Chadwick was among the players skating on Wednesday ahead of a two-game series against the Canadiens’ prospects this weekend.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rostered players named to the Prospects Showdown in Montreal this weekend, featuring a two-game series against the Canadiens’ top prospects, hit the ice at Ford Performance Centre as day one of three before they hit the road. Among those participants was up-and-coming defenseman Noah Chadwick, who is keen on making the most out of this experience with the club.
“I think for me, it's just a learning opportunity,” Chadwick said. “Every day it's just about trying to get something out of every session and just trying to grow myself as a player and a person.”
Despite being selected in the sixth round (185th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Chadwick has continued to impress as one of the Leafs’ top defensive prospects. In the 2023-24 season, the 19-year-old enjoyed a career year, notching 12 goals and adding 44 assists for 56 points in 66 regular season games. In December of 2023, Chadwick signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the club. Therefore, he’s no stranger to seizing opportunities as they come to him.
“I mean, it doesn't matter at the end of the day, right? Where you go if you're first-rounder, undrafted, you know, whatever it is. So I'm super thankful that Brad (Treliving) and the Leafs took a chance on me.”
His commendable approach to the game hasn’t gone unnoticed, either, as in the 2023-24 season, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound defenseman served as an alternate captain for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and has recently been promoted to the top leadership role, taking over the captaincy from Joe Arnsten starting in 2024-25.
The duties don’t seem to be something Chadwick will be taking lightly, viewing it as another step towards helping him “fulfill the dream” and pushing the Hurricanes to greater success next season.
“I’m super honored,” Chadwick explained. “It's something I really don't take lightly, especially, how our last captain was Joe Arntsen, a terrific guy, and I'm really close with him. So, yeah, I'm just stoked. I'm pleased that they all believe in me and in my personality to be able to bring up that team and try to get over the hump in Lethbridge that we kind of have right now.”
“I think being the captain now in Lethbridge, it's just about being the best leader and trying to take that team as far as I can. I want to, again, it's just all about those micro steps every day. It’s not one big thing that's going to help me. It's just those little things, habits every day, that's going to help me try to fulfill the dream here.”
As Chadwick continues to soak up valuable experiences in Toronto’s prospect camp, none may prove more intriguing than his pairing with Leafs’ first-round pick from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Ben Danford – whom Chadwick skated with on Wednesday, forming a promising connection.
“He's a really nice guy. I think when we have that off-ice bond too, it really helps to play out there,” Chadwick said of his connection with Danford. “We trust each other and he's smart. He jumps up in the rush a lot and makes great plays. So yeah, excited to play with him.”
Over his three WHL seasons, Chadwick has accumulated 19 goals, 60 assists, and 79 points in 146 regular season games for the Hurricanes. After a breakout season in 2023-24, the Saskatoon, SK native was named the winner of the WHL and Canadian Hockey League Scholastic Player of the Year. In July, he was among 42 players invited to Canada’s National Junior Team summer showcase roster, joining Leafs forward prospect Easton Cowan.
As the IIHF World Junior tournament remains months away, Chadwick is keeping it in the back of his mind – for now.
“I think it's honestly (just) not thinking about it too much. It's a few months away. That's just kind of the sun in the distance right now.”
Chadwick and the Leafs will have two more on-ice sessions on Thursday and Friday before traveling to Montreal to compete in a two-game series against the Canadiens’ top prospects on the weekend.
