Eric Calder

Eric Calder (born June 26, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played two games in the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals, one game each in the 1981–82 as an eighteen year old and in 1982–83 seasons as a nineteen year old. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1982 to 1997, was spent in the minor leagues ( AHL, CIAU, and then in Europe. He was selected by the Capitals in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.^[1]

Eric Calder
Born	(1963-06-26) June 26, 1963 (age 62) Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	Washington Capitals Dragons de Rouen Albatros de Brest SERC Wild Wings Manchester Storm
NHL draft	45th overall, 1981 Washington Capitals
Playing career	1982–1997

Playing career

Before 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, located in Landsberg, Germany. He was one of three Canadians selected as MVP players.^[2] 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.^[1] After back to back Memorial Cup Championships Cornwall moved the Ontario Hockey League.

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 Wilfrid Laurier University.^[2] While at Laurier, 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.^[1] Following graduation, Calder returned to the pro game, playing in France, Germany, and England until retiring as a player in 1998.^[1]

Post-playing career

He is currently operating Skills Plus Hockey in Kitchener-Waterloo and Goderich. He last coached a team in 2017, the Waterloo Wolves Midget AAA team that plays in the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1979–80	Waterloo Siskins	MWJHL		42	13	36	49	33		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Waterloo Siskins	MWJHL		4	2	0	2	13		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Cornwall Royals	QMJHL		66	9	34	43	39		14	0	6	6	25
1980–81	Cornwall Royals	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		5	3	1	4	8
1981–82	Washington Capitals	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Cornwall Royals	OHL		65	12	36	48	95		5	1	7	8	6
1982–83	Washington Capitals	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Cornwall Royals	OHL		66	5	30	35	72		8	0	5	5	6
1983–84	Fort Wayne Komets	IHL		3	0	2	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Hershey Bears	AHL		68	2	6	8	50		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Wilfred Laurier University	CIAU		24	5	21	26	41		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Wilfred Laurier University	CIAU		26	5	26	31	36		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Wilfred Laurier University	CIAU		26	10	26	36	28		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	TSV Peißenberg	GER-3		25	14	27	41	56		12	5	6	11	24
1989–90	Dragons de Rouen	FRA		8	0	4	4	16		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Chamonix HC	FRA-2		20	9	6	15	40		2	1	0	1	2
1991–92	Dragons de Rouen	FRA		19	4	5	9	18		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Dragons de Rouen	FRA		33	12	18	30	52		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Dragons de Rouen	FRA		20	7	19	26	16		11	1	7	8	14
1994–95	Albatros de Brest	FRA		28	4	6	10	42		9	0	3	3	27
1995–96	Albatros de Brest	FRA		28	0	7	7	61		12	3	3	6	36
1996–97	SERC Wild Wings	DEL		4	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Manchester Storm	BISL		39	4	6	10	62		6	0	0	0	6
FRA totals				136	27	59	86	205		32	4	13	17	77
NHL totals				2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1981	Canada	WJC		5	1	0	1	4
Junior totals				5	1	0	1	4