Few people who follow Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey would argue against the statement that UPEI Panthers forward Matt Carter is the most offensively talented player in the conference.
Carter, a fourth-year forward, has racked up 18 goals and as many assists this season, putting him at second in the scoring race, only a single point behind Acadia’s Andrew Clark.
A speedy player with a knack for finding the net in the blink of an eye, Carter is undoubtedly one of the team’s top snipers and possesses what head coach Forbes MacPherson calls the “quick-strike” ability.
“He probably has the highest ability to score quick and that’s all just because of his skill level,” said MacPherson. “His natural ability to play hockey on the offensive side of the puck is just elite in this league. There’s no question.”
Those quick goals and natural ability should help the team secure a home opener for the playoffs with a third- or fourth-place finish in the AUS standings.
The Panthers cannot finish first following a 6-4 loss Wednesday in Moncton.
They have a shot at second but more likely will finish third or fourth and earn home-ice advantage in the opening best-of-three playoffs, which start next Wednesday.
The Panthers will take on the top-ranked UNB Varsity Reds tonight at 7 at MacLauchlan Arena.
UPEI will then play the St. Thomas Tommies on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Summerside as part of Hockey Day in Canada.
After practising for the team’s final two regular season games, Carter said the team is first and foremost focused on downing the top-ranked UNB Varsity Reds.
“UNB is always a tough customer. We’ve been fortunate enough to beat them three out of three times so far this year,” said Carter. “Hopefully, we can make it four.”
Tonight’s game will feature a pre-game ceremony honouring graduating members of UPEI’s roster.
A native of Mississauga, Ont., Carter is wrapping up his fourth year with the Panthers.
Recruited by former coach Dylan Taylor, who saw Carter play with the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL, the 24- year-old has ripped up the conference since his first year.
Carter finished the 2008-2009 season with 29 points, followed by 33 points in the 2009-2010 season, and a whopping 44 points during last year’s regular season which put him in a tie for leading the conference’s scoring race.
But the six-foot-one, 224-pound forward admits he had doubts when first coming to UPEI.
“I was a little skeptical coming in my first year, just from not knowing much about the Island,” he said.
Fortunately, for both Carter and his teammates, that skepticism quickly faded, with P.E.I. now a home away from home for the business student.
“Over the last four years it (P.E.I.) has grown into a place that I refer to at home (Ontario) as home,” he said. “Everyone here is very welcoming and have made it very enjoyable for myself. I’ve met a lot of good people and made a lot of relationships.”
Carter will be eligible to play as a fifth-year Panther next season but the young forward is still unsure what road he’ll go down.
The sniper was invited to the Dallas Stars rookie camp last fall and still has pro hockey in his crosshairs.
While the chances of a varsity player signing to a pro team were slim only a few years ago, that has dramatically changed.
Former Panther turned Washington Capitals forward Joel Ward is the shining example, but the list goes on with other players such as Hunter Tremblay, Jody Shelley and P.J. Stock making the transition.
“To take a flyer on a player that’s early to mid-20s isn’t such a gamble anymore,” said MacPherson. “It’s become even more of a trend that players get a second chance later in life, when they’re bigger, stronger faster and perhaps more mature and better prepared to play a pro game.”
UPEI has been the training ground for Carter’s ability, an aspect the player said was a deciding factor in playing in the AUS.
“As far as hockey goes it’s the best as far as varsity hockey goes, it’s pretty equivalent to playing pro and gives you that extra four or five years to grow.”
