Oct 2, 2026 10:06 PM
Updated Oct 3, 2026 12:00 PM
Team CHL will have two WHL coaches behind the bench.
The Canadian Hockey League has finalized its bench for the upcoming 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Primaris.
Prince Albert Raiders head coach Ryan McDonald and Edmonton Oil Kings assistant coach and manager of player development Kyle Chipchura have officially been named assistant coaches for Team CHL.
McDonald, a Prince Albert native, guided his hometown Raiders to a dominant 52–10–5–1 regular-season record in 2025–26, capturing first place in the Eastern Conference and advancing to the WHL Championship Series in his first full season at the helm. The historic campaign marked Prince Albert’s first 50-win season since 2018–19 and earned McDonald recognition as a finalist for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy as WHL Coach of the Year.
Chipchura enters his third season on the Oil Kings’ bench after initially joining the organization as a development coach ahead of the 2023–24 season.
A former first-round pick (18th overall) of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2004 NHL Draft and a former Prince Albert Raiders captain, Chipchura brings valuable professional and international experience. He captained Canada to a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship, won the Calder Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007, and appeared in 482 NHL games across 10 seasons.
"I’m honoured to be part of a great CHL coaching staff," Chipchura said. "It’s a privilege to work alongside some of the top coaches in the CHL and to help some of the best young players in our game showcase their abilities and take the next step in their development."
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