Last Sunday, Carter George picked up an assist in the Owen Sound Attack’s win over the Windsor Spitfires to set a new franchise record for points by a goaltender. From trade talks to three headed monsters, from private jets to hanging out with Jordan Binnington, there was no shortage of stuff to talk about with Carter this time. The spotlight has never been brighter on George but his focus remains squarely on the Owen Sound Attack, the shared belief that this team is something special and getting better at his craft every single day.

Congrats on breaking the Attack franchise record for most points by a goaltender. Did you know that you were approaching the record?

I knew this summer, actually, because I wondered where I stood with the amount of points I had last year. I knew I was tied with Binner (Jordan Binnington) and Curtis Sanford. In the moment I didn’t really think about it but it was pretty cool to realize after the game. I shot Binner a text and he’s like, ‘Wow, that was pretty quick.”  It’s awesome for sure.

I heard a rumor that a goalie goal at the Bayshore is on your short list for this year?

Last year, my goal was to score, and once I got one, my new goal is to get one at home for the fans.

It might be harder, they looked like they were on to you on Saturday.

Yep, I agree, It might be tougher now but I’ll keep trying.

There’s been a lot of talk about the wealth of goaltending talent the Attack have right now between yourself, Matthew Koprowski and Trenten Bennett. Some see it as a huge positive and others call it the three-headed monster. What’s the relationship like between the three of you on and off the ice?

I think we have a pretty good relationship between the three of us. It’s obviously tough when you see another goalie getting starts but at the same time, it’s pushes each of us to get better. It pushes you to work to get that net back. I think the three of us are pretty good with each other. We’re open about what we need and what we want to work on so I think it’s been good. And a lot of people have been saying that a lot of things about this team, including the three-headed monster, remind them of the 2011 Attack team. We all know how that went. Personally I think it’s exciting.

How important will that strong backup be assuming you get the invite to World Juniors again and how much are you hoping for another opportunity with Team Canada?

Yeah, I am definitely hoping to get another chance, especially after last year’s result was so disappointing. I  am fortunate to have another opportunity and I am definitely looking forward to it. We’ll see what happens come December. Right now, I’m just focusing on winning here and doing everything I can for the Attack.

Let’s talk a bit about Sunday’s game. What was the mindset going in?

I think we all knew it was a must win game for us. To start off the season with four wins and drop the first two games of the weekend was tough. We all knew it was a must win game to end the weekend on a high. So coming into the game, everyone was pretty focused. And obviously Windsor was seven and 0 at the time. You want to be the team that knocks them off and gives them their first loss. We were all pretty excited and up for the challenge.

What’s it like to play against Liam Greentree after spending all that time together at camp?

It’s fun but frustrating at the same time. I know a lot of his tendencies. I’ve picked them up over time but it was pretty frustrating when he scored the two on me. I’m just happy that we ultimately got the win over them. It’s definitely a little weird seeing him on the other side when you just spent a few weeks playing for the same team.

The team is off to a strong start with a much changed roster and some new faces. How would you explain the vibe in the dressing room and the belief this squad has in what they can achieve?

There’s a lot more belief in our room this year. Last year, we came into the season and no one really knew where we’d stand. There were a lot of new faces and everyone had us at the bottom of the barrel. And this year, no one really knew what the league was going to be like this season with the new NCAA rules and guys coming and going. But after the first couple of games, the belief in the room just kept growing. We believe we’re a top team in this league and I think we all believe that we have what it takes to do something special.

I believe this is the strongest start the team has gotten off to since in your time here. What is the difference maker this year?
I think that belief is the difference maker. We have a lot of guys coming into this year with one more year under their belt. That just makes such a big difference. Guys have had a good start this season and have been making that step from last year. It’s good to see. We’ve had some pretty good pickups in the off season and early on this season. They’ve become close to the group right away and they’ve become family pretty quickly. They are all playing their part on the team, they’ve all found their roles and they’re all doing their jobs. They are the missing pieces that seem to be making the team more complete.

You’re part of the leadership group again this year. What does your role look like? Why is that important to you?

To me it means being a leader in the room. I always said I wanted to be a guy that the others can rely on; a guy who is solid behind them. If guys need anything, they can come to me. I’ve had a lot of experience over past few years of my junior career so I like to share that with the guys and help them out as much as I can. That’s what the role means to me. But at the same time, it doesn’t really change who you are.

We’re only 7 games into the season and there are a lot of trade rumours about you already. You were quoted as saying that you’d like to play for a team that contends for a championship this season. How badly do you hope that team is here?

Obviously I’d love to finish up my career in Owen Sound and if we have the team to go for it, I’d love, for it to be here. But at the end of the day, I want to add a championship to my resume. So whether it’s here or not, and I really hope it is because this city and these fans deserve another championship, I really want the opportunity to play for a championship in this league before I am done.

Is it hard to focus with all that noise?

No, I wouldn’t say it’s too hard. Right now I’m just worried about what’s right in front of me. I want us to be successful here, I want to give us every opportunity and a chance to go for it this year. Right now, the only focus is on winning hockey games here and getting us off to a good start. Because we all know how far that can get you.

There’s been some chatter that this lineup is not only playing to win but also playing to keep you here. What does that mean to you?

That’s kind of a loaded question. It’s tough to speak on that. I think that’s a cool idea but ultimately it isn’t really about me. I think we’ve already seen that the guys in this room really want to go for it this year. Everyone realizes we have a special group and I think right now everyone wants to be at the top of the standings come trade deadline to kind of force Digger to make some moves for us. It would be awesome if we could go for it here. Not only because we think we have the skill to do it, but for the fans too.

Let’s rewind a bit to last spring and summer after the Attack’s playoff run ended. You had quite a wealth of experiences from playing in the AHL to travelling as the emergency backup goalie with the LA Kings to joining Team Canada for the World Championships in Europe. How do you wrap your head around all of that?

You just can’t (Laughs). It was a lot. If you would have told me this would happen before, I would have said you were crazy. It was definitely a whirlwind. After getting knocked out of the playoffs here, I was on a flight to LA two days later. From there I was with the AHL Ontario Reign for two weeks and then I was with the LA Kings team for their playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers which was unreal. And then from there, it was a flight the next day to Europe for Men’s World Championships with Team Canada. So it was a lot of amazing experiences all at once. I met a lot of cool people, and it’s definitely something I don’t think many 18 year olds really have experienced. It was pretty surreal.

Are there moments, like when you’re flying on a jet to Edmonton with the LA Kings, that you stop and think is this really happening?

(Laughs) Yeah, there were a couple. Like, obviously the jet. You’re thinking I could get used to the lifestyle they live. But I’d say meeting Sidney Crosby and Nathan McKinnon was the best. Just having them standing right in front of you and thinking this doesn’t seem real right now and somehow I’m playing on the same team as them. It’s kind of crazy. And to think Crosby was drafted a year before I was born and he’s still doing what he’s doing. It’s just crazy.

Yep, that’s crazy. And in the situation when you were the LA Kings emergency backup for playoffs and travelling with the team, do you get to be on the ice with everyone and participate quite a bit?

When I was with LA during the playoffs, I would come out at the end of morning skate and let the goalies do what they want needed. Then I would be available for the guys who want to or do drills and work on stuff. I ended up getting some work in with the goalie coach too so that was awesome. I would watch a bit of the pregame skate, let them do their thing, not get in their way but at the same time I would get to work on my craft and be out there and practice with some of the guys. It was definitely good for me. I got to learn a lot and experience a playoff run in the NHL first hand.

And what about in Europe with that group?

In Europe, I actually got to practice with the group until Fleury and Binnington came over. After that I’d do just the morning skate and any goalie skates they had. I’d take a few reps here and there when they needed me but the majority of the time, I was just dressed on ice watching. I was grateful for the opportunity and I was still learning just watching and being on the ice with them a bit.

Did you and Jordan Binnington have some good talks about his Attack days?

It’s actually pretty funny, because the day he came over, they played but he’d just arrived so I got to sit in the stands with him for a game. That was pretty cool. He’s a great guy, so easy to talk to and we were just talking about his junior days and some familiar places around here.

Like what?

Well the Boot and Blade was a big one for him. He asked if it was still going because he’d spent a lot of time there. My first year I had Red Dog as a goalie coach and he was Binner’s coach so we had that connection too. Then I just I kind of picked his brain about a lot of things and he was super, super open and honest with me about everything. It was awesome.

This summer when you went back to LA Kings camp, you had one of your best friends from the team along with you in Jake Crawford. How happy were you to see him get that invite and gain that experience?

That was pretty cool. Not only for Jake to get a camp invite but for it to be in LA with me. It was awesome. It just made it easier on both of us, just having someone there when you need them. Knowing someone there helps out a lot and lets you be more comfortable in the environment. I think he had a phenomenal camp and hopefully he comes back with me next year.

You got your first pre-season start for the Kings. How did you feel when you found out and how did you feel standing in that net?

Yeah, it was pretty cool. I was really hoping to get a full game this year. Last year, I got two periods but that’s different than starting and finishing a game. They told me a few days in advance that I might be getting a game. When they told me I was playing the Sunday I was pretty fired up. Last year, I came in and the game was already established, there’s a score already and it’s not quite the same. But to play a full game, it’s your full responsibility and any goals you let in are on you. It definitely was a big step for me and a big learning curve. It was a super cool experience to be able to bring back here.

And obviously pretty amazing to get a win?

That was pretty crazy to win the game and just be happy with how I played. To have a guy like Quinton Byfield come up to you after and say good game was awesome.

Are there other LA Kings players that have been super inspirational and helpful?

I think there have been lots of guys who’ve been great. A big one for me was last year, was David Rittich. When I was up at playoffs with them, we would work on stuff after the morning skate. We’d do a little goalie skate and work on the things that help make your game a pro game, things that make you quicker for the pro level. It’s a huge difference. So he definitely helped me out. Then when I go to the camps or I’m with the Ontario Reign, obviously Kaleb Lawrence is a big help for me too. Having played with him here and having that connection, he’s taken me under his wing.

With all the experience and accomplishments you’ve had so far, it’s easy to forget that you are 19 years old. How do you stay grounded and focused amidst all the noise?

Just kind of natural instincts I guess. It’s probably passed down from my mom and her curling career. I’ve always been a calm person. My parents have always said I’m an old soul. I just try to stay consistent and get back to work every day and try to perfect my craft. I’m obsessed with getting better and evolving my game to get to the next level. It’s a super cool process and not many kids get to go through it. I’m fortunate to be one of them. I’m just making the most of every opportunity and putting in the work every day. We’ll see what comes of it.

There’s a saying on the back of your helmet: If you can dream it you can do it. Where did that come from and how true does that hold as you keep progressing in your career?

I started following that mantra once I got drafted to LA because it was real. We’ve always said that I was manifesting ending up in LA. I’ve been an LA Kings fan since I was a kid so to get drafted there was pretty cool. So I’ve been sticking by that saying ever since. Thankfully, there’s more work to do and more dreams to chase.

Thanks so much Carter. Good luck this weekend.

Thank you.

Thanks to Burke’s Brick Works for sponsoring this season’s player interviews. Burke’s Brick Work is a full-service masonry company offering new home construction, as well as restoration work. They service both Grey and Bruce County. They work with all types of materials – brick, Block, and stone. They are available by phone at (289) 200-8290, by email at  burkesbrickwork@gmail.com You can  learn more at our website at https://www.burkesbrickwork.com or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/burkesbrickwork and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/burkes_brick_work