From training camp through the final buzzer, perhaps no player in the Wheat Kings organization rose higher or faster last season than Carson Ralph. For one thing, when camp began in 2025 he was not, strictly speaking, in the Wheat Kings’ organization.
The 2009-born forward was an unsigned, undrafted invitee from the Alberta U17 ranks in 2025, and just 15 years old to boot. By the end of camp, he’d signed with the Wheat Kings officially. By the end of the season, he’d made his WHL debut and picked up his first point.
“My mindest is still the same,” Ralph said after his opening game of this year’s training camp. “I’m trying to prove a point and trying to bump some guys out and grab a roster spot. I’m not coming in here with a mindset that I’m already on the team, I want to come in here and earn my spot.”
It’s easy to see why Ralph is sticking to the same mindset he brought to last year’s camp. After all, it was his standout performances throughout the entire camp and into the Black and Gold game, carried over into the preseason, that earned him a long-term shot with the Wheat Kings to begin with. That doesn’t mean he’s not more comfortable this time around, however.
“I know a lot of the vets, there are a lot of new faces but it’s a lot easier to meet the new guys and grow relationships with the old guys,” he said. “There are a lot of young guys coming up, so I’m trying to make new relationships. It’s a lot easier than as a 15-year-old turning 16 last year.”
Of course, this time around Ralph won’t take anybody by surprise. He finished at least a point per game for the St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA team in the regular season, playoffs, and Circle K Classic, while also playing his first four WHL games. So in order to keep on impressing, he put the work in over the offseason.
“My speed and IQ out there have gotten better,” said Ralph. “I think I match the level of play out there now a little better than last year. That’s something I’ve improved, but I’ve been working on everything, really, trying to get better in every way.”
And the Wheat Kings’ staff have made no secret of the fact they want to see high intensity and tight competition in this year’s camp. For a player with Ralph’s style, which is heavy and relentless, that’s just what the doctor ordered.
“I love that,” said Ralph. “Marty (Murray) always talks about hard skill and talks about how I bring that. I just want to keep bringing that. I can be physical, I can lay the body, but I can also put the puck in the net.”
Ralph scored in his opening game of camp for Team Ferraro in what proved to be a 7-3 loss to Team Boschman. He opens the second game of camp against Team Pulock at 4:30.
