Next up in our annual prospect review and forecast series is Chase Clark, goaltender for Quinnipiac University. (You can access all of our Capitals Prospect Reports and player analysis on our “Prospects” page in the top menu or right here.)

VITALS

Clark, 21, is a 6’-6” right-handed goaltender from Williamsville, New York. He was drafted by the Capitals in the sixth round (#183 overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He  committed to Quinnipiac beginning with the 2022-23 season and remains unsigned by the Capitals.

CAREER SUMMARY

Clark was born and raised in Pendleton, NY, attending Starpoint School until the sixth grade. According to NY Hockey Online, prior to beginning his career in organized hockey, Chase began skating on a pond near his Pendleton home.

In 2014 the Clark family moved to Williamsville where he attended Transit Road Middle School and Williamsville East High School. Following his first year with the Wheatfield Blades, he played House I select for the Blades the following season.

The highlight for Chase in his early years came in the 2017-18 season when he was selected to play in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) prospects game (the GTHL’s All-Star event). Out of the 24 goalies in the league, Chase was one of four selected for the game.

Not only did he play, but he was selected MVP of the contest, a game in which Don Cherry dropped the ceremonial opening faceoff and presented the MVP Award to Chase. To top it off, Cherry not only mentioned the GTHL as well as Chase, but a photo of Cherry and Chase (left) was shown on the “Coaches Corner” weekly broadcast.

Photo: New York Hockey Online/Randy Schultz

“That was really pretty cool,” remarked Chase. “But to be mentioned by him on “Coaches Corner,” that really was cool.”

Clark played the 2018-19 season with the Buffalo Regals of the GOJHL and the 2019-20 season with the Buffalo Junior Sabres of the OJHL (Ontario Junior Hockey League). His record for the Junior Sabres in the 2019-20 season was 12-8-1 in 24 games.

A concussion suffered during camp with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers cost Clark a roster spot and forced him to find a new team for the 2020-21 season. This led Clark to join the Jersey Hitmen of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), where he proved to NHL scouts that he had the talent to be considered a future pro.

Clark played 22 games for the Hitmen in 2020-21, posting a record of 18-2-1, with three shutouts, a 1.92 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. He helped the Hitmen win the Dineen Cup.

In two games of the championship series, Clark stopped 49 of 51 shots and won both games. The Jersey Hitmen were also the regular season champions, winning the Founders Cup for the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). Clark’s 2020-21 season ultimately garnered him a selection by the Capitals in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Photo: Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

The 2021-22 season saw Clark begin the season with the Tri-City Storm, where he dealt with injuries in the first half of the season. The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced on February 8 that the club had acquired Clark from Tri-City in exchange for draft picks. Clark appeared in seven games with the Storm, with a 4-2-1 record, a 2.51 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Clark appeared in 13 regular season games and nine post season games with the Lumberjacks.

Clark participated in the Capitals development camp in July of 2022, but did not participate in the Capitals rookie or training camps held in September. It was good that Clark got to spend a few days with Capitals goaltending coaches. Oli Kolzig spoke well of Clark on the development scrimmage game broadcast, and also noted he was impressive and a very raw talent. [More here].

The 2022-23 season was Clark’s freshman year at Quinnipiac. Clark’s role for a majority of the season was backup to Bobcats’ ace netminder Yaniv Perets. Perets posted a 1.17 goals against average during the 2021-22 season, which broke the NCAA record of NHL All-Star Jimmy Howard (1.19), who set the record with Maine in 2004. While Clark’s season was mostly observing, he was observing one of the NCAA’s best netminders.

For the season, Clark played in eight games, all in relief, for a total of 78:29 time on ice. He made a total of 21 saves on 25 shots faced for a .840 save percentage and had a goals against average of 3.06.

2022-2023 MONTH-BY-MONTH RECAP AND TREND ANALYSIS

The following is a compilation of our month-by-month prospect reports for Chase Clark during the 2022-2023 season. Also included are his monthly scores (0-5, with 2.5 being average). You can find all of our monthly prospect reports on our “Prospects” page in the top menu.

OCTOBER

It was reported in September that Clark, who did not participate in Capitals rookie camp or main training camp, was dealing with “injuries” in the lead up to the Quinnipiac season. It should be added that the Capitals, for the most part, did not invite college prospects to either of the September camps.

According to Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold in today’s ECAC preseason media call, freshman goaltender and Capitals draft pick Chase Clark has dealt with some injuries in the buildup to the season. #ECACHockey #ALLCAPS

— Cameron Levasseur (@c_levasseurr) September 21, 2022

Clark played in relief of primary goaltender Yaniv Perets during the games on October 22 and 23 against Maine, playing 2:55 in the first game and 2:10 in the second. He made four saves in the second game.

Monthly Score: 2.5

NOVEMBER

Clark and Quinnipiac traveled to Belfast, Ireland for the Friendship Four at the end of the third week of November.

Clark, a Freshman, saw no game action for November. The only games he has played so far this season were two relief appearances in October.

Again, he is a backup to Yaniv Perets, who has appeared as the starting goaltender in every game thus far for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats.

Monthly Score: 2.5

DECEMBER

Clark continues to learn the collegiate game in a backup to star netminder Yaniv Perets. Clark saw action on December 9th, mop-up duty, in a big blowout win for the Bobcats. He logged 28:21 of ice time, stopping 8 of 10 shots he faced in his 3rd collegiate appearance.

Clark also saw action on December 10 against Union. He logged 4:04 of ice time, stopping both shots he faced.

For the season, Clark has logged 37:30 of ice time in four appearances. He has made 14 saves out of 16 shots, giving him a save percentage of .875 and a goals against average of 3.20.

Monthly Score: 2.5

JANUARY

Clark appeared in one game during the month of January. He came in relief for Quinnipiac’s number one netminder, Yaniv Perets, on January 20 against Cornell, a game that Quinnipiac ultimately lost 4-0. Clark played 13:10 in the game. He gave up one goal and made two saves.

For the season, Clark has appeared in five games, starting none of them. He has played a total of 50:40. He has made 16 saves and given up three goals. His save percentage is .842 and his goals against average is 3:55.

Monthly Score: 2.5

FEBRUARY

Clark appeared in two games for Quinnipiac University during the month of February, both in relief. On February 17, in a 5-1 win over Yale, Clark played 4:58 in relief of Yaniv Peretz, but faced no shots.

On February 18, Clark played 20 minutes in 5-2 victory over Brown University. In those 20 minutes, he made five saves and gave up one goal. The game was the team’s final home game of the 2022-23 season and the victory allowed them to clinch their third consecutive Cleary Cup Championship.

For the month, Clark played in two games for a total of 14:58, faced six shots and saved five of them. For the regular season, he’splayed in seven games, all in relief, for a total of 75:38. He made 21 saves and allowed 4 goals for a save percentage of .840 and a goals against average of 3.17. He was not credited with any wins or losses.

Quinnipiac’s next hockey action will take place at the ECAC Hockey Quarter finals which begin on Friday March 10 and will continue through March 12.

Monthly Score: 2.5

MARCH

Quinnipiac University finished first in the ECAC and earned a first round bye for the ECAC playoffs.

The Bobcats then beat Yale 3-0 on March 10 and beat them 6-2 on March 11, thus advancing to the Semi-Finals against Colgate University.  Clark appeared in the game on March 11 where he played 2:51 and did not make any saves or give up any goals.

The Bobcats fell in the ECAC Semi-Finals to Colgate University but earned an “at-large” berth and played as the top seed in the Bridgeport Regional against Merrimack University on March 14, beating them 5-0. They next faced Ohio State in the Bridgeport Regional Finals on March 26 and beat them 4-1, advancing to the Frozen Four in Tampa. Clark did not play at all in the Bridgeport regionals as the team’s number one goaltender, Yaniv Perets, played in all the games.

For the season, Clark has played in eight games, all in relief. He has played a total of 78:29. He has made a total of 21 saves out of 25 shots for a .840 save percentage and has a goals against average of 3.06.

Monthly Score: 3.0

APRIL

Clark’s team, the Quinnipiac Bobcats, won the Bridgeport Regional Finals and advanced to the Final Four at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Clark did not play in the Frozen Four Semifinal game on April 5 where the Bobcats beat the Michigan Wolverines 6-2 or in their Frozen Four Final game on April 7 when the Bobcats beat Ryan Chesley and the Minnesota Golden Gophers 3-2. Yaniv Perets, the team’s number one goalie, played in both those games.

Perets has now signed a contract with the Carolina Hurricanes which will give Clark more opportunities to play for Quinnipiac in 2023-24.

For the season, Clark has played in eight games, all in relief. He has played a total of 78:29. He has made a total of 21 saves out of 25 shots for a .840 save percentage and has a goals against average of 3.06.

Monthly Score: 3.0

MONTHLY SCORE SUMMARY

PLAYER FORECAST

In an era of big goalies, currently at 6’-6”, Clark will provide just that, and is currently the tallest netminder in the Capitals organization. According to the Buffalo News, Clark grew two inches in the summer of 2020 alone, so he may not be done growing.

Clark should be fighting for the number one netminder position this fall at Quinnipiac, now that Yaniv Perets has signed with Carolina, leaving the number one spot open.

UPDATE: Clark transferred from Quinnipiac University to Sacred Heart University on May 5.

By Jon Sorensen

RELATED READING
Fueled’ by longer wait, Williamsville’s Chase Clark drafted by Washington Capitals
The Capitals Select Goaltender Chase Clark In The Sixth Round Of The 2021 NHL Entry Draft
Amherst Bee: Capitals Draft Williamsville’s Clark Chase in Sixth Round
Buffalo News: Buffalo Jr. Sabres Alum Chase Clark of Williamsville Drafted by Washington Capitals
Elite Prospects Profile: Chase Clark
Jersey Hitmen Website