Carson Carels
Ice hockey player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carson Carels (born June 23, 2008) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2026 NHL entry draft.
| Carson Carels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
June 23, 2008 Cypress River, Manitoba, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| WHL team | Prince George Cougars | ||
| NHL draft | Eligible 2026 | ||
Playing career
After showing promise as an ice hockey player from a young age, Carels enrolled at the Pilot Mound Hockey Academy prior to ninth grade.[1] Playing with their U15 team in 2021–22, he posted 19 points in 26 games played.[2] The next season, he appeared in 20 games for the U15 team and scored 32 points.[3] He also appeared in two games for the U17 team and scored two points in the 2022–23 season.[2] After his performance in the 2022–23 season, Carels was selected by the Prince George Cougars with the 15th overall pick in the Western Hockey League (WHL) draft.[4] He played with the Pilot Mound U17 team for most of the 2023–24 season, posting 50 points in 27 games while being named his team's most valuable player and a league all-star.[1] Carels also then played in seven games for Prince George, posting three assists.[5] He participated at the WHL Cup for Team Manitoba, helping them to the title while being named the tournament MVP.[6]
As a rookie for the Cougars in 2024–25 season, Carels was named the Cougars rookie of the year after tallying 35 points in 60 games played.[7] Entering the 2025–26 season, he was named an alternate captain for Prince George, becoming, at age 17, one of the youngest alternate captains in the WHL.[8]
Carels is regarded as a top prospect for the 2026 NHL entry draft.[9]
International play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Canada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 2026 United States | |
Carels helped Team Canada Red to a silver medal at the 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.[5] He also participated at the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships, scoring one goal in seven games.[2] He competed at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Canada and tallied an assist.[2][10]
In December 2025, he was selected to represent Canada at the 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[11] During the tournament he recorded one assist in five games and won a bronze medal.[12]
Personal life
Carels was born on June 23, 2008, in Cypress River, Manitoba.[2] He grew up on his family's farm, which has 500 cattle, and he is one of five children.[13][1] His father and four siblings each played ice hockey, with Carels first skating at age four.[1]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, his family built a hockey rink on their farm so that they could continue playing.[1]