CARTER SANDLAK

Carter Sandlak has dedicated his life to the game of hockey. From early childhood spent at the Canucks rink watching his dad, Jim Sandlak, to five years in the OHL, Sandlak’s passion has been the driving force in his linear progression through the sport. 

In 2014 Carter signed as a free agent with the Carolina Hurricanes and carried out the next four years playing in the AHL and ECHL. Following his retirement in the spring of 2018, Carter found himself looking to what was next in his hockey career. Emulating the path of his grandfather, a former AHL linesman, Carter attended the NHL Exposure Combine and signed an AHL contract as a referee.

His career thus far is highlighted by the CHL top prospects game in 2019 and the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship 2020/21, where he was selected to officiate the gold medal game. In the summer of 2021, Carter reached another career milestone by signing an NHL minor league contract as a referee.

The transition from player to referee has brought him both joy and an exciting new perspective of the game he loves, and he looks forward to the personal growth and learning opportunities to come.