Former Sioux Falls Power standout Carter Sanderson is returning to South Dakota with a new distinction: NHL Draft pick.
After spending the past two seasons playing junior and international hockey, Pierre native Carter Sanderson was set to return to South Dakota in January 2026 with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.
For Sanderson, the trip home carried a little more meaning.
It marked his first games in South Dakota in nearly two years — and his return came after a remarkable rise through the hockey development pathway.
A Season at Sioux Falls Power
Sanderson joined Sioux Falls Power 16U AAA for the 2023–24 season, making a significant impact during his time in the program.
In 65 games with the Power, Sanderson recorded 36 goals and 37 assists for 73 points. He also helped the team compete at the USA Hockey 16U National Championships, where he recorded four points in three games.
His performance in Sioux Falls helped prepare him for the next stage of his development.
Sanderson moved on to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL for the 2024–25 season, beginning his transition to junior hockey.
From Sioux Falls to the NHL Draft
Sanderson’s development continued to accelerate.
In 2025, the Pittsburgh Penguins selected him in the fourth round of the NHL Draft, 109th overall, making him the first South Dakota-born player ever selected in the NHL Draft.
The accomplishment represented a major milestone not only for Sanderson, but also for hockey in South Dakota.
His journey has included stops with the Oahe Capitals, Northstar Christian Academy, Sioux Falls Power, Muskegon Lumberjacks and the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Back Where It Started
When Sanderson returned to South Dakota with Muskegon in January 2026, he was no longer simply a young player chasing his hockey dream.
He was an NHL Draft pick and one of the most recognizable young hockey players to come out of South Dakota.
His return also gave local fans an opportunity to watch a player who had developed in their own hockey community take the next steps toward his professional goal.
Sanderson has continued to represent South Dakota on a national stage, including competing internationally with the United States. He was also part of the U.S. team that won gold at the 2025 World Junior A Challenge.
A Path for the Next Generation
For the young players currently working through Sioux Falls Power, Sanderson’s story is a reminder of what continued development can lead to.
His time at Sioux Falls Power was one step in a much larger journey — from youth hockey in South Dakota, to AAA hockey, to the USHL, international competition and ultimately the NHL Draft.
And now, when young players in the region watch Sanderson take the ice, they are watching someone who once stood where they are standing.
Carter Sanderson’s journey continues to put South Dakota hockey on the map — and Sioux Falls Power is proud to have been part of that journey.
https://www.kccrradio.com/2026/01/08/sanderson-to-play-first-games-in-south-dakota-in-two-years/
