The Western Hockey League has lost another top prospect to the NCAA, as Carson Carels, a projected early first-round pick in the upcoming NHL draft, has announced he will leave the Prince George Cougars to play for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. The 17-year-old defenceman from Cypress River, Manitoba, made the announcement on his Instagram account on Monday, May 18, 2026. He still has up to three years of junior eligibility remaining.
Carels joins a growing list of WHL stars opting for the college route, a trend accelerated by the NCAA's rule change last summer that allowed players from major junior leagues like the WHL to retain eligibility. This season alone, the WHL has lost 15 players with multiple years of remaining eligibility, including projected top 2026 NHL draft picks Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff, the latter of whom will also join Carels at North Dakota.
Carels' Rise and NHL Draft Projections
Carels has been widely regarded as one of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL draft. TSN's Craig Button ranked him second overall in his March rankings, trailing only winger Gavin McKenna, who played this season with Penn State. In Button's May mock draft, Carels was projected to go sixth overall to the Calgary Flames. Elite Prospects slotted him at fourth in their latest rankings, while Sportsnet analysts Jason Bukala and Sam Cosentino both had him at seventh.
The Vancouver Canucks hold the third overall pick in the draft, and former general manager Patrik Allvin attended a game in January to watch Carels and the Cougars face the Vancouver Giants. Carels expressed gratitude in his Instagram post, thanking his family, friends, coaches, teammates, and the Prince George organization and community for shaping him into the person he is today.
NCAA Trend Continues
Carels' departure follows that of Vancouver Giants defenceman Ryan Lin, 18, who is also projected as a first-round pick and announced last month that he would play for the Denver Pioneers next season. Rumours persist of more WHL players taking the same path, including Everett Silvertips defenceman Landon DuPont, the early favourite to be the first overall pick in the 2027 NHL draft.
Other notable WHL prospects in this year's draft include Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph, Giants winger Mathis Preston, and twins Markus and Liam Ruck, forwards with the Medicine Hat Tigers. Meanwhile, centre Caleb Malhotra of the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, also a projected early pick, is set to play for Boston University. Malhotra is the son of Abbotsford Canucks coach Manny Malhotra, and reports suggest the Canucks could select him with their third overall pick.
WHL vs. NCAA: A Shift in Development Philosophy
Leagues like the WHL have long promoted their NHL-like schedule as the best preparation for prospects. For instance, McKenna played 35 games with Penn State this season after a 90-game season with Medicine Hat last year, which included a Memorial Cup run. However, a mindset change appears to be underway, with some believing the shorter college season allows more time in the weight room to develop physically for the NHL.
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere commented on this after Porter Martone, the sixth overall pick in the 2025 draft, signed with the team in March following his season at Michigan State. Martone left the OHL's Brampton Steelheads for Michigan State last summer and posted four goals and 10 points in nine regular-season games with the Flyers, plus two goals and five points in 10 playoff games. Briere noted that the NCAA provided a stepping-stone from the OHL to the NHL, helping Martone develop his body and strength, transitioning from a teenager to a man.
Players who sign NHL entry-level contracts are not eligible to play in the NCAA. Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes, selected 15th overall last summer, signed his deal 12 days after being drafted. Cootes told Postmedia that he had considered the NCAA but realized it wasn't for him, and Vancouver's desire to sign him made the decision easier.
Carels' Impact on the Cougars
Carels was the youngest player on Canada's world junior team this year, just four days younger than Verhoeff. The 6-foot-2, 189-pound defenceman recorded 20 goals and 73 points in 58 regular-season games with the Cougars, finishing fourth in scoring among WHL defencemen. Prince George posted a 44-22-2-0 record, the sixth-best in the WHL, but lost to the Penticton Vees in the second round of the playoffs.
Prince George general manager and coach Mark Lamb praised Carels, calling him a 10 in every category: skating, playmaking, physicality, and understanding of the game. Lamb emphasized that Carels' ability to play away from the puck at such a young age is rare, and he advised NHL teams that picking Carels would not be a mistake.
As the WHL continues to grapple with the loss of top talent to the NCAA, the trend shows no signs of slowing down. The upcoming NHL draft will reveal just how many more prospects choose the college path over major junior hockey.
