Western Hockey League rookie defensemen rarely make their presence felt immediately. Carter Sotheran of the Portland Winterhawks is the exception.
Sotheran’s start to his rookie campaign could not have gotten off to a better start.
He’s burst onto the scene, registering a goal, eight assists, and a +6 rating.
In his first season in Portland, the 6-foot-4, 201-pounds defenseman has appeared in all 14 games.
“I worked pretty hard this summer to get here. I took it very seriously, and so far, it is paying off. I have to keep going and keep producing, but it has been a good start for me. I’ve felt good in games, but also during practice where I want to keep improving every day,” Sotheran said.
Born in 2005, Sotheran is playing his rookie campaign as a 17-year-old. While he wanted to make the Winterhawks roster last season, he took being sent back in stride and motivation.
“I wanted to stay here at 16, obviously,” he said. “I loved being here last year during preseason, but I knew it was the right move to send me back and get lots of ice time back home. I took the feedback seriously and learned what (Portland) said to me, and made sure I did exactly what they asked. I wanted to make the most of everything I could and wanted to take on the leadership role so I could get my home team as best as they could be. That was an opportunity for me to go back and get a lot of minutes instead of staying here and maybe not playing as much or getting into as many games.”
Winterhawks senior vice president, general manager, and head coach Mike Johnston had the young defenseman from Sanford, Manitoba, on the right development path.
“When Carter came in last February, I thought he was probably still almost a year away from being a core player in our lineup. He did a lot of work this summer, and I give him credit for that. He came into camp prepared and in great shape. He had a good camp which led to a good preseason which led to the start of his year. He’s got a spot in the lineup and a regular shift which he’s earned. I like where he’s playing right now,” Johnston said.
When Sotheran left Portland last year, he joined his hometown Pembina Valley Hawks U18 AAA team as an alternate captain. He played in all situations during his 41 games in 2021-2022 and amassed 20 goals and 34 points.
How it started
In Sotheran’s draft year, he was captain of Pembina Valley’s U15 team and got his name called by Portland in the fifth round of the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.
“I was at my mom’s house in Oak Bluff and with some family members,” Sotheran said, recalling his draft-day experience. “Getting selected by Portland was super special for me. I knew right away how good of an organization they are and how they get their players ready to be pros. I was very happy and proud to become part of the organization.”
Naturally, Soterhan’s phone fired off notification after notification with congratulatory messages. However, there was one message he sought out first.
“My dad texted me since he wasn’t there and was at his house. He was very proud and excited for me. I checked my phone, and I knew that was the first one I wanted to read and respond to. Obviously, my mom was really happy for me too. It was a proud moment for everyone in my family,” Sotheran said.
Getting drafted was “just the first step” for the right-shot rear guard.
“I immediately went to work. A lot of practice and taking everything very seriously. I was going to practice every day with the mindset of working and working and putting in my best while playing for Pembina Valley. I knew I could be a leader there while also producing points and not sacrificing my plus/minus. Getting to sign my contract was really exciting for me and was just that next step,” he said.
That next step occurred on June 26, 2021, when he officially joined the Winterhawks organization after signing his standard player agreement.
Yet again, the focus and determination displayed by Sotheran came to the surprise of no one.
“When I came down here last year and saw what it was about, and what you have to do to be a full-time WHLer, how strong you have to be with your fitness as an example, I knew just what I needed to do,” Sotheran said. “I spoke with Rich Campbell (Portland’s head athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach) about where I was at the time and where I needed to get to that was best for my development regarding my conditioning.”
As important as it was for Sotheran to understand what was expected of him on the ice and in the weight room, another area was equally important to him.
“I also spent a lot of time talking with some of the (high) school guys about how my grades needed to be and how hard I needed to work in the classroom. I took everything in stride and had a better understanding of the expectations placed on me. So I went back and took all of this intel with me, made some notes, and got serious. I spent a lot of time in the gym but also hit the books studying. Now my grades are the best they’ve ever been,” Sotheran said.
Welcome to the show
Following training camp and the Neely Cup, Sotheran turned his attention to the preseason, where he looked to solidify his position on the Winterhawks depth chart.
Kyle Gustafson, Portland’s associate coach, and Sotheran’s position coach, saw the necessary jump in play,
“Carter is a guy who seems like every time he puts on his skates, he gains more and more confidence,” Gustafson said. “From training camp into the exhibition season, he took a huge step. His ability to make good plays with the puck and his poise is special.”
Sotheran’s preseason performance showed Johnston everything he needed to see, and Johnston wrote number 59 on his lineup card for opening night in Kamloops on September 23.
“That first game for me was a bit nervewracking, and the pace was high,” Sotheran said. “The pace ramped up from training camp to preseason to the regular season. Especially starting out against a team like Kamloops, who can really fly around out there, I knew I had to make decisions faster,” Sotheran said.
The next night in Kelowna, Sotheran put what he learned in his first career WHL game into action.
“For fans, in that Kelowna game, they got to see a glimpse of what we as a coaching staff saw in Carter,” Gustafson said. “That was fun to watch because you could see the tools and weapons being showcased. There is a long way to go with Carter as he continues to play with more urgency, but that is a fine balance because he has so many unique traits that you love as a coach.”
Sotheran left Prospera Place on September 24 with three assists. His first two WHL points came off setups of Gabe Klassen’s goals. The third primary assist for Sotheran helped tie the game before Portland won in overtime.
After getting his proverbial feet wet in British Columbia with his first WHL game action, Sotheran was even more excited about playing in Portland for the first time on October 1.
“I couldn’t wait to hear my name called at home and for fans to cheer,” he said. “It was such an awesome feeling, but I kept telling myself as I skated out to center (ice), ‘Please don’t fall, please don’t fall, please don’t fall.’ It was surreal and nerve-wracking, but I didn’t do anything to embarrass myself. It was a fun experience and one I will never forget.”
Sotheran possesses a rare combination of skill and size, which causes fits for other teams.
“When my game is going strong, I’m an offensive defenseman who uses his body a lot,” Sotheran said.
Gustafson spends a lot of his time coaching the Portland defensemen and praised the offensive talents of Sotheran. “Carter’s playstyle fits exactly how we try to play here in Portland. His vision, the way he sees the ice in transition, the way he is able to make the right play at the appropriate time, and his shot is sneaky good. What he can do from the offensive blue line in creates so many scoring chances for us. One thing I didn’t think he had initially was the ability to step up and make a hit. However, that is something we all are starting to see more and more over the last couple of games. There is a long way to go as well. Obviously, he isn’t a finished product yet by any means.”
As a 2005 birth year, Sotheran is in his first NHL Draft eligible season.
“I want to be better in my defensive end, become more reliable so coaches can trust me in all situations, work on my foot speed, and also my physicality in the corners,” Sotheran said about areas he is actively working on. “All these things take a lot more time than people think, but it is something I’m putting a lot of time and effort into. I want to get to the next level in my game, and that’s reached by hard work in practice, watching film, and listening to my coaches.”
Gustafson already sees Sotheran as a top-four defenseman, but the ceiling is higher yet.
“Going back hard for pucks at the appropriate time, breaking away from pressure on the breakout, and his foot speed are all things we are actively working on with him,” Gustafson said. “Carter’s three-step quickness and being able to pull away and separate himself from an opponent will enhance his game even more.”
As Sotheran’s rookie campaign progressed through October, the next box he wanted to check was scoring his first WHL goal.
With the Kelowna Rockets in town on October 29, Sotheran got that first marker.
The goal was not only his first, but it came with under three minutes left in regulation of a tied game and served as the game-winner.
“I was able to get by the first guy in the neutral zone when I saw him leaning one way. I used my agility to get around him and enter the zone. I didn’t see many options, so I then tried to get a shot on net so we could get a change or even earn an offensive-zone faceoff for the guys. It ended up going in which of course was a better result,” Sotheran said, describing his milestone goal. “It was a nice feeling scoring my first goal, even if I didn’t see it go in right away. Once I did see it in, I kind of blacked out knowing I got my first WHL goal.”
The goal was extra special for Sotheran as he scored on Parents’ Weekend.
“I didn’t really care where it (first WHL goal) came; however, to do it at home was awesome. Even better though, my mom was in the building. With her here in person, scoring it was better than I imagined because I got to share the experience with her. That was a pretty special moment for our family,” Sotheran said.
The future is bright
With Sotheran’s strong start to the season, NHL Central Scouting took notice and gave him a “C” ranking in their initial Preliminary Players to Watch List for the upcoming 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
The C ranking indicates players projected to be a fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round selection.
Many within the Portland organization believe this rating will only increase throughout the season as Sotheran gets more games and confidence in the WHL.
“The draft is in the back of my mind, but I haven’t thought about it too much,” Sotheran said. “We are winning as a team right now, and that’s what matters to me the most. My mindset is, ‘I shouldn’t worry too much about it because worry can impact you in a negative way.’ Instead, my focus is on playing my game, and doing everything in my power to help the team win because team success will bring individual success, be a good teammate, cheer for other people’s success, and let the rest fall where it will.”
Sotheran has leaned on a few of the older guys who’ve gone through the draft process. Fellow defensemen Ryan McCleary and Marek Alscher shared with Sotheran what to expect from NHL scouts throughout the year.
Sotheran also gave a significant amount of credit for his early season success to goaltender Dante Giannuzzi.
“Dante has really helped me a ton this year, especially back home at our billet’s house. There are pros and cons of living with an older player, that’s for sure. We are able to converse about what it means to play in the WHL, so I’m thankful to him for letting me pick his brain. We are constantly binge-watching horror movies lately. There are a few other shows we are watching as well that Dante has picked out. (Aiden) Sotas, who also lives with us, and I just suffer through. That is the ‘joy’ of living with a 20-year-old; they are in control of the remote,” Sotheran said with a laugh.
With over 80 percent of the regular season still to play, Sotheran is just enjoying the process and journey.
“This year has been wonderful so far, so I am trying to take it all in. I’m hyper-focused on improving but also appreciating what I have. When you are playing with guys who are on this team and their talent level, it makes my job easier. It has been a good start for me and for the team which is important. We are also close off the ice too, the bond we have is already strong, which I appreciate,” Sotheran concluded.
Gustafson sees some Troy Rutkowski in Sotheran’s game.
“Troy had a similar ability to see the ice and make plays the way Carter has so far,” he said. “Rutkowski turned out to be a pretty good player for us. I think if (Sotheran) puts the work in, which I have zero question he will based upon who Carter is as a person, and we as a coaching staff do our job helping him develop, I can see him being a huge part of our core.”
Rutkowski is the franchise leader in games played (351) and registered 216 points during his tenure in Portland.
“With Sotheran’s work ethic, determination, skill, and ability to see the ice, there is no question in my mind that he is going to be a great player in this league,” Gustafson said.
