Prince George Cougars associate coach Jim Playfair delivered an important message to Carson Carels after a game last weekend in Victoria.

At that point, the 17-year-old defenceman pretty much realized he was well ahead of schedule in his quest to fulfil a big hockey goal.

“I kind of had a hunch when (Playfair) came in and told me to stick around my phone and if someone calls me, I better pick it up,” Carels said in a phone interview this week when asked to describe how he found out he had made Canada’s training-camp roster for the 2026 world junior championship.

“Right after that game, I got a phone call and kind of stepped out the room and heard from Al (Hockey Canada Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar).

“I didn’t really have it on my bucket list. It was definitely on m

See Full Page