Prospective Recruits

[sioux rube]

6 minutes ago, cberkas said:

That U18 team is going to be memorable in a bad way, oh boy.

That was ugly 

[cberkas]

9 minutes ago, sioux rube said:

That was ugly 

And Canada riots 

[cberkas]

U18s: 2 goal on 45 shots and gave up 5 on 16 shots.

[beastandco]

“Obviously there’s a few decisions to be made this summer and see where I’ll end up for next year so I think I just kind of had to embrace that moment and hope it’s not my last, but I think that there’s a chance it might be. It’s kind of hard to take that all in, but I think I enjoyed it a lot.”

Sounds like he’s not returning to Prince George. 

[franchise]

Wouldn't mind if Ottawa drafted him😁

[SIOUXELEVENS]

Or Calgary 

[brianvf]

Wouldn't be surprised if he waited to make his decision until after the draft.
Not only first to see what the team that drafts him wants...but also because all the coaches and some of his teammates are going to be at his house for the draft.  Might be a little awkward if he's already committed to a NCAA college.  Unless the Prince George staff is ok with the CHL --> NCAA move.

Quote

What will draft night look like?

Carson Carels: A lot of close relatives are gonna be there. All the staff from Prince George, the coaches and trainers and everybody that I’ve spent lots of time with, they’re gonna be there. I think a lot of my teammates from this past year are gonna try and drive up and stay over and have a little week with me.

 

[I Ranger]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

Wouldn't be surprised if he waited to make his decision until after the draft.
Not only first to see what the team that drafts him wants...but also because all the coaches and some of his teammates are going to be at his house for the draft.  Might be a little awkward if he's already committed to a NCAA college.  Unless the Prince George staff is ok with the CHL --> NCAA move.

 

I've had the same feeling all along that we won't hear anything until after the draft. I do feel it's UND or he signs an NHL contract but who knows at this point. 

[brianvf]

The Med Hat/Prince Albert series is now tied 2-2.
Rudolph with a monster game...2g-2a, led all skaters with 8 shots and added a 10min misconduct penalty in the 3rd for good measure.
Game 5 is tomorrow back in Prince Albert.

I really have to think that Chyz is going after two CHL dmen and we're just waiting on their playoffs to end and possibly the NHL draft to be done.  Maybe he's going after 2 of the big 3...with a fallback of hopefully landing one and then adding another "less-heralded" CHL dman (similar to Josephson at forward last year).  Or, another option...he's hoping to land 2, but if they only get one he fills the last spot with a current older portal dman to add experience (similar to Young at forward last year).

Either way, next year's d-corps is going to be very young, but very skilled.  Adding one (or two) from the Big 3 only makes them younger yet even more skilled.
A young d-corps is certainly not normally a recipe for success in college hockey...but that group just might have enough talent to overcome their youth.

JR - Boser, Emery
SO - Laurila, Verhoeff
FR - Lindberg, MacKenzie

[SKondrashkin]

I do wonder if Carels is our targeted guy considering Jax routinely talks about bringing in players “110% committed to the program."

Carels will most likely be a 1-and-done, is apparently holding off his commitment until after the draft, and is surrounding himself with Prince George players/staff.

I dunno.  Something just doesn’t pass the smell test.  Or perhaps Im overthinking things.    

[Sioux90]

4 hours ago, SKondrashkin said:

I do wonder if Carels is our targeted guy considering Jax routinely talks about bringing in players “110% committed to the program."

Carels will most likely be a 1-and-done, is apparently holding off his commitment until after the draft, and is surrounding himself with Prince George players/staff.

I dunno.  Something just doesn’t pass the smell test.  Or perhaps Im overthinking things.    

He’s showing restraint. Professionalism is a good quality to have. Sharing the draft moment with the team and the coaches, that helped get him to where he’s at today.

[brianvf]

5 hours ago, SKondrashkin said:

I do wonder if Carels is our targeted guy considering Jax routinely talks about bringing in players “110% committed to the program."

Carels will most likely be a 1-and-done, is apparently holding off his commitment until after the draft, and is surrounding himself with Prince George players/staff.

Carels might be one of those guys that it is still very beneficial to have on the team, even if it's only for one season.
If the coaches know that going in...that he'll only be here a year...then it is something that they can plan for.

If Carels comes in, I'm guessing they'll need to replace about half the d-corps the following year...as Emery, Verhoeff, and Carels would probably all sign.

[The Sicatoka]

1 hour ago, brianvf said:

If Carels comes in, I'm guessing they'll need to replace about half the d-corps the following year...as Emery, Verhoeff, and Carels would probably all sign.

In the NIL/CHL world this will be a new normal. 

[brianvf]

14 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

In the NIL/CHL world this will be a new normal. 

Yeah, and won't be hard to find replacements.
Although finding replacements for three first rounder dmen in one offseason might be a tall task. 

[cberkas]

Probably not count chickens before you have the eggs. 

Right now, one 1st and highly likely a send 1st. Don't have 3 1st yet.

[The Sicatoka]

2 minutes ago, cberkas said:

Probably not count chickens before you have the eggs. 

Right now, one 1st and highly likely a send 1st. Don't have 3 1st yet.

You're harshin' that dude's mellow, man.

[atxsioux]

7 hours ago, SKondrashkin said:

I do wonder if Carels is our targeted guy considering Jax routinely talks about bringing in players “110% committed to the program."

Carels will most likely be a 1-and-done, is apparently holding off his commitment until after the draft, and is surrounding himself with Prince George players/staff.

I dunno.  Something just doesn’t pass the smell test.  Or perhaps Im overthinking things.    

If Cale Makar can play two years of college post draft year it makes me lean towards thinking Carels will be a 2 year player. Defensemen typically take longer to develop.

[skateshattrick]

2 minutes ago, atxsioux said:

If Cale Makar can play two years of college post draft year it makes me lean towards thinking Carels will be a 2 year player. Defensemen typically take longer to develop.

Agreed. Quinn Hughes and Jake Sanderson also played 2 years of college hockey. 

[The Sicatoka]

6 minutes ago, skateshattrick said:

Agreed. Quinn Hughes and Jake Sanderson also played 2 years of college hockey. 

The Hutsons (Quinn, Cole, Lane) each played at least 2 at BU. Forget which play D.

[Brett0909]

19 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

The Hutsons (Quinn, Cole, Lane) each played at least 2 at BU. Forget which play D.

All good comps, but all indications are Carels is at a similar level of development heading into next year as Verhoeff (based on scouts and international performance), and I don’t think anyone here’s expecting two more years from Keaton(?). Honestly, I’m not even as sure as most seem to be that we should confidently expect one more year…

Takeaway for me is this fan base is believing (and expecting) big things out of this team and talent again, after a year of Jax. And that’s a great feeling. 

[AJS]

On 4/30/2026 at 3:34 PM, brianvf said:

Wouldn't be surprised if he waited to make his decision until after the draft.
Not only first to see what the team that drafts him wants...but also because all the coaches and some of his teammates are going to be at his house for the draft.  Might be a little awkward if he's already committed to a NCAA college.  Unless the Prince George staff is ok with the CHL --> NCAA move.

 

Sure seems that way. Tough deal for the staff. Not knowing until July for both Verhoeff and Carels. Still leaning that both will be on the roster come this fall.