Cheslock Sizes Up his Future | FEATURE

June 29 started like any other day in the life of Chase Cheslock.

The Rogers, Minnesota native went through his normal routine. He had just arrived at his job - working in a warehouse for a Tech company - when everything changed.

"I had just gotten into work and my phone blew up," Cheslock said. "My agent called me and said I got drafted by the Devils."

And that's when this ordinary day became extraordinary.

"I told the receptionist that I wasn't going to be able to work today and went back home," Cheslock laughed. Luckily, the employer was more than understanding.

After all, the 18-year-old defenseman was selected by New Jersey in the fifth round (154th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft held in Nashville, Tenn. And even though he was scheduled to work, he needed to celebrate.

"I had to go home and talk to the family and let them all know. I just went home and did it in person," he said. "I'm sure they were watching the TV and I wanted to see the reactions on their faces."

The Rogers High School upper classman was greeted at home by the faces of his parents and younger brother Brock.

"Everyone in the family had worked so hard and helped me along the way," he said, "and they were just as emotional as I was."

Cheslock posted four goals and 31 points for Rogers during Minnesota High School hockey competition in 2022-23. He also skated with the United States National Team Development Program and the Omaha Lancers of the USHL.

With his rangeband size - 6-foot-3, 207 pounds - it's easy to see why the Devils would covet a player like Cheslock, who compared his style of play to that of Boston's Brandon Carlo.

"I'm a big, long defenseman. I try to keep things simple," he said. "When I'm playing well, I'm playing really simple. I'm making the first play and using my size well in transition and helping out on the defensive side of things, but I can get up on the play and make something happen here and there."

Cheslock was one of several of the team's prospects that attended the club's Development Camp in early-mid July. While there, he was able to work with Meghan Duggan, Director, Player Development, and Eric Weinrich, Player Development Coach.
"They're geniuses in the game. It's their job but they love it just as much as we do," Cheslock said. "That's the best part. They're going to put as much time into making us better as we are at putting into ourselves. Megan, 'Wino,' they've been as happy as me out there and that's good to see. I just love stepping on the ice in New Jersey."

Although he had been drafted two weeks prior, his selection didn't set in until he attended the camp.

"It didn't feel real until I got off the plane in Newark and then I got here," he said during the camp. "It's nothing I've never experienced before. It was super cool. All the facilities are super nice. It's a great organization. I'm super fortunate to be a part of it."

Cheslock will take notes from the coaches before returning to Omaha next season. After which, he'll attend the University of St. Thomas. And he's hoping to take some of the lessons from development camp with him.

"Using my feet, being quicker on my agility, playing in tight," he said of areas of his game he needs to improve. "As you get up and up in levels, guys are such good skaters. You have to be good on your edges, you have to be good in tight, especially as a big guy you have to be able to control your body and control your edges. That's something I'm looking to work on."

But while he needs to refine his game as a big guy, it's teachable. What isn't teachable is size. You either have it, or you don't. And Cheslock certainly has it.

"Pretty natural, my length, my reach," he said. "I have a pretty good defensive stick. I look to use that to break up plays and create transition offense. I think that's the biggest component of my game."