Name: Chase Keller
Position: Center
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Hometown: Pleasant Camp, British Columbia (Population 12)
CHL Junior Team: Kitchener Rangers
Chase Keller is a new intriguing prospect who is quietly putting together a solid pre-draft resume before the VHL has a crack at the young kid. The young Canadian recently declared eligible for the VHL Draft and quickly got snatched up by the Ottawa Lynx. His game features a ton of offensive upside but also a stellar skill in the face-off circle. Keller is a dynamic player with a good ability to pot the biscuit but also slide some apples to his teammates. A big framed player who uses his reach to exploit the opposition and slide his way into the high traffic area. Keller won't be a huge physical presence but he does provide stability down the middle. Keller's game reminds scouts a lot of Jeff Carter (Los Angeles Kings) or Austin Watson (Nashville Predators). The leadership qualities he shows thus far have been quite impressive and given his position within the Ottawa Lynx lineup, you'll probably see him provide a bit more of a spark to their squad.
Keller never grew up in a huge hockey location so his knowledge of the game really doesn't go beyond the Saturday night CBC broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada. He does however see the game from a coaches perspective because he always re-watches games to get in the mind of each player. With a very small population in his hometown, it created many opportunities to study hockey. Believe it or not he grew up with two other kids in Pleasant Camp and that was it. Of course both those other kids had to be interested in hockey because it's either that or you don't play with anyone else in the neighbourhood. Keller and his family had no prior ties to the game of hockey and despite his uncle once playing roller hockey back in the 80's, Chase's immediate family has never really even tapped into the sport.
Before declaring for the VHL and becoming an Ottawa Lynx player, Chase played two seasons with the Kitchener Rangers of the Canadian Hockey League in Juniors. Some may marvel why a kid so far wets in Canada went to a team in the Ontario based league. Keller's relatives live in Kitchener and the local team took a flyer that he would come out east to stay with them while he was playing junior hockey. Kitchener selected Keller in the Bantam Draft and he made his debut at the young age of sixteen. Chase had a productive career at Kitchener because his body was more developed than some of the other kids his age who played junior hockey in the CHL. Keller loved dawning the Rangers jersey and he found a new appreciation for the New York Rangers because of it. Keller has admitted that he isn't a New York Rangers fan though; he is in fact a Vancouver Canucks fan because they are the closest team to his hometown.
Strengths
Hockey IQ: Keller provides any lineup with a very smart player and someone who is proactive rather than reactive. Keller has played for his country and his dependable style in all three areas of the game is what sets him apart. Chase's biggest advantage is that he studies the game thoroughly and is always watching tape on his opponents. Chase sets himself up nicely for the upcoming matchups with other teams.
Passing Vision: Keller's vision sets him apart from his teammates because he also is aware of where everyone is on the ice when he is on it. Keller's line mates often have their stats inflated because of the fact they will have some easy tap in tallies.
Strength: Although Keller is not overly physical he does possess some size that allows him to get into the corners and fish the puck out. The advantage in this is that with his passing skills he can pick out a pass from anywhere on the ice. The slot opportunities come a plenty for this big centerman because he uses his frame to shield off defending players.
Weaknesses
Checking: Although he is not a liability in his own end, he isn't exactly someone you send out to kill every penalty on the first unit. Keller tends to cheat a little in the slot in his own end and at times he can give up the great chance to the opponent.
Puck Handling: Do not expect a Datsyuk-ian deke coming from Chase Keller anytime soon. Keller is not someone who has dangles up his sleeves and won't provide you with a "pylon" moment for your defenders. Furthermore you are not going to see any highlight reel TSN decks coming off of him. Keller is a blue paint to blue paint player and he will skate through you instead of dancing around you any chance he gets.
Fighting: Is this considered a weakness? Keller has never gotten into a fight in his junior career with the Kitchener Rangers. He also has never participated in a fight before that. It is safe to say you won't be getting a player who sits himself in the penalty box with a fighting major any time soon. That being said, apparently Keller does know how to defend himself as he has trained with former Canadian UFC fighter Rory McDonald in the off-season.
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