Neil Eisenhut
Encyclopedia
Neil R. Eisenhut is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player who spent parts of two seasons in the National Hockey League
in the mid-1990s.
Eisenhut was selected 233rd overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft
by the Vancouver Canucks
, following which he spent four seasons at the University of North Dakota
. At North Dakota, he played alongside a slew of fellow Canuck draft picks (Dixon Ward
, Dane Jackson
, Garry Valk
, and Jason Herter
) who would also be future teammates in pro hockey.
Turning pro in 1991, Eisenhut was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals
of the IHL. He would toil in the minors in Vancouver's system for the next three years, earning a positive reputation for his character and leadership, and serving as captain of the Hamilton Canucks
. In 1992–93, he had his best minor-league season, recording 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points with Hamilton. In 1993–94, he finally received a taste of NHL action, recording a goal and 4 points in a 13-game callup to the Canucks.
Eisenhut signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames
for the 1994–95 season, and had another brief NHL stint, appearing in three games for the Flames. After spending two more years in the AHL, primarily with the Binghamton Rangers
, Eisenhut signed in Germany in 1997. He would spend a successful six seasons in the DEL with the Krefeld Penguins
and DEG Metro Stars
before retiring in 2003.
Following his retirement, Eisenhut became a financial advisor, and currently works in that position for RBC in Kelowna
, BC
. He also continued to play senior amateur hockey, helping the Powell River Regals
to the Allan Cup
in 2006.
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...
player who spent parts of two seasons 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...
in the mid-1990s.
Eisenhut was selected 233rd overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft
1987 NHL Entry Draft
The 1987 NHL Entry Draft was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1986–87 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players selected.-Selections...
by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, following which he spent four seasons at the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
. At North Dakota, he played alongside a slew of fellow Canuck draft picks (Dixon Ward
Dixon Ward
Dixon McRae Ward is a former National Hockey League right wing. He was drafted in the seventh round, 128th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft....
, Dane Jackson
Dane Jackson
Dane K. Jackson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right wing who spent parts of 4 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1993 and 1998....
, Garry Valk
Garry Valk
Garry Valk is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He was selected 108th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Valk went on to have a distinguished NHL career spanning over a decade, debuting with the Vancouver Canucks in the 1990–91 season, scoring ten goals and eleven assists for twenty-one...
, and Jason Herter
Jason Herter
Jason Herter is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently a head coach with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League ....
) who would also be future teammates in pro hockey.
Turning pro in 1991, Eisenhut was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
of the IHL. He would toil in the minors in Vancouver's system for the next three years, earning a positive reputation for his character and leadership, and serving as captain of the Hamilton Canucks
Hamilton Canucks
The franchise of the Hamilton Canucks was the top minor league affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks for two seasons in the American Hockey League. Today, the franchise is known as the Syracuse Crunch....
. In 1992–93, he had his best minor-league season, recording 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points with Hamilton. In 1993–94, he finally received a taste of NHL action, recording a goal and 4 points in a 13-game callup to the Canucks.
Eisenhut signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
for the 1994–95 season, and had another brief NHL stint, appearing in three games for the Flames. After spending two more years in the AHL, primarily with the Binghamton Rangers
Binghamton Rangers
The Binghamton Rangers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-History:The market was previously served by:-Playoffs:-Single Season:...
, Eisenhut signed in Germany in 1997. He would spend a successful six seasons in the DEL with the Krefeld Penguins
Krefeld Pinguine
The Krefeld Pinguine are an ice hockey team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. They play in Krefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany at the KönigPALAST. Founded first in 1936, the pro team became a limited liability company in 1994 and joined the top tier Deutsche Eishockey Liga...
and DEG Metro Stars
DEG Metro Stars
The DEG Metro Stars is a German professional ice hockey team in Düsseldorf. It was Germany's most successful hockey club for a long time and had many international players...
before retiring in 2003.
Following his retirement, Eisenhut became a financial advisor, and currently works in that position for RBC in Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He also continued to play senior amateur hockey, helping the Powell River Regals
Powell River, British Columbia
Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, that part of the larger Georgia Strait between Texada Island and the Mainland...
to the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
in 2006.