Carter Holewinski graduated from Notre Dame Academy in the spring of 2023, playing goaltender for the Tritons all four years, and was a member of the team that won the WIAA Boys State Hockey Championship in 2023 during his senior year.

 At NDA, Holewinski grew not only as an athlete but also as a student and an individual.

 Holewinski credits Notre Dame Academy for this growth, saying, “I cannot emphasize enough how great NDA was for my overall development—including my personal growth, education, thought process, habits, and faith. All of my teachers, coaches, and friends at NDA taught me valuable lessons and skills that have helped shape me into the person I am today.”

Right now is the season when most seniors are faced with the tough decision of choosing where to continue their education. Holewinski selected North Carolina State University as the next step in his academic journey.

 “I chose to attend NC State for various reasons, such as their proximity to the Carolina Hurricanes and that NC State is a Top 10 school in the nation for my major,” said Holewinski. 

 North Carolina State University is recognized as one of the nation’s top programs for studying Sport Management. Holewinski took advantage of the accelerated degree program, graduating with honors in just three years with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and a minor in Business Administration.

 However, his route to the National Hockey League began at Notre Dame Academy, in the form of seeking employment with an NHL organization.

 In addition to playing hockey for Notre Dame Academy, Holewinski actively pursued his goal of securing a position in an NHL front office in Hockey Operations during his senior year.

 As a senior at Notre Dame Academy, Holewinski researched several NHL organizations and reached out via email and phone with team representatives, all while working from the school’s Student Services offices to get his foot in the door.

Mrs. Katie Bialk remembers his diligence: “For a while there, my office felt less like a Student Services room and more like an NHL war room. While most students were coming in to talk about school work and college applications, Carter was at the desk with his spreadsheets open, engineering a path to the pros.”

“I had a front-row seat to his incredible resilience,” she continued. “I watched him handle ‘no’ after ‘no’—including some blunt rejections that would have discouraged most adults—with a level of professionalism well beyond his years. He never let a hung-up phone call rattle him; he’d just adjust his notes and dial the next team. It was clear even then that he wasn’t just a student looking for a job; he was a professional-in-waiting who happened to be wearing an NDA uniform.”

 Despite numerous unanswered calls—and even having one team’s representative tell him to lose their number—Holewinski persevered, continuing to reach out and connect with other NHL front offices.

 It was one call that ultimately connected him with a team staff member who had direct contact with the general manager.

 After bonding over their shared roots in Wisconsin, that team staff member connected Holewinski directly with Don Waddell, who was at the time the President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes. Over the following months, after several conversations with Waddell, the Hurricanes eventually created a role specifically for Holewinski.

Following his graduation from Notre Dame Academy in the spring of 2023, Holewinski moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to begin working with the Hurricanes while pursuing his degree.

 Having just turned 19 when he was officially hired, Carter Holewinski became the youngest person ever to work in an NHL front office.

 As a member of the Hurricanes’ Hockey Operations staff, Holewinski supports management across all aspects of hockey operations. His responsibilities include scouting support, creating video packages for player development, completing administrative projects and assisting with other duties as needed.

 Holewinski’s work varies from day to day, but certain elements remain constant, including analyzing game film, scouting players and completing administrative tasks.

 Holewinski notes that working in a National Hockey League organization demands attention to detail, thorough preparation and an understanding that every decision—regardless of its apparent significance—requires careful planning and strategic thinking.

 Having worked alongside NHL players has further shaped his perspective on the game. He describes them as some of the finest athletes and individuals in all of sports who create an environment that is both tight-knit and highly professional.

 Holewinski credits his interest in hockey to watching NHL games with his family as a child.

 “The first time I remember watching hockey was in the living room at my mom’s house while she was folding laundry. It was the Minnesota Wild versus the Chicago Blackhawks during the period when the Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups in five years. The Blackhawks dominated Minnesota in every facet of the game and ended up winning in a lopsided game.”

 That early fascination eventually evolved into a specific career goal: becoming an NHL General Manager, a dream the NDA alum has held since fifth grade.

 Holewinski’s approach to success centers on consistency, continuous learning, and a long-term perspective, understanding that progress comes from striving to improve each day and paying close attention to even the smallest details.

 “Start thinking like you would in your position of desire today,” Holewinski said. “For example, my mentality is always to approach things as an NHL General Manager would, since that’s my career goal.”

 “To be successful, you have to love and embrace the grind,” he added.  

 Looking ahead, Holewinski intends to continue ascending through the ranks of hockey operations, with the ultimate goal of becoming an NHL General Manager. He strives to win multiple Stanley Cups and serve as the General Manager of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team at the Winter Olympic Games, leading the United States to multiple gold medals.

 To the students interested in pursuing careers in sports, Holewinski recommends that they completely commit themselves to achieving their objectives, develop good habits, and take initiative.

 “You have to be all in because of how competitive this industry is. If you’re not 100% all in and not willing to put in the work, then this isn’t the industry for you,” Holewinski made clear. “It has to be your passion and something you always have your mind on in order to be successful.”

 He emphasizes that most sports jobs aren’t publicly posted. Success comes from networking, reaching out, and building connections. Even if a position isn’t advertised, organizations will often create a role for talented individuals who demonstrate skill, determination, a strong work ethic, and initiative.

 His path exemplifies many qualities, but three stand out: preparation, determination, and execution.

 It demonstrates that by dedicating yourself to your goals, maintaining a clear plan of action, and staying focused, you can create opportunities at the highest levels of your chosen profession.

 The NDA boys hockey team fell short this year, and Holewinski offered the players some words of wisdom and advice:

 “Remember why you started playing hockey in the first place. Enjoy every day and work your tail off to get better every day. Championship teams always face adversity and find ways to overcome it. Everyone needs to buy in and hold each other accountable. A positive mindset and mental focus are required. If you believe it, you can achieve it. Leave everything on the ice and give it everything you have, so you don’t have to live with ‘what ifs’ or regrets.”