Goodbye, Good Luck, and Go Light It Up: A Cougars Super-fan's Farewell to Carson Carels
Olivia W. is at CN Centre for every home game she can get to. She wrote Carson Carels a farewell, so we asked her about the warm-up routine she knows by heart, the award he kept on his wall, and the jersey she designed.
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The letter
As a Prince George Cougars season member and probably one of their biggest fans, I’ve been lucky enough to watch Carson Carels C4 play countless times at the CN Centre. I rarely miss a game, and C4 is one remarkable player to watch.
My younger sister and I even made up our own awards for each of the players, and Carson earned our “Firework Award” because something exciting happens every time he steps on the ice!
I was also lucky enough to win the Cougars’ Design-a-Jersey contest and later had the opportunity to purchase C4’s jersey as a keepsake, something that will always be pretty special to me.
Watching Carson grow as a player and as a leader during his time in Prince George has been truly special. He leads by example every time he steps on the ice, and you can see the impact he has on the team. If C4 were returning to the Cougars this season, there is no doubt in my mind that he would be wearing the “C” as captain. He has earned that kind of respect through his hard work, determination, and leadership.
Having the opportunity to watch him at the World Juniors and the CHL Top Prospects Game was another highlight. He has incredible talent, and I think he still has so much more to learn, accomplish, and show the hockey world.
Now C4 is off to North Dakota and continues his journey toward the Calgary Flames. As a Cougars fan, it’s always hard to say goodbye to a player you’ve loved cheering for, but I can’t wait to see where his career takes him.
Once a Cougar, always a Cougar, but Calgary has one hot Flame coming their way!
Good luck, C4! Prince George will be cheering you on!
Walk us through a normal game night at CN Centre.
A normal game night for us means that we are ready and arriving at the rink right when the doors open. That’s always something we have done, maybe it’s because the lines for popcorn aren’t as long or it’s because I don’t wanna miss warm ups. When we get there we always see the same few players sitting on the bench, sometimes they’re stretching but most of the time they are throwing pucks at the net trying to land them on the top, or playing a game of who’s puck is closer to the dot, almost like curling from the bench.
Then there’s warmups and it’s always the same, every player has their own special routine, stretching with the same guy, slamming each other into the glass, it’s always the same. That being said Carson’s is definitely one you notice and it’s always the same with his teammate Corbin Vaughan. They each take turns body checking each other into the glass, they both jump backwards into the glass at the same time, and they stand at centre ice to bonk heads at the beginning. Even Kayden Lemire has a routine with Carson and fake slashes Carson’s leg before the stretching starts. Carson always stretches with Terik Parascak. He also always salutes to Cole Waldie in the broadcast room at the same time.
At first puck drop, and the beginning of each period, Carson always does his signature move where he gathers speed and swoops in at centre ice spraying snow before he skates back to his spot. Almost like a perfect C on the ice. Once you have seen him do it once you will never miss it.
Another thing we have been doing lots recently is the high five tunnel between periods, when we go down the same couple players always high five us while the rest do their pre period handshakes, which are also the same every time before they run out to start the next period. After the game we have to wait to see who the 3 stars will be, which me and my dad always take our picks to see who is right. After the 3 stars we head back to our car to listen to the post game show, which sometimes we get to hear interviews with some of the players. That concludes a normal game night for us.
How did the “Firework Award” come about? Was Carson there when you told him he won it?
It was another team signing event that me and my sister planned for, each player received the Amy’s Choice Stars Of the North player awards. Every player having their own unique award that we thought fit the best, including the firework award for Carson.
We picked that award for him because he always brought something exciting to every shift, you always know when he was on the ice. There is always excitement whether it’s scoring, or roughing up on the boards taking his chances whenever he can to get a teammate a goal, and always doing his part keeping the puck in the offensive zone. He is always aware and willing to jump into a forward position to get a chance on the net. He’s a team player and is aware where his teammates are at all times to make the perfect plays.
As we went down the tables we handed everyone their awards, they were pretty happy and excited to see what they got. Even Carson and Corbin were bickering back and forth about what award they got and who deserved what, with plenty of laughter. After seeing Carson at the year end BBQ we found out that he kept his award on his wall since the night we gave them out. You could definitely tell it made their night and they were excited to see what award they would receive. I’m sure some of the players are curious what next team signing will bring from us.
What inspired your jersey design?
The northern sky around Prince George definitely inspired my design, especially the stars and the trees. But mostly I designed it to be for the stars of the North, which the Prince George Cougars truly are. I came up with the stars of the north because PG is the True North.
My jersey has a striking black background filled with stars, giving it the look of a Northern night sky. Red tones rising from the bottom look like the glow of a Northern sunset, representing the wilderness around Prince George. The Cougars logo stands out boldly on the chest surrounded by scratch marks that symbolize strength, power, and the wild spirit of the team. A constellation design in the shape of BC shines proudly on the shoulders with a cougar paw placed on the Prince George location, a reminder that every player and fan are a part of something bigger, a community that shines together under the same Northern sky. The Prince George Cougars are the True Stars of the North!
Is there one specific game or moment with C4 that has stuck with you?
There’s always something exciting happening and I can’t choose, he brings so much energy to the ice and can definitely be a favourite and fun player to watch. He’s had so many overtime game winning goals and just goals in general I can’t pick a favourite. If I had to choose one it would be his teddy bear toss goal during his rookie year, it was around the same time I started watching the games more often and it’s something I have remembered for a while.
More info: On December 7, 2024, Carson fired a one-timer on a 5-on-3 against Kamloops that sent thousands of bears over the glass and started a 6-3 Cougars win in front of a sold-out CN Centre. He was a rookie that season, and finished it as Prince George’s rookie of the year.
What are you hoping for at the World Juniors in Edmonton?
Just being able to go to the world juniors is an unreal opportunity, and really I’m just hoping for some good hockey. It’s something I have been looking forward to since we got our tickets. I’m also excited to hopefully see Carson play on team Canada again this year, and it will give me a great opportunity to rock his signed game worn jersey I designed.
Anything else about Carson, or Cougars hockey, you want people in Calgary to know?
Carson brings the same energy to the community that he brings to the ice. He always makes time for fans, signs autographs and has conversations or answers questions. Being a Carson fan and a Cougars fan has given me so many amazing memories, and Prince George will miss him, but Calgary will gain 100’s of Carson fans. Can’t wait to see him in the NHL, but for now North Dakota has one talented young player.
Olivia W. is a Prince George Cougars season member. She designed the Cougars’ jersey for the Real Canadian Superstore CHL Jersey Contest, dropped the ceremonial puck the night it was unveiled, and owns a signed game-worn version of her own design. This is her first piece for Flames Scout Wire.