Carter Camper

History

2007-08: Carter Camper was Miami University's second-leading scorer as a freshman with 15 goals and 26 assists in 33 games despite missing nine games with an ankle injury. The line of Camper, Hobey Baker finalist Ryan Jones (EDM), and fellow freshman Tommy Wingels (San Jose) was one of the most dangerous lines in college hockey. The RedHawks finished second behind Michigan in the CCHA regular season and advanced to the finals of both the CCHA and NCAA Northeast Regional tournaments. Camper was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. He was ranked 200 among North American skaters in the 2007 Central Scouting final rankings following his junior career with the Lincoln Stars but was not among the 210 players listed in the 2008 Final Rankings and was not selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

2008-09: Camper was a CCHA Player of the Year finalist after scoring 20 goals with 22 assists and finishing +5 with 24 PMs in 40 games for Miami as a sophomore. Camper scored 12 of his 22 goals on the power play and had 4 game-winners. After finishing in a second-place tie with Michigan during the CCHA regular season and being upset by Northern Michigan in a three-game CCHA quarterfinal series, the RedHawks regrouped in the NCAA tournament. The RedHawks reached the Frozen Four Championship game before falling to Boston University, 4-3, in overtime using a lineup that featured four sophomores among its top five scorers. Camper was not among the 210 North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings and was not selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in his final year of eligibility.

2009-10: Camper was Miami's third-leading scorer as a junior and the RedHawks were once again one of the most explosive teams in college hockey. Camper scored 15 goals with 28 assists and was +16 with 14 PMs in 44 games for the RedHawks. After finishing third in the CCHA tournament, Miami advanced to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive season with a memorable double overtime win over Michigan in the Midwest Regional final. Camper assisted on both of Miami's regulation goals in the eventual 3-2 win.

2010-11: Camper was a co-captain for Miami in his senior season and capped his college career with a career-best 38 assists as well as scoring 19 goals and finishing +12 in 39 games for the RedHawks. Nine of his 19 goals were scored on the power play and Camper also had two short-handed tallies and three game-winners. The RedHawks captured the CCHA playoff title with a 5-2 win over upstart Western Michigan but were knocked off by New Hampshire, 3-1, in the NCAA Northeast Regional tournament a week later. In April 2011 he was signed to an entry-level contract by the Bruins and Camper made his pro debut with the AHL's Providence Bruins. In three games, he scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was +2 with 2 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Camper made his NHL debut – skating in three February games for the Bruins – and was the leading scorer for Boston's AHL affiliate Providence in his first pro season. Camper scored a goal against Ottawa on his first NHL shot in the third game he played before being sent back to Providence. In 69 AHL games he scored 18 goals with 30 assists and was minus-three with 18 penalty minutes. Seven of his 18 goals were scored on the power play. Providence missed the AHL playoffs; finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division.

 

Talent Analysis

Camper is a slick, creative and extremely intelligent offensive player. A dominant point producer and Hobey Baker finalist in College, Camper has the hands to be elusive one-on-one, the vision and intelligence to read the play and make quick decisions with the puck, and a hot, accurate shot that he gets off quickly. The knock on him, the reason he was never drafted, is because he’s small and lacks elite speed.

 

Future

Camper had off-season surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of the season. He finished last year in Providence and is expected to start there and be a key cog in Providence’s offense this season.