Every hockey player has his or her unique story, the path they took to get to where they are, no matter how far or successful they are and Carter Ashton of the Syracuse Crunch is no different. The son of former NHLer Brent Ashton (more on him later), the younger Ashton is still finding his way in the pro game, but now is back with the team that drafted him — a team with a very excellent track record of developing young players since Steve Yzerman took over the reigns of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Syracuse Crunch Forward Carter Ashton (Scott Thomas/Syracuse Crunch)

Ashton is a physical specimen, standing 6’3” tall and weighing in at about 215 lbs, and fits in perfectly with what the Lightning have been doing as far as acquiring and developing some of the tallest players in the league — see: Brian Boyle (6’7”), Alex Kilorn (6’2”), Victor Hedman (6’6”), Braydon Coburn (6’5”) Andrej Sustr (6’8”) along with a handful of other giants in Syracuse. Recently The Hockey Writers spoke to Carter Ashton about finding that elusive first NHL goal, joining the AHL’s best team and his father’s influence on his career among other things.

The Hockey Writers: Currently you’re with the Syracuse Crunch, a team with the best record in the AHL right now. How much fun are you having and has the newness of the change worn off yet?

Carter Ashton: It’s exciting. This is a great team, there’s something special here; we’re a tight group of guys in that locker room and I was accepted from day one. It’s a good core group of guys and to be a part of a team that definitely has a chance to go for a long run in the playoffs — I’m looking to just come in and do the little things right, chip in when I can and obviously do my best to make the team better.

Syracuse Crunch Forward Carter Ashton (Scott Thomas/Syracuse Crunch)

THW: You were a first round pick in the 2009 NHL Draft — what are your memories of that day?

CA: It was an exciting process; I was fortunate enough to bring a lot of my family to the draft in Montréal. It was definitely a nerve-racking four hours of sitting there in the stands. I ended up getting drafted 29th overall, second to last in the first round — which is a long day. Getting the opportunity to be drafted by Tampa and now obviously being back in this organization is exciting.

Carter Ashton buries a one-timer while playing with the Toronto Marlies:

THW: Your career started with Tampa, then you get traded to Toronto and now you’re back with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization; what’s your assessment of your pro career so far?

CA: I’ve definitely gone through a lot of learning processes. I got a great opportunity my first year pro when I was with Norfolk; I get to play with a few familiar faces here actually: (Mike) Angelidis, (J.P.) Cote, (Eric) Neilson and (back then) had a chance to be coached under (current Tampa head coach John) Cooper. That first year was definitely great and then I got a chance to go to Toronto and play some NHL games; from there it was kind of up-and-down throughout the last two years.