canada, on October 28 in Gatineau. 

Joseph is set to become the 16th Sea Dog player to participate in either the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game or the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Saint John’s 15 previous representatives include Jonathan Huberdeau, Nathan Beaulieu and Thomas Chabot. Most recently, Eriks Mateiko represented the club at the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

It's no surprise to see Joseph amongst the first players invited as most draft ranking publications have had him listed as an early first-round pick for a year now. Sea Dogs forward Jamie Glance also has a good chance of making Team CHL – where he would play against the program he spent the past two seasons at.

The QMJHL will host this year's CHL USA Prospects Challenge. The first game will be played Dec. 1 in Chicoutimi while the second will take place in Quebec City on Dec. 2.