Claimed: Chase Keller Biography

[Kendrick 4,741]

Chase Keller

Center

Kitchener Rangers

Pleasant Camp, B.C.

6'2" - 202 lbs.

 

Born in Pleasant Camp, British Columbia; Chase Keller really had no one to lean on for his hockey inspiration. His family had no history of playing the game outside of road hockey pick-up games. That didn't stop this young lad though as he drifted towards playing hockey from a young age. Pleasant Camp is home to 12 people in peak season and therefore there are not many kids to grow up playing hockey with. Luckily for Keller there were two other kids in his neighbourhood who liked to play and good thing; because they were the only other two kids living in Pleasant Camp while Keller grew up. One of the kids prided himself on playing goaltender every day, while the other little kid said she just loved to be a playmaker. it was quite the bond these three kids shared considering the low population in this small place. With the closest big city/town in Alaska, Pleasant Camp is very remote.

 

 

There isn't much to do in Pleasant Camp if you're a kid. The main purpose of the little town (if you can call it that) is to provide Alaska with a customs post for mail and for border entry. Because of that Keller had to go elsewhere if he wanted to play hockey at a young age and continue his journey to the professional ranks. That's where the family connections actually did come into play. Keller's family originally came form the eastern side of the country in Waterloo, Ontario. Chase decided if he wanted to play hockey he had to go live with relatives out east and continue on with a OHL squad. The Kitchener Rangers came calling in the U-18 OHL Priority Selection draft. The Rangers spent a 7th round selection on grabbing the young British Columbia native. With his Aunt and Uncle on board and getting him to practice on time everyday, he started his journey with the OHL franchise.

 

 

 

As a seventeen year old Keller had the advantage of becoming an OHL under-age prospect with the Kitchener Rangers. The franchise was big on the young but tall centerman. Keller was bigger than the kids his age and an early growth spurt gave him a huge advantage over kids his age, but not so much the ones a little older. His first year with the Rangers was a bit of an advantage as it was filled with injuries, press box watching and team events to become familiar with the pressure of being an OHL player.

 

Pleasant Camp to Kitchener is a about a 3500 mile drive one-way, so it was a long way from home for a young seventeen year old boy. Luckily with his family on board and his Uncle encouraging him every step of the way, he started a career.

 

Season 1 (Reg. Season): 12 GP, 2G, 3A, 5P, 14 Hits, 47.4 FO%

 

The off-season going into his second season was a huge one for Keller. Chase added about 15 pounds to his frame and came out to all the team workout sessions. With the guidance of coaching and the direction from scouts, Keller tried to groom himself whether it was from Kitchener or when he returned to see his parents in Pleasant Camp for a few weeks at a time. The added pounds gave Keller some more confidence heading into his second season with the Kitchener Rangers.

 

Season 2 (Reg. Season): 53 GP, 13G - 14A - 27P, 54 Hits, 53.7 FO%

 

After a pretty successful year as an eighteen year-old, Keller was starting to get some scouts looking at his game. Unfortunately the scouts were pegging him as a perfect checking line forward at the next level. Keller had heard the noise of a checking forward and he gasped as he wanted to be more than that. Going into his NHL draft year he figured they may take notice that he had more in the tank. Keller was passed over in the draft by all NHL teams a few times until the Minnesota Wild selected him in the 5th round, 147th overall. With a pro career in the horizon, Keller went back to Kitchener to build his resume and gain some much needed experience.

 

Season 3 (Reg. Season): 64 GP, 32G - 51A - 83P, 101 Hits, 55.2 FO%

 

A huge year for Chase Keller as he headed back to the Rangers and put up some great numbers. Centering the top line did him wonders and teamed with Jeremy Bracco he had a very productive year. The Minnesota faithful were very happy with the season unfortunately they couldn't ink a deal with Keller because they had two many contracts signed and thus missed the deadline to extend an offer to Keller's party. Keller would go into the next NHL draft if he wanted too. Luckily his numbers were better this time and it looked like he would become an earlier pick. Unfortunately scouts didn't think he was a product of talent but a product of his line mates and they passed on him in every round; eventually meaning he went undrafted.

 

 

Coming from a very unknown place in British Columbia, Chase Keller knew it would take a lot to get noticed from a young age. The move to Ontario was huge for exposure and his development. Keller knew he would have to make a huge choice to go across the country when he was young or risk never making it out of Pleasant Camp. Most people go to Juneau for hockey where the Alaska Aces were situated. Keller chose a different route and it almost worked from him in the NHL. A contract mix up and the Wild couldn't hold onto the future services of Keller. Now he starts his progression towards the Victory Hockey League and a career with one of the ten teams that make up that league. First though, he had a stop over in Ottawa to play for the Lynx.

 

NHL Comparison: Austin Watson/Jeff Carter