Carter Yakemchuk Explained

Carter Yakemchuk
Birth Place:Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:194
Position:Defence
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Ottawa Senators
Prospect League:WHL
Prospect Team:Calgary Hitmen
Draft:7th overall
Draft Year:2024
Draft Team:Ottawa Senators

Carter Yakemchuk (born September 29, 2005) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a prospect to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted seventh overall by the Senators in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Yakemchuk was drafted 65th overall in the third round of the 2020 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft by the Calgary Hitmen.[1] In his rookie WHL season in 2021–22, Yakemchuk recorded four goals and 12 points, and was named Hitmen rookie of the year.[2]

Following the 2022–23 season, in which he recorded 19 goals and 47 points,[3] Yakemchuk was named to the WHL Central Division second all-star team.[4]

In the 2023–24 season, Yakemchuk was selected as one of 40 draft-eligible players to play in the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[5] He was named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 28, 2024.[6] On February 21, 2024, Yakemchuk set the Hitmen record for single-season goals by a defenceman, netting his 25th of the season against the Edmonton Oil Kings to surpass the previous mark set by Jake Bean.[7] Entering the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Yakemchuk was considered a consensus first round pick, ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their midseason rankings.[8] Although scouts generally ranked him no higher than 10th overall, some had him as high as third.[9] [10] Yakemchuk was ultimately drafted by the Ottawa Senators at seventh overall.[11] [12] He was later signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Senators on August 6, 2024.[13]

International play

Yakemchuk represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championships.[14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2021–22Calgary HitmenWHL56 4 9 13 14
2022–23Calgary HitmenWHL67 19 28 47 315 0 3 3 10
2023–24Calgary HitmenWHL66 30 41 71 120
WHL totals189 53 78 131 1655 0 3 3 10

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2023CanadaU187 0 0 0 2
Junior totals7 0 0 0 2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020-04-30 . Get To Know Carter Yakemchuk . 2024-02-06 . Calgary Hitmen . en-CA.
  2. Web site: 2021-22 Elite Promotional Marketing Hitmen Team Awards . chl.ca . Calgary Hitmen . February 25, 2024 . April 18, 2022.
  3. Web site: Spiker . Brianne . Top prospects in spotlight at CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on TSN . TSN.ca . The Sports Network . February 25, 2024 . January 24, 2024.
  4. Web site: Yakemchuk and Wetsch to Compete at the 2024 Kubota CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game . chl.ca . Calgary Hitmen . February 7, 2024 . December 19, 2023.
  5. Web site: Morreale . Mike G. . Yakemchuk, projected 1st-round pick in 2024 Draft, set for CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game . nhl.com . National Hockey League . February 25, 2024 . January 23, 2024.
  6. Web site: 2024-01-29 . WHL Announces Weekly Award Winners . 2024-02-06 . OurSports Central . en.
  7. Web site: Kierszenblat . Adam . Carter Yakemchuk Sets Calgary Hitmen Record For Goals By A Defenceman In A Single Season . thehockeynews.com . The Hockey News . February 25, 2024 . February 21, 2024.
  8. Web site: Kierszenblat . Adam . Carter Yakemchuk Could Rewrite The History Books In His Draft Year . thehockeynews.com . The Hockey News . February 26, 2024 . February 13, 2024.
  9. Web site: Bultman . Max . 2024 NHL Draft consensus big board: Macklin Celebrini, defensemen lead midseason list . theathletic.com . The Athletic . February 26, 2024 . February 26, 2024.
  10. Web site: Carter Yakemchuk . https://archive.today/20240226172420/https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/599451/carter-yakemchuk . February 26, 2024 . February 26, 2024 . eliteprospects.com.
  11. Web site: Senators bulk up on blue line by selecting Carter Yakemchuk with No. 7 pick . Sportsnet.ca . June 28, 2024 . June 28, 2024.
  12. Web site: Nestler . Sam . Ottawa Senators select Carter Yakemchuk No. 7 overall in 2024 NHL Draft . Daily Faceoff . June 28, 2024 . June 28, 2024.
  13. Web site: Chuk this out! . . August 6, 2024 . August 6, 2024 .
  14. Web site: 2023-04-15 . Yakemchuk Named to Canada's National Men's U-18 Team Roster . 2024-02-06 . OurSports Central . en.