When a teenager from Thunder Bay hears his name called at the NHL Draft, it’s the payoff for years of early mornings and family support. For Carter George, that moment arrived in 2024: the Los Angeles Kings selected the goaltender 57th overall in the second round.
Age: 18 (as of 2024) · Birthplace: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada · Position: Goaltender · NHL Draft: 2024 (Los Angeles Kings) · Current NHL Team: Los Angeles Kings · Current OHL Team: Soo Greyhounds
Quick snapshot
- Born May 20, 2006 in Thunder Bay, Ontario (Sportskeeda (sports news outlet))
- Drafted 57th overall by Los Angeles Kings in 2024 (NHL.com (official league site))
- Signed three-year entry-level contract on July 25, 2024 (Daily Faceoff (hockey news))
- Traded from Owen Sound Attack to Soo Greyhounds in 2024 (Soo Greyhounds (OHL team site))
- Father’s identity – reportedly Mike George, but no primary source confirmation (Elite Prospects (hockey database), Sportskeeda)
- Grandfather’s full name (Elite Prospects (hockey database))
- Whether George has played in the IIHF World Juniors (U20) – only U18 confirmed (Elite Prospects (hockey database))
- Exact date of trade not specified in team announcements (Elite Prospects (hockey database))
- Mother’s college curling career details not widely reported (Elite Prospects (hockey database))
- The Kings have not officially confirmed the round of selection in their own materials – though it matches all secondary sources (Elite Prospects (hockey database))
- Grandfather’s curling coach role sourced from Sportskeeda (tier3), no primary source (Elite Prospects (hockey database))
- Height/weight may be outdated on Elite Prospects – last updated unspecified (Elite Prospects (hockey database))
- Born May 20, 2006 (Sportskeeda)
- 2022–2023: OHL debut with Owen Sound Attack (LA Kings YouTube (team channel))
- 2024 NHL Draft: Selected by Los Angeles Kings (No. 57) (Daily Faceoff)
- July 25, 2024: Signs entry-level contract with Kings (NHL.com)
- 2024–2025: Traded to Soo Greyhounds (Soo Greyhounds)
- Will play for Soo Greyhounds in 2024–25 OHL season (Soo Greyhounds)
- Expected to compete for NHL minutes after development (NHL.com)
- Potential World Juniors selection if he continues strong play (Soo Greyhounds)
Eight data points capture the basic profile of the Kings’ newest goaltending prospect.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carter George |
| Birthdate | May 20, 2006 (Sportskeeda) |
| Birthplace | Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (NHL.com) |
| Position | Goaltender |
| NHL Team | Los Angeles Kings (Daily Faceoff) |
| OHL Team | Soo Greyhounds (Soo Greyhounds) |
| Draft Year | 2024 (Los Angeles Kings, 2nd round, 57th overall) (NHL.com) |
| Height / Weight | 6’1″ / 196 lbs (Elite Prospects) |
Who are Carter George’s parents?
Who is Carter George’s mother?
- Tara George is Carter’s mother and a professional curler from Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. She competed at a high level and later worked at Montclair State University (Sportskeeda).
- Her curling background includes national-level competition, part of a family tradition that includes Carter’s grandfather as a coach (Sportskeeda).
Who is Carter George’s father?
- The father’s identity is not officially confirmed, but multiple secondary sources name him as Mike George (Elite Prospects, Sportskeeda). According to these reports, Mike George played junior hockey in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and later served as Carter’s personal goalie coach until he reached the junior level (LA Kings YouTube).
What does Tara George do?
- Tara George is a professional curler with a decorated career. She also works in university athletics at Montclair State University (Sportskeeda).
Carter’s family background shows a clear pattern: both sides of the family have a history of competitive excellence—curling on his mother’s side, hockey on his father’s. That dual influence likely gave him a unique perspective on athletic discipline and recovery.
The pattern: Carter George comes from a family where competing at a national level is the norm, not the exception. That environment helped shape his work ethic and his ability to handle pressure on the ice.
What team is Carter George on now?
Current NHL team: Los Angeles Kings
- George signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 25, 2024 (NHL.com).
- He is under contract through the 2026–27 season at an AAV of $875,000 (NHL.com).
Current OHL team: Soo Greyhounds
- After starting the 2024–25 season with Owen Sound Attack, George was traded to the Soo Greyhounds in exchange for seven draft picks (Soo Greyhounds). The move gives him a fresh start and more playing time as the Greyhounds’ primary netminder.
Recent trade from Owen Sound Attack
- The trade happened in the 2024–25 season. The Soo Greyhounds acquired George to bolster their goaltending down the stretch (Soo Greyhounds).
For a young goaltender, a mid-season trade can be disruptive, but moving to a team that values him as a starter is a vote of confidence. The Greyhounds’ investment of seven picks shows they believe he can be a difference-maker.
The trade-off: George left a familiar system in Owen Sound for a team rebuilding its goaltending around him. If he thrives, the Kings’ prospect pipeline gets stronger faster.
Did Carter George get drafted?
When was Carter George drafted?
- George was selected in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, held June 28–29, 2024 (NHL.com).
Which NHL team drafted him?
- The Los Angeles Kings picked him with the 57th overall selection in the second round (Daily Faceoff).
What was his draft position?
- 57th overall, second round. The Kings used a compensatory pick from a prior trade to select him (Elite Prospects).
Why this matters: Being selected in the second round gives George a higher likelihood of NHL games than a late-round pick, but he’s still a long-term project. The Kings have invested contract and draft capital, signaling they see starter potential.
What nationality is Carter George?
Canadian nationality
- Carter George is Canadian. He represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Junior Championship (NHL.com).
Birthplace: Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, a city known for producing hockey talent, George grew up playing in a region with long winters and strong junior programs (Sportskeeda).
Canadian goaltenders are heavily scouted, and George’s international experience at the U18 level adds to his resume. The Kings can track his development against top-tier competition.
Who is Carter George’s grandfather?
Grandfather’s role as national curling coach
- According to reports, Carter’s grandfather served as a coach for Canada’s national curling team (Sportskeeda). This high-level coaching background in a precision sport likely contributed to Carter’s understanding of composure and strategy.
Connection to hockey and career influence
- While his grandfather did not directly coach him in hockey, Carter has cited his family’s sports values as key to his development (OHL/CHL YouTube (league channel)).
The pattern: a curling coach in the family may seem unrelated to hockey goaltending, but both sports require precise timing, calm under pressure, and reading an opponent’s intentions. That background might give George an edge in his mental game.
Timeline signal
- May 20, 2006: Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario (Sportskeeda)
- 2022–2023: Begins OHL career with Owen Sound Attack
- 2024 NHL Draft (June 28–29): Selected No. 57 overall by Los Angeles Kings (Daily Faceoff)
- July 25, 2024: Signs three-year entry-level contract with Kings (NHL.com)
- 2024–2025: Traded from Owen Sound to Soo Greyhounds (Soo Greyhounds)
Clarity
Confirmed facts
- Carter George was born May 20, 2006 in Thunder Bay, Ontario (Sportskeeda)
- He is Canadian nationality (NHL.com)
- He was drafted by Los Angeles Kings in 2024 (57th overall) (Daily Faceoff)
- He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings on July 25, 2024 (NHL.com)
- He was traded from Owen Sound Attack to Soo Greyhounds in the 2024–25 season (Soo Greyhounds)
- His mother is Tara George, a professional curler (Sportskeeda)
- His grandfather was a coach for Canada’s national curling team (Sportskeeda)
- He posted a .907 save percentage and 3.30 GAA in his second OHL season (NHL.com)
What’s unclear
- Exact birth time or hospital—not publicly recorded
- Father’s identity—reportedly Mike George, but no official confirmation from the Kings or Hockey Canada (Elite Prospects, Sportskeeda)
- Grandfather’s full name—not reported in any mainstream source
- Whether George has already played in the IIHF World Junior Championships (U20)—only the U18 tournament is confirmed
- His draft round and pick number are widely reported as 57th overall, but the Kings have not officially confirmed the round in their own materials—though it matches all secondary sources
- Exact date of trade not specified in team announcements
- Mother’s college curling career details not widely reported
- Height/weight may be outdated on Elite Prospects – last updated unspecified
Quotes
“It was a dream come true. I grew up a huge Kings fan.”
Carter George, speaking after the 2024 NHL Draft (LA Kings YouTube)
“The Kings have signed goaltender Carter George to a three-year entry-level contract.”
Los Angeles Kings official announcement (NHL.com)
Carter George’s story is still being written. What’s clear is that he combines a strong athletic lineage with proven numbers at the OHL level. For the Los Angeles Kings, the investment in George is a long-term bet on a goaltender with a family history of competitive excellence—and the save percentage to back it up.
Related: Jakub Dobes: Undrafted Goalie’s Biography & NHL Career | Macklin Celebrini: Age, Salary, Stats & Family Guide
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Frequently asked questions
What is Carter George’s jersey number?
His jersey number with the Soo Greyhounds has not been officially confirmed as of early 2025.
How did Carter George start playing hockey?
George grew up skating on backyard rinks in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was influenced by his father, who coached him as a goalie until he reached junior hockey (LA Kings YouTube).
What are Carter George’s career stats?
In his second OHL season with Owen Sound, George posted a .907 save percentage, a 3.30 goals-against average, and a 23-21-6 record (NHL.com).
Is Carter George related to any other hockey players?
There are no public records of close relatives playing professional hockey. His athletic connections are primarily through his mother’s curling family and his father’s junior hockey background.
What college did Tara George attend?
Tara George is a professional curler who later worked at Montclair State University. Her college curling career details are not widely reported.
What is the significance of the trade to Soo Greyhounds?
The trade to the Greyhounds makes George the team’s starting goaltender for the 2024–25 season, giving him more ice time and a central role in a competitive OHL environment (Soo Greyhounds).
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Jonathan MacDonald is Editor-in-Chief at Civic Maple, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.