Karsen Dorwart

Growing up in Sherwood, Oregon, Karsen Dorwart spent his youth around the Portland Winterhawks atmosphere—his family held season tickets and he often skated on the same ice and watched their practices as he learned the game. He attended the Hotchkiss School before completing his diploma through the University of Nebraska High School, and later enrolled at Michigan State University where he studied Advertisement Management while continuing to play.

Dorwart’s early on-ice steps included time with the San Jose Junior Sharks followed by a stint with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL. At Michigan State he moved onto the top line, centering Daniel Russell, another Stampede alumnus, and his teammates elevated him to alternate captain in his sophomore season, reflecting an expanding role in both playmaking and team leadership.

Undrafted, Dorwart signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on 29 March 2025, foregoing his final year of NCAA eligibility. He made his NHL debut on 5 April 2025 in a 3–2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. After spending a season with Philadelphia’s AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers did not tender a qualifying offer and he became an unrestricted free agent; he then signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers on 11 September 2026.

Taken together, Dorwart’s résumé points to a forward trusted to run a top line and to share leadership duties. His use as a centering presence on Michigan State’s first unit and his selection as an alternate captain suggest a player who blends offensive zone responsibility with a stewardship role among teammates.