UNH Recruits Eiserman, Chanter to Play in Junior Club World Cup

Shane Eiserman

Dylan Chanter

From August 24-31, the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL will compete in the 2013 Junior Club World Cup international tournament in Omsk, Russia. The third-annual tournament will feature junior hockey teams from Canada, Russia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Belarus, and the USA.

Today, the USHL champion Fighting Saints announced their roster for the Junior Club World Cup. Two UNH recruits - forward Shane Eiserman and defenseman Dylan Chanter - will be playing for the Dubuque squad. Both Eiserman and Chanter are on target to enroll at UNH in the Fall of 2014.

Shane Eiserman
Shane Eiserman recently completed his season with the US National Team Development Program Under-18 squad. The 6'2", 196 lbs., left-shot forward posted 10 goals and 11 assists in 56 games. His 2 short-handed goals tied him for second on the U-18 team.

This will be Eiserman's second trip to Russia in recent months. In April, he and incoming UNH freshman Tyler Kelleher played for Team USA in the World Under 18 Championship held in the Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Team USA won the silver medal, losing to Canada 3-2 in the championship game.

Eiserman is a veteran of international competition having played in the Four Nations Under 18 tournament in November as well as the World Under 18 Championship in April. In 10 international games with the US National Under-18 team, Eiserman scored a goal and 2 assists.

Although Shane Eiserman was not drafted into the USHL, the Dubuque Fighting Saints invited him to their training camp in the summer of 2011. Out of that camp, he made the Saints' Affiliate List. Last summer, Eiserman returned to the Saints' Tryout Camp and made the Protected Futures List. He also participated in the USA Hockey Select 17 Development Camp in June, 2012. His performance so impressed the National Team Development Program staff that he was invited to join the NTDP U-18 team in August. The Fighting Saints kept Eiserman on their Protected List. Now, Shane will officially suit up for Dubuque in the Junior Club World Cup.

Dylan Chanter
After playing two seasons with the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL, Dylan Chanter decided to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the 2013-14 season. The 6'3", 203 lbs., right-shot defenseman compiled a record of 11 goals, 22 assists, and 78 penalty minutes in his two seasons with the Cents.

During the USHL Draft in early May, Dubuque selected Chanter in the 5th round. He was the 75th overall pick in the draft. The tournament in Omsk, Russia will be Chanter's first opportunity to play for the Fighting Saints.

Other UNH Players in the Junior Club World Cup Tournament
The Junior Club World Cup in August will be the third time the tournament has been held. Last summer, the United States was represented by the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL. Incoming freshman Matias Cleland played for Waterloo in that event. In the summer of 2011, an All-Star team from the Eastern Junior Hockey League represented the United States. UNH Sophomore forward Kyle Smith played in that tournament.

UNH Players at 2013 NHL Development Camps

UNH Senior Kevin Goumas  (UNHWildcats.com)

UNH Senior Eric Knodel  (UNHWildcats.com)

UNH Sophomore Brett Pesce  (tsn.ca)

With the 2013 NHL Draft completed, the mid-summer season of player development camps is in full swing. Each NHL team invites young players who they have drafted, as well as free agents who are considered pro prospects, to their summer camps. These "prospect camps" give players an opportunity to show their stuff at the NHL teams' training facilities and in front of the teams' scouts, coaches and management.

Every summer, UNH is well-represented at the NHL camps and this year is no exception. Last year, I reported on five UNH players who participated in one or more development camps. To date, I can confirm that three UNH players will attend an NHL prospect camp over the next couple weeks.

Senior Forward Kevin Goumas

Kevin Goumas, the Wildcats' leading scorer last season, will attend the Toronto Maple Leafs' Prospect Camp. The camp begins tomorrow at the MasterCard Centre, home of the Maple Leafs' training facilities. The camp includes on-ice practice sessions, "private seminars on conditioning, media awareness, personal development and nutrition" and two scrimmages.

Last summer, Goumas participated in the New Jersey Devils' Prospect Camp. Former UNH stars Mike Sislo and Phil DeSimone also attended that camp.

Goumas will join UNH Captain Eric Knodel at the Toronto Development Camp (see below). James van Riemsdyk just completed a successful first season with the Maple Leafs scoring 18 goals and 14 assists in the regular season. JvR was the leading scorer for the Leafs during their playoff run. The general manager of the Maple Leafs is Dave Nonis. His son Nick Nonis recently committed to play college hockey at UNH.

Senior Defenseman Eric Knodel

In June, 2009, Eric Knodel was selected 128th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL Entry Draft. The 6'6", 225 lbs. defenseman will be attending his 5th Maple Leafs' Development Camp starting tomorrow. Knodel will be an academic senior at UNH next season and was chosen as the Wildcats' Captain.

Since Knodel did not play in his freshman year at UNH, next season will be his third year of college hockey. Last season, Knodel posted a huge jump in goals scored with 10, including 5 power play goals. During the 2011-12 campaign, Knodel had 3 goals. No doubt, the UNH faithful,and the Maple Leafs, are looking forward to another productive season from Knodel.

Sophomore Defenseman Brett Pesce

It's been an exciting summer for 18-year-old, UNH defenseman Brett Pesce. On June 30th, the 6'3", 190 lbs blueliner was selected by the Carolina Hurricans in the 3rd Round of the 2013 NHL Draft. Pesce was the 66th player chosen in the draft. Here's a video interview with Brett on draft day. UNH fans might recognize UNH graduate Chantel McCabe as the interviewer. She is now the sideline reporter for the Carolina Hurricanes television broadcasts.

The Hurricanes' Player Development Camp is scheduled for July 16-20 at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. It will be Pesce's first prospect camp.

UPDATE: Grayson Downing

Junior forward Grayson Downing is attending the Chicago Blackhawks' prospects camp, which began today. This is the first time that Downing has been invited to an NHL camp.

UPDATE: Nick Sorkin

Senior forward Nick Sorkin will be attending the New York Islanders' mini-camp this week. Previously, Sorkin had attended the Washington Capitals' prospects camp in the summer of 2009 and the Flyers' and Maple Leafs' camps last summer.

UNH Recruit Dylan Chanter Joins Dubuque Fighting Saints

After a successful two-year stint with the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL, Dylan Chanter has decided to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League in the 2013-14 season. The 6'3", 203 lbs., right-shot defenseman compiled a record of 11 goals, 22 assists, and 78 penalty minutes in his two seasons with the Cents.

In his rookie season (2011-12), Chanter was one of only three 16-year-old defensemen to play the entire year in the BCHL. Last season, he lead all Cents' defensemen in goal scoring with 9 goals, including 3 power play goals. Among all BCHL defensemen, Chanter was tied for 3rd in goal scoring.

During the USHL Draft in early May, Dubuque selected Chanter in the 5th round. He was the 75th overall pick in the draft.

Dylan is from Armstrong, British Columbia located about 15 miles north of Vernon. Last week, he graduated from high school. Chanter will be eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft to be held June 27th in Philadelphia. Back in February, 2012, Chanter committed to play for UNH.

I had an opportunity to interview Dylan Chanter, via email, about his decision to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints:

Mike Lowry ("C-H-C"): Congratulations on your move to the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. What were the primary reasons behind your decision?
Dylan Chanter: The primary reasons behind my decision were development, change, and continuing to push the envelope. I felt that Dubuque was going to be a good place to further develop myself as a hockey player with NHL calibre coaching with Matt Shaw as well as a winning attitude.
I also thought it was time for a change. As much as I enjoyed my last 2 seasons in Merritt, I didn't think a third season there was a smart decision.
Lastly, pushing the envelope played the primary role in my decision to play in Dubuque. I felt that this was my best option to prepare myself for UNH and eventually professional hockey.
All in all it was a family decision and we felt that this was the best step in continuing my hockey career.

Mike Lowry: Are you still on track to enroll at UNH in the Fall of 2014?
Dylan Chanter: Yes, I do still plan on enrolling in the fall of 14' at UNH.