“Good players have options”: Cougars Lamb speaks on Carels NCAA commitment

“The lifeline for us and the league is still the draft.”

That’s from Prince George Cougars Head Coach and General Manager Mark Lamb following the departure of star defenceman Carson Carels who committed to the University of North Dakota on Monday after two years with the club.

In an interview with MyPGNow.com, Lamb stated he knew about the NCAA offer staring the 17-year-old in the face and that this wasn’t something that came out of the blue.

“He’s a great kid, with a great family. He kept myself and Jim Playfair up to speed on what was going on. This just didn’t happen over the last few days, it has been going on all year and good hockey players have good options.”

He added with the current eligibility rules allowing major junior to pursue options south of the border, rosters have been a lot more influx across the board and the Cougars have been no different.

“When you get through all the noise on what is going on in the landscape and stuff, this is what we are up against.”

Adding some C-4 to the lineup!

Welcome to North Dakota, Carson Carels! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/kd4cPShH2p

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) May 18, 2026

Lamb shot down the notion this may accelerate plans of a rebuild for the Cougars after what could be best described as a four-year “win now” window. The 61-year-old is letting the summer play out before drawing any conclusions on the 2026-27 roster.

“The whole league is up against that (losing players to the NCAA). You got to let those pieces fall where they may and we still don’t know what is going to happen with the draft due to all the unknowns, but he (Carels) is committed to North Dakota.

Carels enters North Dakota in favourable situation joining the likes of Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff formerly of the Victoria Royals who are expected back next season.

Other notable WHL alumni who wore the green, white and black in 2025-26 included former Portland Winterhawks Josh Zakreski and Jan Spunar along with four-year Red Deer Rebels standout Ollie Josephson.

North Dakota also locked up fellow blueliner Ethan Mackenzie via the Edmonton Oil Kings giving the Fighting Hawks formidable trio of major junior grads.

NCAA hockey can’t come back soon enough 👀🏒#EliteProspects #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/zGFsnC8n4Z

— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) May 19, 2026

Earlier this year, Cougars goalie and San Jose Sharks top prospect Josh Ravensbergen committed to Michigan State while forwards Brock Souch and Riley Ashe are also expected to attend St. Cloud State and Nebraska-Omaha this fall.

Lamb noted players entering a no-risk, free choice world means searching the Junior A leagues for diamonds in the rough is a necessity.

“Some of these guys that have played a couple of years, who are late bloomers have started somewhere and the scouting pool is certainly a lot bigger. You have to get out there and get eyes on these players. We have done that ourselves, its no different than the guys who were going to go to school before.”

“The lifeline for us as a team and in our league is still the draft. Those younger players that are coming up still need to develop and do the same things and hope they don’t leave on you too early but you have to do the same work.”

For the Cougars, the Carels departure leaves them with potentially six returning defenceman heading into training camp, which includes Arsenii Anisimov, Kaeson Fisher, Dermot Johnson, Phoenix Cahill, Corbin Vaughan and Tyrone Sobry.

Cats draft pick Cooper Bratton could also get a long look after spending the last two seasons with the under-18 Regina Pat Canadians.

Up front, PG could see as many as eight returning forwards – this does not include Terik Parascak who is anticipated to stick in the Washington Capitals organizations as a 20-year-old.

The familiar faces are Aiden Foster, Jett Lajoie, Dmitry Yakutsenak, Cole Hajt, Townes Kozicky, Lee Shurgot, Koy Funk and Jack Finnegan.

Dade Wotherspoon, who was PG’s first round selection in the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft is also on the hunt for a full-time role. Also joining the Cougars den is Tre Peck via the BCHL’s Spruce Grove Saints who racked up 47 points in 52 games.

In goal, the Cougars welcome back popular import Alex Levshyn who has the inside track to become the starter. Prospects like Kole Anderosov are likely to vie for the back-up job.

Lamb will head to the Okanagan at the end of the month getting together with other league representatives on what else could be coming down the pipe including the possibility of shortening first-round playoff matchups to a best-of-five.

“It’s the final weekend of the Memorial Cup where there is governors meetings and general managers meetings. There will be a lot of stuff covered along with some of the stuff on players leaving. I don’t know how its going to go, we have a plan, they may have a different plan. Everything is ongoing right now.”

The Memorial Cup kicks off Friday in Kelowna as the host Rockets battle the OHL champion Kitchener Rangers.