Eric Calder
Encyclopedia
Eric Calder is a retired Canadian ice hockey
defenceman
who played two games in the National Hockey League
with the Washington Capitals
. He was originally drafted by the Capitals in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft
.
Prior to playing in the NHL, Calder became one of the youngest players to play for the Canadian junior team, as a 17-year-old, at the 1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
. He spent three seasons with the Cornwall Royals
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
, winning the 1981 Memorial Cup
as a member of the team.
After appearing in his two NHL games, Calder played a season of minor professional hockey with the Hershey Bears
of the American Hockey League
before returning to school, attending the University of Waterloo
. While at Waterloo, he was named an Ontario University Athletic Association
all-star in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and a Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union
All-Canadian in 1988. Following graduation, Calder returned to the pro game, playing in France, Germany and England until retiring as a player in 1998.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played two games in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. He was originally drafted by the Capitals in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft
1981 NHL Entry Draft
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 211 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1980–81 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
.
Prior to playing in the NHL, Calder became one of the youngest players to play for the Canadian junior team, as a 17-year-old, at the 1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 5th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held from December 27, 1980 until January 2, 1981. The tournament was held in Füssen, West Germany...
. He spent three seasons with the Cornwall Royals
Cornwall Royals
The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981 and the Ontario Hockey League from 1981 to 1992. This team should not be confused with other Cornwall Royals teams that played in the QSHL, MMJHL, or OHA-B.-History:From 1961 until 1969, the...
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
, winning the 1981 Memorial Cup
1981 Memorial Cup
The 1981 Memorial Cup occurred May 3-May 15 at the Windsor Arena in Windsor, Ontario. Participating teams were the winners of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League which were the Kitchener Rangers, Cornwall Royals and Victoria Cougars...
as a member of the team.
After appearing in his two NHL games, Calder played a season of minor professional hockey with the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
before returning to school, attending the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. While at Waterloo, he was named an Ontario University Athletic Association
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
all-star in 1986, 1987 and 1988 and a Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
All-Canadian in 1988. Following graduation, Calder returned to the pro game, playing in France, Germany and England until retiring as a player in 1998.