Carson Carels grounded by family, farm life as NHL draft nears

Carson Carels’ rise over the past year has placed the young Cypress River product firmly on the radar of Canadian hockey fans. He was the youngest player on Team Canada at the World Juniors last December, and now the Prince George Cougars defenceman is widely projected as a top-10 NHL Draft pick and has recently committed to the University of North Dakota.

At just 17, Carels has already lived the kind of season most young players only dream about; representing his country on the world stage, attracting attention from NHL organizations, and preparing for the high-pressure NHL Draft Combine later this month.

Off the ice, he has managed to balance those demands with academics as well. When he first arrived in Prince George, Carels set a personal goal of graduating high school a year early. Something he achieved despite the travel, practices and demanding schedule that comes with major junior hockey. Graduating a year early didn’t just earn him a diploma, it also opened the door to university-level opportunities. This past weekend, he committed to play for the University of North Dakota beginning in the 2026-27 season.

That same discipline carries through everything he does. While his hockey career accelerated on the ice, Carels was just as intentional about his education off it, treating school with the same structure and commitment he brings to his game.

He attributes that discipline to life back home on the family farm, where he grew up learning accountability, responsibility and hard work. It’s a place he returns to, where life still feels remarkably normal.

“I kind of just come back here and it all feels right,” he said. “Being on the farm helps a lot. Being around these people keeps me grounded.”

Staying grounded has become even more important as the spotlight has intensified. While many players his age might get swept up in rankings, social media and NHL interviews, Carels says the people around him make sure he remains the same person.
One of those people is former teammate Kyle Beilman, a goalie in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League who is also considered an extended member of the Carels family. While he and Carson joke around a lot, both are serious when it comes to pulling their weight on the farm and on the ice.

Coaches and scouts praise his defensive play, smooth skating and hockey IQ, but off the ice, his gratitude stands out just as much.

Coming from a family of seven, Carels says he now realizes just how much his parents sacrificed to support five children through hockey while operating a 2,000-acre farm and a 500-head cattle operation.

Between chores, calving seasons, long highway drives to arenas and the everyday demands of raising a large family, he says the commitment never stopped.

“When you’re young, you don’t think about how much they really do,” he said. “There’s only two of them and five of us. Looking back now, you appreciate everything they did to help us get where we are.”

He speaks just as fondly about his siblings, crediting his sisters for shaping his character and his brother for toughening him up.

“My sisters taught me how to treat people,” he said. “My brother picked on me a little and made me tougher. Now we’re best friends.”

Though his season brought national attention, Carels says representing Canada at the World Juniors did not fully sink in until afterward.

“When you’re there, you don’t really think about it,” he said. “You’re just playing another tournament. It’s afterward, when all the social media stuff comes out, that you kind of have to pinch yourself.”

What he brought home from that experience was more than memories and a bronze medal. It was confidence, perspective and lessons learned from older players, including those with NHL experience.

“Just learning from those top guys and how they carry themselves was unreal,” he said. “That confidence helped me when I came back.”

Carels says one of the biggest influences on his development has been Prince George associate coach Jimmy Playfair, who took the young defenceman under his wing shortly after he arrived in Prince George at just 16 years old.

“He believed in my game and taught me to trust my game and the process,” Carels said. “He’s probably had the biggest impact on my game.”

That trust and confidence appeared to pay off following the World Juniors, as Carels returned to the Cougars playing some of the best hockey of his career.

After returning, he elevated his game even further, finishing the 2025-26 WHL season with 73 points in 57 games, including 20 goals and 53 assists.

Carels has become the type of defenceman coaches trust in every situation … calm, efficient and dependable.

Scouts point to his smooth skating, particularly his lateral movement along the blue line and ability to close gaps quickly. Even under pressure, he rarely looks rushed.

While he contributes offensively, he remains committed defensively first. He moves the puck exceptionally well, starting the attack with a crisp first pass while also joining the rush when opportunities open.

At 6’2” and 194 pounds, he also brings a strong physical presence.
“He’ll engage and lean on players, but he’s not the type trying to truck everyone. More controlled, pro-style defending,” noted HockeyWizScouts.

In short, Carels projects as a modern top-pairing defenceman — mobile, poised, reliable, and capable of playing heavy minutes in all situations.

Yet despite growing NHL attention and his recent commitment to North Dakota, Carels remains deeply tied to home.

Sitting around the family table, both Carels and his mom, Stacey, exchange knowing smiles when reflecting on how difficult it was when the then-16-year-old left home for Prince George.

Leaving family, missing holidays and adjusting to a new city tested him, but he says his billet family, team, and constant FaceTime calls home helped ease the adjustment.

“I’m always looking forward to coming back,” he said. “Especially Christmas. That’s probably the hardest part.”

As the NHL Draft approaches, Carels says he tries not to let expectations consume him.

When asked about the pressures people may not realize come with the draft process, Carels spoke of combine interviews and the constant evaluation that comes with them.

“You’ve got to prove yourself, that you are a good person and that you did enough throughout the season,” he said. “I think that’s pretty big pressure.”

Still, he says being around family helps quiet those thoughts.

“I kind of just go with it,” he said.

And when asked to picture draft day and imagine which team he sees calling his name, his answer came quickly.

“I really think the Jets would be a good fit for me.”

If hockey disappeared tomorrow, Carels says he knows exactly where he would be.

“Back on the farm,” he said without hesitation. “That’s who I am. That’s who I always want to be.”

His draft day plans reflect that same loyalty to home. Rather than attend the event in person, Carels plans to remain at the family farm surrounded by the people who helped him reach this moment.

“It means way more having it here,” he said. “I have a big family. A lot of people helped me get where I am. To share it with them makes it special.”

And while he may soon hear his name called by an NHL franchise, Carels says what matters most is not simply how people view him as a player, but as a person.

“I hope people know who I am off the ice,” he said. “That means a lot to me.”

For a player projected to hear his name early on draft day, that may be the most telling sign of all.

No matter how far hockey takes him, Carson Carels still measures success by the same things that shaped him long before NHL scouts arrived…family, hard work, and the farm waiting at home.

PHOTO CAPTION: Projected to go very early in the first round of the upcoming NHL entry draft, Cypress River’s Carson Carels loves to spend time at home on the farm with his family and the many animals they raise. It’s easy to stay grounded when you realize the goats really don’t care where you get drafted, only that you feed them. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK