Future Watch: Ottawa Senators Top Prospect Breaks WHL Team’s Record For Career Goals By A Defenceman

All things being equal, Carter Yakemchuk would prefer to be in Ottawa right now.

His first Capital choice, of course, would be a roster spot with the Senators, the team that selected him seventh overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. His plan B (for Bytown) was Team Canada, which will start training this week for the World Junior Hockey Championships.

The tournament, as always, begins on Boxing Day, and this year it’s being held here in Ottawa. Unfortunately for Yakemchuk, Hockey Canada didn’t even invite him to their selection camp earlier this month.

But the big defenceman from Calgary is still making the most of his hometown situation, continuing to develop in in the Western Hockey League. On Saturday, Yakemchuk set the Calgary Hitmen’s career goal-scoring record for defencemen.

Yakemchuk’s record-setter was the winner in a 5-4 overtime win over the Kamloops Blazers. It was the 64th goal of his Hitmen career and broke Matt Kinch’s all-time mark that stood for almost 24 years.

“Yeah, it’s obviously really special,” Yakemchuk said on the WHL’s club’s website. “I’ve played with a lot of amazing players over my four years here, so lots of guys helped me get that (record). So I’m really happy about it.”

Yakemchuk scored a goal in all three of his games last week and now stands tied for second among WHL defencemen in goals (12) and seventh in points (29) after 24 games played.

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