WHEAT KINGS TRAINING CAMP: Capton battling for his WHL dream

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This article was published 09/09/2021 (1853 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Carter Capton isn’t shy about sharing his biggest goal.

The six-foot-two, 191-pound goaltender from Lethbridge, Alta., wants to play in the Western Hockey League with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

“It’s definitely at the top of the list,” Capton said. “It’s my main priority, definitely in the next two years to be on the bench and starting here. I just have to play my hardest and give it everything I’ve got to get there.”

Brandon is likely fortunate to have Capton at all.

In 16 games with the Yale bantam prep team in his 2019-20 draft year, Capton posted a 2.25 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.

A pair of drafts services, Draftgeeks and Western Elite Hockey Prospects, both had Capton ranked at the top of the goaltenders, but the Wheat Kings selected him in the fifth round of the WHL bantam draft, 96th overall.

Regardless, Capton said he has a good understanding of his strengths and weaknesses.

“I think I hold my own,” Capton said. “I’m big and I use my size to my advantage and I think I play the puck pretty well behind the net, and I think tracking through screens and just finding pucks in a scramble, I think I’m pretty good at that too.”

At the same time, he wants to get better at defending two-man breakaways and communicating more with his defencemen.

Capton, who is an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier than when the Wheat Kings drafted him 10 months ago, has impressed Wheat Kings goaltending coach Tyler Plante, who got his first live look at him on Tuesday.

“He’s another big man,” Plante said. “He’s very similar to (fellow prospect Carson Bjarnason). He utilizes his size to the maximum capabilities. I think he does a good job with his rebound control and seems to be a good tracking goaltender. I’m a big fan of what I’ve seen so far and I’m excited to work with him further.”

The 2005-born Capton, who is entering his 16-year-old season, is one of four guys gunning for the backup spot behind overage starter Ethan Kruger.

The others are 2003-born listed player Cole Plowman, who is entering his 18-year-old season, signed 2004-born prospect Nick Jones, and the 2005-born list player Bjarnason.

Capton has a healthy respect for what he’s seen around him.

“There is a lot of competition, that’s for sure,” Capton said. “I think I can handle myself and hopefully be a third goalie this year.”

Brandon last kept a 16-year-old goalie for the entire season in 1990-91, choosing instead to get them more playing time at the U18 level.

If that’s the case, Capton will return to Yale, which is located in Abbotsford, B.C.

In three starts this season with Yale Hockey Academy’s under-17 prep team last season, the Lethbridge product posted a minuscule 0.79 goals-against average and a gaudy .975 save percentage.

“I felt really good,” Capton said. “I felt better coming out of the draft year. You’re always nervous in your draft year but I think this last year I just settled in and played my game.”

Despite making the jump from U15 prep to U17 prep, Capton wasn’t intimidated by the shooters because he practises with junior guys in the summer, and was sometimes called up by Yale’s U18 team for practises.

While he got plenty of ice time in the summer, he also did some winning away from the rink.

Two weeks ago, Capton’s team captured a provincial baseball championship, with him on the mound. He also plays shortstop and third base.

By coincidence, the two best baseball players on the Wheat Kings are both from Lethbridge. Forward Ridly Greig was also an elite ball player prior to focusing on hockey.

Naturally, Capton is happy to follow in Greig’s footsteps to Brandon, regardless of how long it took to get here. The last two prospects camps and last year’s rookie and main camps were cancelled due tot he pandemic.

“It’s been really nice finally getting here and seeing the atmosphere of Brandon and facilities and meeting most of the guys,” Capton said. “It’s been a pretty cool experience.”

He added that he came to Brandon with an open mind but has been “wowed” by the team’s facilities, including its newly renovated dressing room.

“That’s the nicest room I’ve seen by far,” Capton said. 

Capton said on Thursday afternoon he’s a little sore after two-and-half days but that won’t hold him back. Nor will the nerves he admits he’s feeling.

He wants Brandon’s coaching staff and management to know exactly who he is and what he brings.

“I have to show them how hard I work,” Capton said. “Teams aren’t going to want a kid who slacks around so I definitely have to go out there and give it 150 per cent every practice, no matter whether I’m tired or sore. I just have to give it my all. I think I’ll make a good impression and hopefully they’ll give me a spot.” 

 

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