Carson Carels has followed up a breakout season in the WHL by being one of the first players taken in the 2026 NHL Draft.
The two-way defenceman was selected with the No. 6 pick by the Calgary Flames on Friday.
Carels, a farmboy from Manitoba, has starred for the last two seasons with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. In 2025-26, he exploded for 20 goals and 73 points from the blueline, more than double his production from his rookie year.
Carels also competed for Canada at the 2026 world juniors.
He has committed to playing at the University of North Dakota next season.
