It’s been a whirlwind year for Carter Bear.
The 18-year-old forward from West St. Paul was selected 13th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 27, capping off a standout season with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips.
“It was special for me and my family for sure,” Bear said. “After, it was just taking it all in—not wasting a minute—and being grateful for what just happened.”
Bear, who has roots in Peguis First Nation through his parents, Conrad and Misty, made the trip to the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles with a large entourage of friends and family. Back home in Manitoba, supporters gathered at the Peguis Multiplex for a community draft party. Both crowds erupted in celebration when Detroit called Bear’s name early in the evening, making him the highest-drafted Manitoban of the night.
It was a moment built on years of steady development.
Bear began his minor hockey career in the Seven Oaks Minor Hockey Association and put up back-to-back high-scoring seasons with the Winnipeg Hawks from 2019 to 2021. His efforts earned him a sixth-round selection by Everett in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
After continuing to dominate offensively with the Winnipeg Thrashers, Bear cracked the Silvertips’ roster for 19 games in the 2022–23 season. His offensive numbers were modest at first, but the following year he broke out with 25 goals and 32 assists—enough to land on the radar of NHL scouts ahead of his draft-eligible campaign.
He delivered again in 2024–25, recording 40 goals and 42 assists in just 56 games before an Achilles injury ended his season early. But by then, his spot among the draft’s top prospects was already secure.
Bear demonstrated his athleticism at the NHL Scouting Combine in early June and had interviews with multiple teams before heading to L.A. for the big night.
Following his selection, Bear took a video call with Red Wings general manager and franchise legend Steve Yzerman. Plans were immediately made for Bear to travel to Detroit for the team’s development camp, held days after the draft.
There, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound centre/left-winger got his first taste of life with the Winged Wheel.
Known for his playmaking ability, net-front presence and physical game, Bear impressed on and off the ice while getting to know a new group of prospects and staff. Among those helping run camp were former Red Wings and Stanley Cup champions Niklas Kronwall and Daniel Cleary—names Bear grew up hearing about, even if he was just a year old when they lifted the Cup in 2008.
“It’s pretty cool seeing those types of people, hearing your name called and hearing compliments from ex-NHL players,” Bear said. “It’s just pretty cool to be in that environment and part of that rich history. It’s pretty surreal.”
With development camp now in the rearview, Bear is focused on the next step.
He’ll return to Everett this fall, where he served as an alternate captain last season, aiming to take another leap forward and earn an invite to Detroit’s NHL training camp in September.
“Last year, I wanted to grow as a player and grow my game, and obviously learn from my mistakes a lot,” he said. “That’s just how you grow, so those are kind of my goals going into the year—learning from mistakes, learning what Detroit wants me to work on, and what I want to work on to be the best player I can.”
Bear, who turns 19 on Nov. 4, is also eligible to represent Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
