LAS VEGAS, Nev. – With Thunder Bay product Carter George being selected by the Los Angeles Kings Saturday in Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas, he becomes the 11th goaltender from northwestern Ontario ever selected.
George was taken in the second round, 57th overall, by the Kings, from the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League.
The Thunder Bay Kings alumnus also backstopped Canada to a gold medal at the 2024 World under-18 championship back in early May in Finland.
George went on to be named the top goaltender by the IIHF Directorate, finishing with a spotless 6-0 record, that featured back-to-back 31-save efforts in a semifinal win versus Sweden and a thrilling come from behind victory over the United States in the title game.
In Las Vegas, this marked the first time a Lakehead netminder was drafted in nine years, when Mackenzie Blackwood went 15 picks earlier to the New Jersey Devils, during the 2015 event in Sunrise, Fla.
The following is the list of goalkeepers from the region, over the years, that have been drafted by NHL clubs, with seven of the previous 10 going on see NHL action:
| DRAFTED GOALTENDERS | |||||||
| YEAR | GOALTENDER | NAME | ROUND | OVERALL | NHL TEAM | AMATEUR TEAM | LEAGUE |
| 2024 | Carter | George | 2 | 57 | Los Angeles Kings | Owen Sound Attack | OHL |
| 2015 | Mackenzie | Blackwood | 2 | 42 | New Jersey Devils | Barrie Colts | OHL |
| 2012 | Matt | Murray | 3 | 83 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Soo Greyhounds | OHL |
| 2008 | Paul | Karpowich | 7 | 185 | St. Louis Blues | Wellington Dukes | OJHL |
| 1999 | Alex | Auld | 2 | 40 | Florida Panthers | North Bay Centennials | OHL |
| 1992 | Chris | Burns | 9 | 195 | San Jose Sharks | Thunder Bay Flyers | USHL |
| 1992 | Steve | Passmore | 9 | 196 | Quebec Nordiques | Victoria Cougars | WHL |
| 1990 | Michael | Power | 7 | 143 | Edmonton Oilers | Western Michigan | NCAA |
| 1989 | Todd | Henderson | 11 | 224 | Buffalo Sabres | Thunder Bay Flyers | USHL |
| 1977 | Murray | Bannerman | 4 | 58 | Vancouver Canucks | Victoria Cougars | WCHL |
| 1975 | Rick | St. Croix | 4 | 72 | Philadelphia Flyers | Oshawa Generals | OHA |
Here is the list of local netminders who went undrafted, but went on to play in the NHL:
| UNDRAFTED LOCAL GOALTENDERS TO PLAY IN NHL | ||||
| GOALTENDER | NAME | NHL TEAM(S) | LAST AMATEUR TEAM | LEAGUE |
| Bruce | Gamble | New York Rangers | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | OHA |
| Boston Bruins | ||||
| Toronto Maple Leafs | ||||
| Philadelphia Flyers | ||||
| Wayne | Stephenson | St. Louis Blues | Winnipeg Braves | MBJHL |
| Philadelphia Flyers | Canadian National Team | INTL | ||
| Washington Capitals | ||||
| Carter | Hutton | Chicago Blackhawks | UMass-Lowell | NCAA |
| Nashville Predators | ||||
| St. Louis Blues | ||||
| Buffalo Sabres | ||||
| Arizona Coyotes | ||||
| John | Adams | Boston Bruins | Port Arthur Marrs | TBJHL |
| Washington Capitals | ||||
| Ted | Tucker | California Golden Seals | Montreal Jr. Canadiens | OHA |
| Dave | Gatherum | Detroit Red Wings | Fort William Hurricane-Rangers | TBJHL |
| Scott | King | Detroit Red Wings | Maine Black Bears | NCAA |
| Charlie | Sands* | Montreal Canadiens | Port Arthur | TBSHL |
| *-A forward, Sands went in after Montreal goaltender Wilf Cude was injured and allowed five goals in 25 minutes of relief in a 10-1 road loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on February 22, 1940 |
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