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.

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. 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 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. 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. Following graduation, Calder returned to the pro game, playing in France, Germany, and England until retiring as a player in 1998.

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 seasonPlayoffs 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 Wilfrid Laurier University CIAU 24 5 21 26 41 — — — — — 1986–87 Wilfrid Laurier University CIAU 26 5 26 31 36 — — — — — 1987–88 Wilfrid 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