Ryan Chesley Explained

Ryan Chesley
Birth Date:27 February 2004
Birth Place:Mahtomedi, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:195
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
League:NCAA
Team:University of Minnesota
Ntl Team:United States
Draft:37th overall
Draft Year:2022
Draft Team:Washington Capitals

Ryan Chesley (born February 27, 2004) is an American college ice hockey defenseman for the University of Minnesota of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was selected in the second round, 37th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Chesley played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, spending 2021–22 season with the under-18 team, and the 2020–21 season with the under-17 team.

On July 8, 2022, Chesley was drafted in the second round, 37th overall, by the Washington Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.[1] [2]

Chesley began his college ice hockey for the University of Minnesota during the 2022–23 season. During his freshman year he recorded two goals and eight assists in 36 games. During the 2023–24 season, in his sophomore year, he recorded two goals and six assists in 37 games. He led the league with 74 blocked shots. Following the season he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.[3] [4]

International play

Chesley first represented the United States internationally at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics, where he recorded one goal and two assists in four games and won a silver medal.[5]

The following year, he was named to Team USA for the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded one goal in five games.[6] [7] He again represented Team USA at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded two goals and three assists in six games, and won a silver medal. Team USA lost the championship game against Sweden, despite outshooting them 51–15 during the game.[8]

On December 12, 2022, Chesley was named to the national junior team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[9] During the tournament he recorded one assist in seven games and won a bronze medal.[10]

On December 16, 2023, Chesley was again named to Team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[11] Serving as an alternate captain, he recorded one goal and three assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[12] He skated on the top defensive pairing with Lane Hutson.[13] [14]

Personal life

Chesley was born to Steve and Paula Chesley. He has an older sister named Rachel.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2020–21U.S. National Development TeamUSHL27681412
2021–22U.S. National Development TeamUSHL265101545
2022–23University of MinnesotaBig Ten36281015
NCAA totals36281015

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021United StatesU185th51012
2022United StatesU186235 4
2023United StatesWJC70110
2024United StatesWJC71340
Junior totals 2547116

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Washington Capitals Draft Ryan Chesley 37th Overall . thehockeywriters.com . Devin . Little . July 8, 2022 . March 20, 2024.
  2. Web site: Capitals Select Defenseman Ryan Chesley 37th Overall in 2022 NHL Draft . nbcwashington.com . Andrew . Gillis . July 8, 2022 . March 20, 2024.
  3. Web site: Ten Gophers Earn 2023-24 B1G Postseason Honors . gophersports.com . March 19, 2024 . March 20, 2024.
  4. Web site: Gophers sophomore Ryan Chesley fits the profile of a certain NHL defenseman . . Randy . Johnson . March 15, 2024 . March 20, 2024.
  5. Web site: Men's Ice Hockey Team Secures Silver At Youth Olympic Games . https://web.archive.org/web/20200317210618/https://www.teamusa.org/News/2020/January/22/Mens-Ice-Hockey-Team-Secures-Silver-Against-Russia-At-Youth-Olympic-Games . dead . March 17, 2020 . Gabrielle . Scheder-Bieschin . teamusa.org . January 22, 2020 . March 20, 2024.
  6. Web site: IIHF U18 Men's World Championship 2021: Rosters, NHL draft status, jersey numbers for all 10 teams . Jackie . Spiegel . sportingnews.com . April 26, 2021 . March 20, 2024.
  7. Web site: Ryan Chesley Using U18 Worlds as Fuel Into Next Season . usahockeyntdp.com . July 15, 2021 . March 20, 2024.
  8. Web site: U.S. Finishes U18 Worlds With Silver Medal After Falling to Sweden, 6-4 . usahockeyntdp.com . May 1, 2022 . March 20, 2024.
  9. Web site: 2023 World Junior Championship rosters . NHL.com . Adam . Kimelman . December 12, 2022 . March 20, 2024.
  10. Web site: U.S. Wins Bronze at World Juniors With Thrilling 8-7 OT Victory Over Sweden . teamusa.usahockey.com . January 5, 2023 . March 20, 2024.
  11. Web site: Ryan Leonard and Ryan Chesley Named to 2024 U.S. National Junior Team . NHL.com . December 16, 2023 . March 20, 2024.
  12. Web site: On a global stage, a Caps prospect became a U.S. hero and a hockey heel . . Bailey . Johnson . January 9, 2024 . March 20, 2024.
  13. Web site: Capitals' Chesley, Leonard Capture Gold As USA Defeats Sweden To Close Out World Juniors; Leonard Scores Critical Late Goal . . January 5, 2024 . March 20, 2024.
  14. Web site: Capitals see glimpse of future at world junior championship . . Stephen . Whyno . January 10, 2024 . March 20, 2024.
  15. Web site: Ryan Chesley Bio . gophersports.com . March 20, 2024.
  16. Web site: Big Ten Conference Announces Hockey Postseason Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20240319162317/https://bigten.org/news/2024/3/14/mens-ice-hockey-big-ten-conference-announces-hockey-postseason-awards.aspx . dead . March 19, 2024 . BigTen.org . . March 19, 2024 . March 20, 2024.