Anson Carter

Anson Horace Carter was born on June 6, 1974, in Toronto, Ontario, to parents who had emigrated from Barbados. He began playing hockey seriously at age eight and attended Agincourt Collegiate Institute before earning a scholarship to Michigan State University in 1992. After playing AAA hockey in the Metro Toronto Hockey League, he spent one season with the Wexford Raiders in the Metro Junior 'A' Hockey League, where he recorded 40 points in 42 games and helped the team win a league title. At Michigan State, he earned CCHA First All-Star Team honours in 1994 and 1995, a Second All-Star Team nod in 1996, and NCAA West Second All-American Team recognition in 1995.

Drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 10th round (220th overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Carter’s NHL rights were traded to the Washington Capitals in April 1996. He made his professional debut in the 1996–97 season, splitting time between the Capitals and their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. In March 1997, he was part of a blockbuster trade to the Boston Bruins. After several seasons in Boston, he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers, where he set career highs with 32 assists and 60 points in his second season. He was later traded to the New York Rangers in March 2003.

Following the 2002–03 season, Carter played for Canada at the 2003 World Championships. In the gold medal game against Sweden, he scored a wraparound goal in the first overtime that was initially contested but confirmed by replay, giving Canada its first world title in five years. He was traded back to the Capitals in January 2004 in exchange for Jaromír Jágr, then flipped to the Los Angeles Kings a month later. In August 2005, he signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent, playing on a line with twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin known as the "Brothers Line." He set a career-high 33 goals, led the team in scoring, and won the Canucks' Most Exciting Player Award. He did not re-sign with Vancouver.

In September 2006, Carter signed a one-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets but was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in February 2007. After a try-out with the Edmonton Oilers in September 2007, he was released and joined HC Lugano of the Swiss Nationalliga A in November 2007.