Carter Camper: 2015-16 Season in Review

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Carter Camper came into the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs as an odd-man-out. After struggling to keep his spot in the lineup in January and February, a nine-game playoff point streak erased all doubt Hershey fans had in the 5-foot-9 forward.

After scoring in six of seven playoff games against Wilkes-Barre, Camper’s playoff heroics shined 9:09 into overtime of game two of the Eastern Conference Finals. As the puck bounced all over the ice in overtime, there was one bounce that put the Marlies in a 2-0 series hole. Luckily for Hershey, that puck bounced right onto Camper’s stick to send the Bears to Toronto with a major series lead.

How he got here:
Camper joined Hershey as a free agent after a huge season in Binghamton. Scoring 52 points in 75 games with the B-Sens, the former Miami RedHawk reunited with two former teammates of his from his time in Providence: Chris Bourque and Mike Moore. Midway through the 2013-14 season, Camper was sent to the Springfield where he played 26 games in the regular season and five in the playoffs for the Falcons.

During the offseason of 2015, Washington was able to pick up the Rocky River, OH native nice skill set. But a problem would arise late in the season due to the fact Camper fell under the title of a veteran under the AHL’s developmental rule. Not only that, but he was a veteran on a team with a ton of other veterans. Camper did play 64 games this season, while being scratched nine times as the veteran scratch and three with an injury. This still didn’t stop Camper from producing as he put up nine goals and 25 assists during the regular season. When playoffs rolled around, though, Camper’s game went up to another level. In 21 postseason appearances, he was able to produce a line of 6-11-17, good enough for second in playoff scoring.

Linemates:
Camper centered a line with Nathan Walker and Riley Barber or Dustin Gazley in the playoffs. After Barber would sit out most of the Toronto series, his return in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals would be huge as Camper’s linemates would set up the eventual game-winning-goal to send the Bears to the Calder Cup Finals. Gazley saw time on the same line as Walker and Camper during the playoffs, mostly in the Wilkes-Barre and beginning of Toronto series. Camper also centered a line with Jakub Vrana and Sean Collins. No matter who Camper was with, the line seemed to work. The biggest point to this was the powerplay. The powerplay may not have been the most effective this season, however, the play he brought to this year’s team was a very nice add.

Memorable performance: Overtime goal, Game 2 of Eastern Conference Finals vs. Toronto – May 20.

Contract status:
Camper will become an unrestricted free agent come July 1st. He still qualifies as a veteran under AHL rules.

Carter Camper on Chocolate Hockey:

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