Greg Chase

History

2009-10: Greg Chase skated for the Sherwood Park Flyers bantam AAA team in Alberta. In 38 games, including five playoff contests, he scored 47 goals with 45 goals and had 74 penalty minutes. Chase was selected by Calgary in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.

2010-11: Chase made his WHL debut with Calgary as a 16-year-old and competed for Team Alberta in the 2011 Canada Winter Games in addition to playing for the J. Ennis Kings midget AAA team in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He played in three games with the Hitmen in January and two more in March; finishing with an even plus/minus with no points and 6 penalty minutes in five games. Chase scored 24 goals with 15 assists and 64 penalty minutes in 30 regular season games for the Kings. Sherwood Park reached the division finals after finishing fourth in the Dodge Division in the regular season. Chase scored 7 goals with 3 assists and had 36 penalty minutes in 12 playoff games. In five games at the CWG he scored 3 goals with 2 assists and had 12 penalty minutes as Team Alberta captured a bronze medal.

2011-12: Chase played 60 games for the Hitmen in his first WHL season and represented Canada Pacific in the 2012 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Chase scored 6 goals with 22 assists and was +2 with 41 penalty minutes. Calgary finished second to WHL champion Edmonton in the Central Division and reached the playoffs. Chase scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was -1 with 11 penalty minutes in the five game series with Brandon. In five games with Canada Pacific at the WHC he scored 1 goal with 5 assists and 8 penalty minutes.

2012-13: Chase was the fourth-leading scorer for Calgary; one of the WHL’s top teams. He scored 17 goals with 32 assists in 69 games and was +11 with 58 penalty minutes. Calgary finished second to Edmonton in the Central Division and took the Oil Kings to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals. Chase scored 3 goals with 7 assists and was +1 with 24 penalty minutes in 17 playoff games. Ranked 153rd in Central Scouting’s final rankings, he was selected by Edmonton in the seventh round (188th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.

2013-14: Chase signed a three-year entry-level contract with Edmonton in September 2013 before returning to the Calgary Hitmen for his third WHL season and made his pro debut with Oilers’ AHL affiliate Oklahoma City in April following the WHL playoffs. He scored 1 goal and was +1 with 4 penalty minutes in five regular season games with the Barons. Oklahoma City finished third in the West Division before being swept by eventual Calder Cup champion Texas in a first round series. Chase did not see any action in the playoffs. He tied overage forward Brady Brassart (Minnesota) for the scoring lead for the Hitmen with 35 goals and 50 assists and was +29 with 83 penalty minutes in 70 regular season games. Tied with the eventual Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings with 103 points in the regular season, the Hitmen finished first in the Central Division based on more wins. Chase scored 4 goals with 5 assists and was +1 with 2 penalty minutes as Kootenay defeated Calgary in a six-game first round playoff series. 

2014-15: Chase attended his second training camp with the Oilers — signing a three-year entry-level contract with Edmonton in September 2014 — before returning to the Calgary Hitmen for his fourth WHL season. He began the year with the Hitmen before being acquired by Victoria in exchange for defenseman Keegan Kanzig (Calgary) in November 2014. Chase joined the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons following the WHL playoffs, skating in four playoff games. He had 1 assist and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes for the Barons. In 15 games with the Hitmen prior to the trade he score 2 goals with 13 assists and was +2 with 20 penalty minutes. Chase scored 18 goals in 46 regular season games with Victoria and was +4 with 26 assists and 39 penalty minutes. He was the Royals’ second-leading scorer in the playoffs behind overage forward Brandon Magee, scoring 7 goals with 4 assists in 10 playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Chase is an agitating forward who has strong hockey sense and a bit of offensive flair. He’s big with good foot speed and never backs down from a tough battle in the gritty areas of the ice. He’s tough to knock off the puck, has good hands and sees the ice well. His on-ice attitude is often a bone of contention for some, but his intriguing offensive upside and raw talent make him a somewhat of a hidden gem for the Oilers as a former late round draft pick.

Future

Chase is in his first pro season in 2015-16, beginning the year with new Oilers' AHL affiliate Bakersfield before being assigned to the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals. Skating in a lower line role for the Condors and a frequent healthy scratch before being assigned to Norfolk, he has been a point-per-game scorer in the ECHL and the added ice time should help in his long-term development. Chase projects as an agitating, hard-to-play-against forward with some scoring ability but is far from NHL-ready at this point.