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Published Jul 09, 2025 • 2 minute read
Mitchell-area native Carson Harmer scored once during a scrimmage at the end of the Utah Mammoth’s development camp outside Salt Lake City in early July.Article content
His cousin Lindsay’s July 5 wedding in Port Elgin capped off a busy 10 days for Carson Harmer.
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The 18-year-old Mitchell-area native officially graduated from Mitchell District high school on June 26, kept one eye on the National Hockey League Draft on June 27-28, and then accepted a last-minute invitation to the development camp of the NHL’s Utah Mammoth from June 29 to July 4.
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Clearly, the rest of the summer will be a letdown.
Based on his experience in Utah, Harmer reaffirmed in his mind that he can play at the elite level and will continue to work towards that goal.
“It was really fun, and a good opportunity,” he said after a recent workout in Waterloo. “Utah was a really cool spot. The organization was good with lots of really good people. When you go to a camp like that, you just want to soak everything up and be a sponge. I’ve played high level, it was a good opportunity and a good experience. I know I can play at that level, so there wasn’t any nervousness or anything like that. It was a good learning opportunity for me.”
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After a fine rookie season with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League in 2024-25, Harmer was ranked in the NHL player entry draft that took place in Los Angeles the last weekend of June. Although he didn’t hear his name picked in the seven rounds, and admiited he didn’t have high expectations going in, his agent informed him right after the draft concluded that Utah was interested in bringing him to Salt Lake City for its development camp.
He quickly packed and flew from Toronto to Salt Lake City and took part in the five-day camp with 13 other forwards. In the final scrimmage at the end of the week, Harmer managed to record a goal and an assist in a 5-5 tie that needed a shootout to decide.
His goal — finishing off a two-on-one break with a high blocker shot — was memorable, too.
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As for the draft, Harmer said going into it nothing was assured.
“I knew going in it wasn’t a sure thing. I didn’t really watch the draft, just kind of went on with my day type thing and if it happens, it happens,” he said. “At the end of the day, being undrafted, there’s perks to that, too. It’s not going to affect the player I am or how I train.”
Harmer could get drafted in the future but going undrafted could open other doors down the road, too, as was the case for Utah’s free look. He said he’ll likely be asked to represent Utah in a three-team rookie showcase tournament in Colorado Sept. 12-14 with other rookies representing the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights.
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