Monday, July 17, 2006

CARTER HAPPILY ATTENDS DEFENSE CAMP

Carolina

It is not always true that player accept criticism of his own game, but in the case of Jeff Carter, the talented pivot recognized he needed to work on his defensive side of the game.

Carter, 21, has spent much of this season doing what he does best. He is currently one point off of the team lead for points and boasts an impressive total of assists at 46, tops on the squad.

"Jeff has really shown our club what it means to be a top center in this league," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. "He has the size and speed to be a controlling presence on the ice and he uses that large frame to play a puck possession game. He has the talent to one day be a top centerman in the pro ranks but he needs to refine those parts of his game that have made him stay in the juniors. Defensive priority is a big thing with him. He needs to play both ends with more fire."

Carter, who played his entire junior career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, is also the Team Canada Junior Development programs top goal scorer of all time. He was reunited with linemate Ryan Getzlaf last season in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks.


"I always seemed to play well with Getz," said Carter. "He is a guy that has a knack for getting open and creating space. He is a big boy and he can dominate down low with the best of them. I think because of his size and strength, plus his ability to get the shot off quickly, he and I have gelled since our Team Canada days. When we picked him up, I figured we could do some serious offensive damage."

And they have done just that. The powerful duo has combined for 41 goals and 123 points this season despite Getzlaf missing 7 games of camps.

"Jeff is a playmaker first and foremost," said Ryan Getzlaf. "I try and do the board work and get open and I hope that he can find me. So far it has worked."

The Canes organization is confident that both Carter and Getzlaf will be members of their pro team next season, a step both players are more than confident to take.

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