Just cracking our list of Top 25 Under 25 in the Sharks system is winger Carson Wetsch, who was drafted by San Jose 82nd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old, British Columbian has been a member of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen for three full seasons now, increasing his games played and points totals each year as well.
Being 25th is still an improvement for Wetsch after being an honorable mention on our list the summer of his draft year in 2024. And being this low shouldn’t be considered a snub, either. The Sharks have built up one of the best pools of talent for players under 25 years of age. It’s a statement just to make this list in a competitive prospect pool. If Wetsch can finish out his career in dominant fashion, he’ll be better suited to adjust to the professional level in 2026-27 when the Sharks or Barracuda will be ready to give him a long look.
Position: Right Wing
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 198 lbs.
Age: 19
Date of Birth: May 4, 2006
Draft Year: 2024 (82nd over by the San Jose Sharks)
Shoots: Right
2025-26 Team: Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
What we like
Wetsch’s game is of General Manager Mike Grier’s ilk and comes with a roughness that every contending hockey team needs. He’s been described as a “throwback” winger who can find a way to impact the game even when he isn’t scoring, but don’t worry – he’s been able to find the back of the net in the WHL so far. In 181 career WHL games, Wetsch has scored 123 points, including a 33 goal season last year.
His ability to play off the puck is not only helpful for the team, but for Wetsch as a career hockey player. Even if his offensive skill doesn’t quite translate at the next stage, he’ll be better positioned to adapt his game into a checking or defensive role. With the Hitmen, Wetsch was used in all situations and held the team accountable as the captain of the team last season. His leadership attributes have been noted by others, too, as he has worn an “A” for Team Canada at the 2024 U18 World Championship.
Another reason of note is something that helped him go viral last summer during development camp – when Wetsch and Macklin Celebrini recreated a photo of their younger selves, having both played together in the Vancouver area as children. It’s worth a share every mention of Wetsch:
Does it ever drive you crazy,
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 4, 2024
Just how fast the night changes? 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Y9tJhVz1y9
Areas of improvement
Hopefully, Westch can find another level of offense this coming season. While he was a leader with the Hitmen in 2024-25, he wasn’t offensively dominating the league. He finished fourth on his team in points with 33 goals, 52 points, and 68 PIMs. Watch for his point production this coming season, which could give us an idea of if there’s more to look for in his professional game, or if Westch could project more as a powerful checking winger.
Westch has had three full seasons of junior hockey, and after the 2025-26 season, it will be four. That is a lot of time to develop his game, but junior hockey is still junior hockey. It might be beneficial for Westch to catch some time with the Barracuda at the end of his WHL season. A cup of coffee in San Jose around March or April could inform his development further and help both the player and the Sharks organization understand what he needs to work on to be ready to take the next step.
What’s next for Wetsch?
Unexpectedly, Wetsch was traded from the Calgary Hitmen to the Kelowna Rockets this May during the WHL’s draft. The full trade was Wetsch and a 2028 second-round pick for BCHL prospect Ben MacBeath, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2025 third-round pick in the WHL draft. This could mean good news for Wetsch’s development, as the Kelowna Rockets have built a contending team for the 2025-26 season.
Entering Kelowna for a full season, expect Wetsch to be a primary player for the Rockets as the team pushes towards the playoffs and beyond in the WHL. This will be his final season of junior hockey, so Wetsch should be motivated to make the most of it and go for a championship or a deep playoff run before making the jump to professional hockey in 2026.
Highlight
Take a look through all 33 of his regular-season goals with the Hitmen from last season, but this video links to a power play goal against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Wetsch establishes good position in front of the net to set the screen and goes for the tip as the point shot comes through. The tip misses, but Wetsch gets one rebound and then another out of the air to swipe the puck into the net. He had a relatively easy time here to establish his body positioning, but it took a good combination of skill and tenacity to earn that second rebound and score.
