SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program welcomes Carter Batchelder to the team as part of the 2023 recruiting class.
Batchelder, a native of Savage, Minn., showed that he has been willing to do whatever is necessary for his team, dating as far back as his time at the AAA level, during which his team was competing at an Elite hockey tournament in Canada. During the opening period of a game of the tournament, his goaltender would be injured in the opening period, leaving the team with two choices, send out an extra skater or have someone else strap on the pads. Without hesitation, Batchelder volunteered to step into the crease, and not only did his team come away with the win, he was also named the Player of the Game as a goaltender. His team would go on to win the tournament with Batchelder earning another Player of the Game honor, this time in his more natural forward position.
In high school, Batchelder would go on to play in three-consecutive Minnesota Class AA State Championship games, a tournament that regularly packs the arena with over 18,000 fans. After coming up just short in his first two attempts, he would eventually see his hard work pay off as he helped his team to their first state championship since 2011 in his senior season in 2021. During their championship run, Batchelder was able to complete a hat trick, including the game-winner in overtime during the semifinal matchup, and he would score the opening goal as well as assist on the game-winner in overtime for a 2-1 victory in the championship game. The two-time all-conference honoree's senior stat line of 34-27-61 in 24 games would result in him being named to the All-State team by the Associated Press and a finalist for the 2021 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award.
Batchelder was also selected to the USA Select 15's (2019) and 16's (2020) squads, and he was even a U.S. National Development Team tryout in 2019.
He would go on to begin his United States Hockey League (USHL) career with the Waterloo Black Hawks, who had previously selected him with the 43rd overall pick of the 2019 USHL futures draft, and he posted five goals and four assists between Waterloo and the Green Bay Gamblers during the 2021-22 season. After spending his first six games of the 2022-23 season with Green Bay, Batchelder went on to post 11 points (5G, 6A) in 25 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers.
Batchelder and the Lakers are set to kick off the 2023-24 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Michigan State.