Spartans to honor Anson Carter

Michigan State Press Release

Former Michigan State University player Anson Carter, an All-America and Hobey Baker finalist who went on to an 11-year career in the National Hockey League, will be honored by the hockey program with its 2011 Distinguished Spartan Award.

Carter will receive his award at the MSU Hockey Banquet, which will be held on Tuesday, March 1 at Eagle Eye Golf Club.

“I have been thrilled since the minute [assistant coach] Tom Newton called me,” said the right winger. “I don’t even want to try to contain my excitement. Throughout my playing career, and even now - I am not shy to ‘fly the flag’ – I wanted people to know that I am a Spartan. I am so proud to have played at Michigan State, and humbled to be the recipient of this award.”

The Scarborough, Ont., native came to MSU as a 10th-round pick (No. 220 overall) of the Quebec Nordiques in the 1992 NHL entry draft. He still ranks among MSU’s all-time scoring leaders in the Spartan career annals. Carter is sixth in goals (106), fourth in power-play goals (40), and third in shorthanded tallies (11). His 178 career points finds him 22nd all-time.

He was the team’s Outstanding Rookie in 1993, won the team’s Outstanding Offensive Player Award in both 1995 and 1996, and in his senior season, was also the recipient of the Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award as well as the Am o Bessone Award, which recognizes a player for academic and athletic achievement in addition to involvement in the community. In terms of league recognition, he was the CCHA Rookie of the Year in 1993, and was an All-CCHA pick from 1994-96. He helped guide the Spartans three consecutive third-place finishes in the CCHA (1994-96), and to the CCHA Championship weekend all four seasons. Carter appeared in the NCAA Tournament in three of his four playing seasons.

As a junior in 1995, Carter had a team-best 34 goals and finished with 51 points, and was named an All-America in addition to being a Hobey Baker finalist.

Carter, who played 12 professional seasons, saw time with eight teams in the National Hockey League during his career: Washington, Boston (pictured), Edmonton, New York Rangers, LA Kings, Vancouver, Columbus, and Carolina.

He spent the most time with Boston (1997-2000), appearing in 211 games for the Bruins. After a 2000 off-season trade, he played three seasons in Edmonton, before being shipped to the Rangers. After two seasons where he played in New York, Washington, and LA, he settled with the Vancouver Canucks for the 2005-06 season, netted a career-best 33 goals playing with the Sedin twins, and was named the franchise’s Most Exciting Player for 2006. The winger then started 2006-07 in Columbus, then was traded to Carolina, where he finished out the season. His final professional season came in 2007-08, when he played in Switzerland for HC Lugano.

Carter resides in Atlanta with his wife, Erika, two daughters, Mikayla and Malia, along with Zeus, their great dane. He is the founder of Big Up Entertainment, and he's also the chairman and co-founder of an apparel company called SOMB. SOMB stands for "shirt off my back" (http://www.sombstyle.com/). SOMB is a premium, eco-friendly apparel line built on a one for one model. SOMB donates a full school uniform to a child in Africa every time it sells an item of clothing.

Tickets for the Michigan State hockey banquet are available for $35 and additional information can be obtained by calling the hockey office at 517-355-1639 or by emailing hockey@msu.edu. All banquet ticket orders are due no later than Tues, Feb. 15. A download of the ticket order form can be found here.

Photo courtesy Boston Bruins