Offense-minded Rudolph excited for CHL USA Prospects Challenge

By Lethbridge Herald on November 19, 2025.

photo by Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders Daxon Rudolph is excited about playing as an A-rated prospect in next week’s CHL USA Prospects Challenge.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Prince Albert Raiders defenceman and Lacombe, Alta., product  Daxon Rudolph is showing why he is a top player in the WHL through his offensive prowess and two-way capabilities.

For those qualities, the sophomore rearguard will be playing for Team CHL along  with other top prospects who are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft  from the QMJHL, OHL and WHL in a best-on-best format against USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) Under-18 Team at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge next  Tuesday and Wednesday in Calgary and Lethbridge respectively.

Rudolph has been identified as an A-rated prospect by NHL Central Scouting , which is a player that is projected to go in the first round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

“I think there’s just a lot of excitement, that’s the biggest thing for me,” said Rudolph.

“(I am) really looking forward to the event and getting to play with all these great players and compete for two games against the Americans as well.”

Rudolph will be playing in front of a couple hundred NHL personnel both nights.

“I’m just gonna try and play my game and be myself,” said Rudolph.

He has been working on his overall game ahead of the Prospects Challenge.

“A couple things I focus on a lot is my first three strides, my explosiveness and quickness in tight areas,”  said the former first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

He has been working on his shooting.

“(Just) getting myself in better areas where I can put the puck in the net and then constantly getting stronger to improve my shot,” Rudolph.

Rudolph  has had a pointproducing side to him, having collected 41 points as a rookie last season with the Raiders and has 16 points in 20 games so far this year.

“I’m feeling really good, comfortable and confident this season,” said Rudolph.

“I try and be a two-way guy who can shut things down (and) also have that skillset to make plays and create offence.”

He prides himself in becoming  an efficient point-producing defenceman because of how the game is going now.

“Everyone’s involved,” said Rudolph.

“A layered attack is hard to defend. I think if I can be that second layer and maybe that (third) or (fourth) guy joining the rush, it’s harder to defend.”

Rudolph has become accustomed to putting  up points as he had 50 points with the Northern Alberta Xtreme Prep U15 team in 2022-2023 and it was the following year that he collected 59 points with the Xtreme’s U18 Prep team .

Rudolph was also named an assistant captain for Team CHL and is the lone Albertan on CHL’s roster.

Rudolph has had success internationally where he has won double gold with Canada at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship and 2024 U17 World Challenge

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge is on Nov. 25 in Calgary and Nov. 26 in Lethbridge at VisitLethbridge.com Arena with both games starting at 6 p.m.