‘Means the world to my family and me’: NHL veteran and former Hounds captain Jeff Carter will have his No. 7 jersey raised at GFL Memorial Gardens in November
The Soo Greyhounds are retiring the number of another legendary player.
The team said it is “honoured and excited to announce a special ceremony” honouring former Hounds captain Jeff Carter, a two-time Stanley Cup champion who went on to have a long NHL career after his time in Sault Ste. Marie.
His number 7 jersey will raised to the rafters of the GFL Memorial Gardens during the Greyhounds game against the London Knights on Nov. 22.
“Jeff Carter was a great Greyhound who went on to have a long and decorated NHL career,” said Tim Lukenda, Soo Greyhounds president and governor, in a news release issued today. “We will be very proud to recognize Jeff’s accomplishments by having his jersey hanging among those of other Greyhound legends.”
Carter was originally selected in the first round (third overall) of the 2001 OHL Priority Selection by the Greyhounds from the Strathroy Rockets of the GOJHL.
Over the course of four seasons and 236 career games played (2001–02 through 2004–05), Carter averaged over a point per game, accumulating 123 goals and 123 assists for 246 points. He added 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 15 career post-season games.
“Thank you to Tim Lukenda and the Soo Greyhounds organization for this tremendous honour,” Carter said in the release. “Putting the Greyhounds jersey on over my four-year career in the Soo was so special, and now having it hanging in the rafters alongside the Soo Greyhounds greats means the world to my family and me.”
He added: “I can’t wait to get back up to the Soo and show my family around the great city of Sault Ste. Marie and see all the familiar faces!”
Carter was named captain of the Hounds in his final two seasons with the club (2003–04, 2004–05). During his major junior career, he also participated in the CHL Top Prospects Game (2002–03), was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team (2003–04), the OHL First All-Star Team (2004–05), and was the CHL Sportsman of the Year and CHL First All-Star Team member in 2005.
Internationally, Carter represented Canada at the U17, U18, and U20 (World Junior Hockey Championship) levels during his days in red and white, earning a gold medal after scoring seven goals in six games at the 2005 World Junior Championship.
The 2003 NHL Draft saw the London, Ont., native selected in the first round (11th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers.
He went on to play 19 seasons combined with Philadelphia, Columbus, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.
Through 1,321 NHL games played, Carter recorded 442 goals and 409 assists for 851 total points.
He was a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning the title with Los Angeles in both 2012 and 2014.
Carter also appeared in two NHL All-Star Games, represented Canada at the 2006 World Championship, and later captured gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The 40-year-old Carter announced his retirement from the NHL after playing his final game with the Penguins on April 17, 2024.
Tickets for this night, and all regular season games, are on-sale now at the GFL Memorial Gardens Box Office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or online at gflgardens.ca.