Blueliner Chesley leaves Minnesota, indicators professional contract with Washington group

The AHL’s Hershey Bears have signed Minnesota junior defenseman Ryan Chesley to an newbie tryout settlement for the rest of the 2024-25 season.

Chesley served as one of many captains of the Golden Gophers this previous yr, scoring a career-best 20 factors (eight targets, 12 assists) in 40 video games, rating third on the membership in scoring amongst defenders. He blocked 73 photographs, was a personal-best plus-17, was named to the all-Large Ten honorable point out workforce, and helped Minnesota to a bid within the NCAA event.

The Mahtomedi, Minn., native earned all-Large Ten second workforce honors in 2023-24, scoring eight factors (two targets, six assists) in 39 video games.

In his freshman season in 2022-23, he helped the Gophers to a Large Ten regular-season title and a runner-up end on the Frozen 4.

In his NCAA profession, Chesley scored 38 factors (12 targets, 26 assists) and was plus-34 in 115 video games, serving to the Gophers to 2 Large Ten regular-season titles and three NCAA event appearances. He blocked 202 photographs over his three years at Minnesota.

Chesley represented the USA twice on the IIHF World Junior Championships, successful bronze in 2023 and gold in 2024. He served as an alternate captain within the 2024 event, scoring 4 factors (objective, three assists).

Chesley was chosen by the Capitals within the second spherical (thirty seventh general) within the 2022 NHL Draft.