The work done on the ice early this season by Brantford Bulldogs goaltender Vilmer Salen Forsberg hasn’t gone unnoticed.

On Thursday, the Canadian Hockey League announced nine additional players to its roster for the 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, with Salen Forsberg being added to the team.

Salen Forsberg becomes the first goaltender named to Team CHL.

“We’re incredibly proud of Vilmer for being selected to Team CHL,” Brantford Bulldogs general manager Spencer Hyman said.

“He gives our team a chance to win every time he steps into the crease and this recognition reflects his talent, hard work and compete level. He’s a special goalie and an outstanding young man who has earned this opportunity.

“We’re thrilled to have him represent the Bulldogs on this stage.”

The CHL USA Prospects Challenge brings together some of the top-rated talent that is eligible for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.

Earlier this week, Salen Forsberg received an ‘A’ rating in NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings, which means he’s a potential first-round pick. He is the only ‘A’ rated goalie in the rankings and the first goaltender with an ‘A’ ranking since Joshua Ravensbergen of Prince George in 2024.

Salen Forsberg is just the seventh CHL goalie to receive and ‘A’ ranking since 2013.

A native of Sodertalje, Sweden, Salen Forsberg has made an immediate impact in the OHL. So far this season, the six-foot-six, 220-pound netminder is 6-2-0-1 with a 2.19 goals against average and .931 save percentage. He also has one shutout and has been named the OHL goaltender of the week twice – Sept. 28 and Oct. 19.

The 17-year-old was selected 62nd overall in the 2026 CHL Import Draft by Brantford, becoming the first import goaltender selected by the Bulldogs and its first player from Sweden.

Salen Forsberg represented Sweden at the 2025 U17 World Challenge and 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Team CHL will play the U.S. National Under-18 team on Dec. 1 in Chicoutimi and Dec. 2 in Quebec City.

A total of 13 players have now been named to Team CHL. The remaining nine players will be named in November.

Over the course of the first two CHL USA Prospect Challenges, 42 of the 44 players who represented Team CHL have been selected in the NHL Draft, including 27 in the first round.

Former Bulldog Caleb Malhotra, selected third overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, played in the game last year.

Brantford joins Saginaw and Guelph with selections in all three CHL USA Prospects Challenges. Jake O’Brien was selected to play in 2024.

“It’s exciting for our franchise to have a player selected for a third consecutive year, from Jake O’Brien to Caleb Malhotra and now Vilmer Salén Forsberg,” said Hyman.

Sports reporter at The Brantford Expositor starting in 1999, sports editor since 2004, multiple Ontario Newspaper Awards winner and 2025 Brantford and Area Sports Hall of Recognition inductee