Neil Eisenhut Explained

Position:Centre
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:195
Birth Date:February 9, 1967
Birth Place:Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada
Career Start:1991
Career End:2003
Draft:233rd overall
Draft Year:1987
Draft Team:Vancouver Canucks
Played For:Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames

Neil R. Eisenhut (born February 9, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent parts of two seasons in the National Hockey League in the mid-1990s.

Eisenhut was born in Osoyoos, British Columbia. He was selected 233rd overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, following which he spent four seasons at the University of North Dakota. At North Dakota, he played alongside a slew of fellow Canuck draft picks (Dixon Ward, Dane Jackson, Garry Valk, and Jason Herter) who would also be future teammates in pro hockey.

Turning pro in 1991, Eisenhut was assigned to the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL. He would toil in the minors in Vancouver's system for the next three years, earning a positive reputation for his character and leadership, and serving as captain of the Hamilton Canucks. In 1992–93, he had his best minor-league season, recording 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points with Hamilton. In 1993–94, he finally received a taste of NHL action, recording a goal and 4 points in a 13-game callup to the Canucks.

Eisenhut signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames for the 1994–95 season, and had another brief NHL stint, appearing in three games for the Flames. After spending two more years in the AHL, primarily with the Binghamton Rangers, Eisenhut signed in Germany in 1997. He would spend a successful six seasons in the DEL with the Krefeld Penguins and DEG Metro Stars before retiring in 2003.

Following his retirement, Eisenhut became a financial advisor and currently works in that position for RBC in Kelowna, BC. He also continued to play senior amateur hockey, helping the Powell River Regals to the Allan Cup in 2006.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1984–85Langley EaglesBCJHL
1984–85Merritt CentennialsBCJHL17 10 14 24 6
1985–86Penticton KnightsBCJHL13 2 6 8 10
1986–87Langley EaglesBCJHL43 41 34 75 28
1987–88North Dakota Fighting SiouxWCHA42 12 20 32 14
1988–89North Dakota Fighting SiouxWCHA41 22 16 38 26
1989–90North Dakota Fighting SiouxWCHA45 22 32 54 46
1990–91North Dakota Fighting SiouxWCHA20 9 15 24 10
1991–92Milwaukee AdmiralsIHL76 13 23 36 262 1 2 3 0
1992–93Hamilton CanucksAHL72 22 40 62 41
1993–94Hamilton CanucksAHL60 17 36 53 304 1 4 5 0
1993–94Vancouver CanucksNHL13 1 3 4 21
1994–95Saint John FlamesAHL75 16 39 55 305 1 1 2 6
1994–95Calgary FlamesNHL3 0 0 0 0
1995–96Orlando Solar BearsIHL59 10 18 28 30
1995–96Binghamton RangersAHL10 3 3 6 24 3 2 5 0
1996–97Flint GeneralsCoHL21 10 33 43 205 1 4 5 8
1996–97Binghamton RangersAHL55 25 26 51 164 1 2 3 0
1997–98Krefeld PinguineDEL35 9 8 17 1210 1 7 8 6
1998–99Krefeld PinguineDEL46 18 25 43 694 1 1 2 8
1999–00Krefeld PinguineDEL52 10 27 37 464 0 2 2 10
2000–01Krefeld PinguineDEL59 12 16 28 38
2001–02Düsseldorfer EGDEL48 11 22 33 67
2002–03Düsseldorfer EGDEL52 6 11 17 265 2 0 2 2
NHL totals16 1 3 4 21
IHL totals135 23 41 64 562 1 2 3 0
AHL totals272 83 144 227 11917 6 9 15 6
DEL totals292 66 109 175 25823 4 10 14 26

Notes and References

  1. News: WCHA Tourney History. WCHA. 2014-06-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20180822214038/http://www.wcha.com/men/tourney/history.php. 2018-08-22. dead.