For many athletes, their careers end after their senior year of high school. Some go on to play at the collegiate level, getting four or five more years to play the game they love. But for a select few, including Colgate University’s own senior Carter Gylander, there comes the opportunity to make a career out of their athletic ability.
Gylander, the starting goaltender on Colgate’s men’s hockey team, recently signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Red Wings selected Gylander in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft and after an incredibly successful collegiate career, he is set to join their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Grand Rapids for the rest of the season on an amateur tryout contract.
It is an impressive feat for the Beaumont Alberta native, as less than six percent of draft picks from his class have played in the NHL since being drafted. While Gylander will begin his time in the AHL, signing his entry-level deal is his first step toward the show.
“It’s pretty exciting to take this next step in my career,” Gylander said. “I’m fortunate to have had a great experience developing as a player at Colgate over the last four seasons to help me prepare for this stage.”
Gylander has been involved with the Red Wings organization since he was drafted in the summer of 2019 and has spent his summers training in Detroit, Mich., at camps with other future NHL players.
Gylander accomplished a lot during his career at Colgate, as he finished fourth in appearances and wins in program history. He also led Colgate to their second ECAC Championship in program history as a junior, being named MVP of the ECAC playoffs in the process. During the Raiders’ historic 2022-2023 season, Gylander set a program record for most saves in a season.
It’s a bittersweet ending for the goaltender’s college career, as Colgate was unable to defend their championship, suffering defeat in the quarterfinals of the ECAC playoffs at the hands of St. Lawrence, after St. Lawrence’s best regular season in-conference play since the 2013-14 season.
“I’m certainly going to miss going to the Class of ’65 Arena every day and being with the group of guys and coaches I’ve had the pleasure to play with and for,” Gylander said.
At Colgate, the impact these players both have and feel extends beyond the confines of the rink, though. In such a small town with an incredibly tight-knit community, it’s impossible not to feel the sense of purpose that comes with representing this school.
“From the moment I first got to campus, I knew it was going to be a very tight-knit community and it felt like I had a second support system from the friends I’ve made at Colgate to the people I’ve met from the village,” Gylander said.
What Gylander will miss the most from Colgate and the town of Hamilton is the community. But while Gylander may be leaving Colgate, there are certainly some friendly faces to be found within professional hockey. He joins former Raiders Colton Young ’23 and Trevor Cosgrove ’21 who are both currently playing in the AHL along with Bobby McMann ’20, the most recent Raider to make it to the NHL.
“I’m going to miss a lot about Colgate. Going to a school like Colgate allows its students to get to know each other and grow friendships for four years,” Gylander said. “I’m going miss the people I’ve met along the way during my Colgate career.”
As Gylander attempts to be the 17th Colgate alumnus to appear in the NHL, he leaves behind an impressive legacy and a community that he’s grown to love across an illustrious four years.
