UPEI Men's Hockey Panthers land MHL scoring leader Carter McCluskey
One hundred-point seasons don’t come around often, but the UPEI Men’s Hockey Panthers have landed one of the rare few in Carter McCluskey.
McCluskey joins the Panthers after an outstanding 106-point season, where he led the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) with 47 goals and 59 assists. The 21-year-old from Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick, split the 2023–24 season between the Truro Bearcats and Fredericton Red Wings, proving himself as one of the top offensive talents in the league. He now joins a dynamic group of young forwards ready to make their mark in Atlantic University Sport (AUS).
Last season, the Panthers surprised many as rookies Noah Sedore, Elias Cohen, and Ben McFarlane combined for 34 goals and 73 points in just 30 games. McCluskey aims to complement this nucleus and make an immediate impact on the team’s offence.
“I’m excited to join this deep forward lineup and feel confident I’ll fit in comfortably while adding another offensive threat,” McCluskey said. “We’ve got a solid young group that is going to be extremely strong in the near future, and I think we’ll surprise some people again this season.”
McCluskey also brings experience from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he played in 82 games over three seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs and Cape Breton Eagles, contributing 14 goals and eight assists from 2020–2023.
McCluskey has suited up for five different teams in four years, with multiple trades along the way. He sees these experiences as crucial to his development.
“Moving between leagues and teams gave me the chance to meet new people and learn a lot,” McCluskey said. “It wasn’t always easy, but adapting to different environments made me a stronger player and a better person.”
Those experiences should pay off in the long run as he finds his footing with the Panthers this fall. McCluskey comes to UPEI highly regarded, and head coach Forbes MacPherson is eager to see how his playmaking skillset can elevate the team.
“Carter is a highly competitive player with tons of energy and grit. He’s an engine that drives teammates and agitates opponents,” MacPherson said. “We expect Carter to come in hungry, work hard, and be a great teammate while contributing to the strong culture this young group has built.”
