CHL teams can max out three overagers per roster—and there’s a reason pretty much every team does. Not only do 20-year-olds usually provide the veteran leadership their teenage teammates need off the ice, they’re literally men playing against boys. You can’t underestimate their importance, especially to clubs expecting to contend. These are your Top 10 CHL overagers.

10. Spencer Watson, RW, Mississauga Steelheads

Anyone who garners the sort of return Watson did (two seconds, a third and a conditional seventh-rounder) and still won’t be ready to play for at least another month definitely rates. The winger was acquired from Kingston in early November while still recovering from off-season wrist surgery. Had he not been injured, Watson likely would’ve been slated for the AHL. Not only was Kingston able to acquire picks, but Watson rounds out Mississauga’s top six forward group. His 89 points last season were a career-high.



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9. Kameron Kielly, RW/C, Charlottetown Islanders

Has always had the pressure of being a first-round pick, but until this season has had trouble matching the expectations that came along with it. Kielly started the season with 10 points in his first three games and sits among the league’s top 10 in goals, power-play markers and game-winners while averaging well over a point per game for the highest-scoring team in the league.

8. Sam Ruopp, D, Prince George Cougars

One of the few on this list whose point production is a non-factor. Ruopp is without a doubt the leader of the Cougars on and off the ice. The Columbus prospect is a rough-and-tumble type who eats massive minutes. Other than games missed due to suspension, Ruopp has been a mainstay in the Cougars lineup the past four seasons. It’s been 10 years since Prince George was a legitimate contender and Ruopp is poised to make sure it won’t be 11. By the way, he still has three games remaining on an eight-game suspension as a result of line brawl versus Medicine Hat Nov. 2.



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7. Mathieu Henderson, D, Flint Firebirds

Relatively unknown for having spent his entire career in the U.S., Henderson has been at or near the top of the defencemen scoring leaders all season long. The Firebirds have played well under new coach Ryan Oulahen and Henderson’s play has been a big reason for that. He’s been in on 32 percent of Flint’s goals this season. He’s durable too, having not missed a game in three years.

6. Darren Raddysh, D, Erie Otters

It’s inconceivable that he has not signed a pro contract. Raddysh is a team-first guy, who, on any given night, routinely leads the Otters in blocked shots. This season he’s added an offensive flair for the surprising Otters, who sit second in the OHL. Raddysh is well on his way to a putting up career numbers across the board for an Erie team that may win 50 games again this season.



Raddysh has 23 points in 17 games for the Otters this season. (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

5. Scott Eansor, C/LW, Seattle Thunderbirds

A max effort guy who gets a lot out of his 5-foot-9, 185-lb. frame. The Seattle captain is the motor behind a Thunderbirds team that won the Western Conference a year ago. This season he has put up a point per game despite not having stalwarts Ryan Gropp, Keegan Kolesar and Mathew Barzal for lengthy portions of the campaigns. If Seattle is to make another deep run into the spring with a core group that will graduate at year’s end, Eansor will have to continue being a leader and producing at a career-best pace.

4. Alexis D’Aoust, RW, Shawinigan Cataractes

D’Aoust scored 44 goals and put up 98 points while helping the Cats all the way to the league final last season. After a lengthy look in Vancouver Canucks camp, D’Aoust has played like a guy seeking a contract. Having recently scored five goals in a game against Gatineau, he’s en route to matching his career highs, but in significantly fewer games. His shoot-first mentality fits in perfectly with the high octane offence Shawinigan has displayed in recent seasons.

3. Antoine Waked, RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Like any championship team trying to repeat, you need your returnees to take the next step and help fill the void of graduating players, Waked has done that. A third-liner and penalty-killer in years past, he’s already one goal and eight points shy of career highs while shooting at a 17.8 percent clip. Waked possesses top-end speed, a wicked shot and has definitely taken steps to replace Francis Perron, Timo Meier and AJ Greer up front.



Montembeault is 11-3-0 with a 1.85 GAA and .933 Sv% for the Armada this season. (Getty Images)

2. Samuel Montembeault, G, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Montembeault was rock solid a season ago with a Blainville squad that not only upset Val-d’Or in round one of the 2016 playoffs, but gave eventual league champ Rouyn-Noranda all it could handle in the semis. The Armada are much deeper this season and once again in contention because of Montembeault’s stalwart play. The Florida Panthers prospect leads the QMJHL in GAA and save percentage and his two shutouts are T-1.

1. Adam Brooks, C, Regina Pats

Brooks won the WHL scoring title last season earning him a fourth-round selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft, his final year of eligibility. He has not disappointed this season, leading the league in points per game and threatening to win another scoring title for a Pats team that is destroying its competition. Brooks has at least a point in all 14 games he’s played, and multi-point efforts in nine of those. Dating back to last season, he has points 36 of his last 38 games.