Eric Calder
Eric Calder 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 [NHL season|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.