The first thing that stands out about Carter Sanderson is his manners.

He stands up, introduces himself and extends his right hand for a handshake.

And the handshake is like a hydraulic press.

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect possesses all the gentility and grip strength of a farmer who Norman Rockwell or Paul Harvey might have lionized.

And that’s because he has spent some time on his family’s farm in South Dakota.

“Just helping my uncle out and the hired hand there, just kind of grow their crops,” Sanderson said of his family’s spread in Flandreau near the Minnesota border. “Work a lot in grain bins.”

A native of Pierre, the state capital, Sanderson made some history when he became the first native of South Dakota to be drafted by an NHL club when the Penguins called his name in the sixth round (No. 169 overall) in the 2025 draft.

“I take pride in that,” Sanderson said June 30 during the Penguins’ prospect development camp in Cranberry. “Being able to go around rinks in South Dakota and kids look up to me at 18 years old is a cool thing. I take pride in that, but I don’t identify my game by that.”

Winnipeg Jets forward Walker Duehr, who was undrafted, is the only South Dakotan to ever play in the NHL. Given their limited fraternity, Sanderson, 18, and Duehr, 28, have worked out in recent summers.

“We skate in Sioux Falls four times a week with each other,” Sanderson said. “I know Walker pretty well and we’ve got a good relationship.”

Hockey in South Dakota is almost as rare as population centers.

“I think there might be one rink per town and only like 15 towns throughout South Dakota,” Sanderson said. “It’s a small thing. The state sport is rodeo. That’s what a lot of people are focused on, that and baseball and football. Hockey is not a huge thing, but it’s definitely a growing sport in South Dakota for the kids that are getting older.”

Sanderson spent the past two seasons in Michigan skating for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League.

Last season, he set career highs with 54 games, 17 goals, 17 assists and 34 points while helping Muskegon reach the Clark Cup final, losing to the Sioux Falls Stampede.

???? Carter Sanderson

???? Carter Amico & Adam Belusko

No refunds on that one! Sanderson fires one in to end the 2nd! pic.twitter.com/GE6p5prHIB

— Muskegon Lumberjacks (@MuskegonJacks) February 7, 2026

“Didn’t meet all my goals,” Sanderson said. “But definitely had a good season. It was kind of a learning curve for me. Getting named captain midway through the season was a good thing for me. It was another role to take on. Sometimes, I kind of let my game get carried away when I was too focused on how the team was doing instead of how my own season was going.

“This next season, taking a big step in my offensive game, being able to put up more points on the board. Last season, I was put in all positions and that was kudos to the coaches and staff there in Muskegon who believed in me.”

Penguins management was sated by Sanderson’s season as well.

“He’s doing really well,” director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. “We’re really excited. When you look at most improved players, year to year, he came in last year … and we asked him to work on his puck-handling skills, his shot and his skating and I think all three have improved. His overall game has improved a ton.

“He’s all heart, and he’s working on the fundamental side of the game.”

At 6-foot-2 and 196 pounds, Sanderson does most of his work near the blue paint.

“I’d say it’s mostly around the net,” Sanderson said. “I kind of get in the hard areas. I wouldn’t say I’m super skilled like all the other guys, but I find ways to get to the net and take care of the dirty ones.”

As for the 2026-27 season, Sanderson is heading to Alberta and making the jump to the Western Hockey League (WHL) by joining the Calgary Hitmen before going the NCAA route with North Dakota.

“Going up to the (WHL) and being able to grow my offense was a huge piece for me,” Sanderson said. “Being able to develop a little more before going to North Dakota the year after that. A change of pace from Muskegon the last two years is going to be a good thing for me.”

And going to North Dakota will be a good thing for the South Dakotan on a lot of levels.

“It’s shown that there’s good players that come through North Dakota,” Sanderson said. “That was one piece. (And) obviously, the facilities, the staff.

“Also, it’s close to home. It’s only six hours from where I live. Being able to go home at any point if I need to at any point. Then also, my parents (Tiffany and Nathan) and family are going to be able to come watch.”