Meet Carter George, Canada’s No. 1 goaltender at the World Juniors – again

Given that most of Canada’s World Junior starting goalies have been 19 years old, there haven’t been many returning starters.

Trevor Kidd holds the record for most games played by a Canadian goaltender, appearing in 13 from 1991-92 (he was the third goalie in 1990). In all, only 10 goaltenders have played at least 10 games for Canada: Kidd, Maxime Ouellet, Marc-Andre Fleury, Carter Hart, Zach Fucale, Roberto Luongo, Craig Billington, Stephane Fiset, Jimmy Waite, and Al Jensen.

That’s not a large group. But Los Angeles Kings prospect Carter George is set to become the team’s latest two-time starter.

George is set to reprise his role after putting up a solid .936 save percentage through four games a year ago. Canada was ultimately knocked out in the quarterfinals, but George was one of the best goaltenders in the tournament, barnone.

“There’s still lots of positives coming out of last year’s tournament,” George said during Canada’s training camp last week. “I think for me, just the confidence of knowing I can play at that level and bringing that confidence into the tournament this year will be huge for me… I think that experience alone will allow me to be a little more comfortable in those situations this year.”

George is no stranger to pressure. He has been one of the best goalies in the OHL over the past three years, facing plenty of shots on an Owen Sound Attack team that has frequently struggled in its own zone. George is one of the top players on the OHL’s trade market, with many expecting him to get moved following the World Juniors.

Scouts love George’s ability to stay calm under pressure. Whether it be in Owen Sound, with Team Canada, or even in the AHL with the Ontario Reign (where he posted a 2-0 record with a .984 save percentage), George gives his team a chance to win every single night.

On the trophy front, George earned top goalie honors at the 2024 U-18 World Championship, where he helped Canada win gold. He was also named to the OHL’s third all-star team, a big feat given he was still only 17 years old. Last year, he was promoted to the second all-star team and received some love for the OHL’s top goaltender award.

George doesn’t play the game for individual hardware, but he takes pride in thriving in the spotlight.

“I just want to play my game and be there for the team,” George said. “I want to make a save when they need it because I know they’ll go out there and do their thing. I just need to be there and help the team out.”

George will be joined by Nashville draft pick Jack Ivankovic, who was also on Canada’s team a year ago. Ivankovic is projected to be the team’s No. 1 in 2027, which could make him the first Canadian keeper to play in three separate tournaments.

While George was the projected No. 1 heading into camp, Canada went to Niagara Falls with one of its deepest goaltending trios ever. Ivankovic has been lights out in college this year, helping Michigan to the top of NCAA. San Jose’s Joshua Ravensbergen, meanwhile, has been a big part of Prince George’s success in the WHL. He might be one of the top netminders Canada has ever cut.

So, for George to get the nod again shows how much Hockey Canada believes in him. He’s excited about the opportunity to make up for last year’s early playoff exit.

“I definitely think our team feels a lot faster this year,” George said. “I think we’ve had some high-paced, high-intensity practices. Everyone’s moving their feet, so it’s definitely been a level of adjustment for everyone. I think it’s good, and I think it will help us in the long run.”

At 6-foot-2, George isn’t huge by any means, but he isn’t small, either. He’s as good as they come from a positional standpoint, rarely needing to dive out to make huge saves. Instead, he keeps things simple, often re-directing the shots out of danger.

His OHL stats might not look impressive. But anyone who has watched him up close knows how important he is to the Attack every chance he gets. George has always been applauded for his mental strength. For a guy who has been so busy, workload-wise, George always manages to stay strong and power through everything thrown his way.

“I work with a mental coach, so that definitely helps out when trying to handle the pressure,” George told Daily Faceoff’s Carter Hutton. “And last year, I think I learned a lot about dealing with the pressure at that kind of tournament, especially on home soil. There’s always a little extra pressure there. But for USA to come win it on our soil, I think it’s going to be even sweeter when we go win it there.”

There used to be a time when Canadian goaltenders would get sheltered behind elite-level teams in front of them. Fucale and Ouellet are two perfect examples. But with George, he’s a guy they can count on.

“He makes big saves, he’s a student of the game,” coach Dale Hunter said. “They had a young team (last year), but he had to stand on his head every time he played.”

Canada will enter the tournament as gold medal favorites. As long as George holds his end of the bargain, they should be in good shape. Canadian goaltending is always a hot topic, no matter the level. But if all goes well, George can help quell any concerns – and, perhaps, put him on the Olympic radar in the long-term future.

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