Position: D (Shoots Left)
Birthdate: Jan 17, 1985 (29 years old)
Birthplace: Mississauga, Ontario
Height: 6’2” Weight: 220 lbs
Jersey Number: #23
2002/2003 – Mississauga Chargers – OPJHL
Jeff Caister got his start in the hockey world as a 17 year old in the Junior A hockey in the OPJHL. It would be very brief, as he only played 1 game that season as a defenseman, going pointless. This season current Blast teammate Chris Rebernik also played for the Chargers as a 16 year old, but only played a minimal amount of games too, suiting up in 10.
2003/2004-2005/2006 – Milton Icehawks – OPJHL
Caister with the Milton Icehawks of the OPJHL
It would be the next season where Jeff would be able to let his skills shine as an 18 year old rookie, this time playing with the Milton Icehawks in the OPJHL. He became known as quite the offensive defenseman during this season as he finished 5th in team points with 5 goals, and added 29 assists for 34 points in only 49 games a rookie D-Man.
In his sophomore season in 2004/2005 with the Icehawks, Casiter’s value continued to increase as an effective offensive force on the blueline. He finished 4th in team scoring with a career high 11 goals, and 39 assists for 50 points in 49 games. He also played on the same team as two young phenoms, a 13 year old John Tavares, and a 15 year old Sam Gagner.
The next season in 2005/2006 would be Caister’s last in Junior hockey. He once again played for the Icehawks and would go on to record his personal career best in points this season. The 20 year old scored 11 goals and added a career best 47 assists for 58 points in only 49 games, once again finishing 4th in team scoring. He also played with current Philadelphia Flyers forward Matt Read, who lead the team in scoring.
Caister concluded his OPJHL career with 142 points (27 goals, 115 assists) in 148 games (0.96 points-per-game), adding 166 PIM.
2006/2007-2007/2008 – Wayne State University Warriors – NCAA Division I
After closing out his Junior career, Caister headed across the border to Detroit, Michigan to play for the Wayne State University Warriors, who played in the College Hockey America (CHA) Conference. Caister had an effective freshmen year with the Warriors, finishing 8th in team scoring with 2 goals and 14 assists in 35 games. His play earned him a spot on the All-CHA Rookie Team.
In his sophomore season and final year with the Warriors before the ice hockey program was terminated, Caister improved even more. He scored 3 goals and chipped in 28 assists for 31 points in only 38 games. He served as an Assistant Captain this season. His play also earned him a spot on the CHA First All Star-Team.
2008/2009-2009/2010 – St Lawrence University Saints – NCAA Division I/South Carolina Stingrays – ECHL
Caister with St. Lawerence University
After Wayne State University shut down their men’s ice hockey program, Caister would head to Canton, NY to play for the St. Lawerence University Saints in NCAA Division I ice hockey. He played in 37 games his first year with the Saints and got 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists), playing on the same team as current Chicago Blackhawk Brandon Bollig. The team would lose in their Conference Semi Finals and fail to make the NCAA Frozen Four Tournament.
In 2009/2010, Caister began his final season in the NCAA before turning pro briefly following the college hockey season. He finished 9th in team scoring with 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 42 games. That concluded Caister’s College hockey days as he finished with 152 games played in the NCAA, scoring 13 goals and adding 61 assists for 74 points (0.49 points-per-game). He would earn the Terry Slater Perseverance Award this season for dedication to the sport of ice hockey.
After the college hockey season that year in 2010, Caister signed on with the South Carolina Stingrays of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) to get his first taste of professional ice hockey. He would only play 4 games in the regular season, failing to receive a point. He added 5 games in the playoffs, and received his first professional hockey points, collecting 2 assists for the Stingrays that spring.
2010/2011 – South Carolina Stingrays/Victoria Salmon Kings – ECHL
Caister with the Stingrays (top) and the Salmon Kings (bottom) of the ECHL in his first full season of pro hockey
Caister started the 2010/2011 season with the Stingrays again, but would only play in 8 games, failing to receive a point, before being traded to the now defunct Victoria Salmon Kings (affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks) for future considerations. He would play 46 games with the Salmon Kings and score 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists). The team would get swept in the Conference Finals, and fold after the conclusion of the season. Caister added 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) in 12 playoff games that spring.
2011/2012 – Greenville Road Warriors – ECHL
Caister with the Road Warriors in 2011
The next season in 2011 after the Stingrays folded, Caister would move on to play for the Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL. He scored 3 goals and 23 assists for 26 points in 69 games with the team, in which would be his final season in North American pro hockey. He added 1 assist in 3 playoff games.
He closed out the ECHL chapter of his career with 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 127 games, adding 101 PIM. He also added 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 20 playoff games.
2012/2013 – Fife Flyers – EIHL
Caister with the Fife Flyers in 2012, as he suited up in his final season of professional hockey before retiring
Caister would end up heading overseas to Scotland to play for the oldest hockey team in the United Kingdom, as he signed with the Fife Flyers of the Britain Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Caister went out with a bang before retiring that spring, scoring a professional career high 31 points (3 goals, 28 assists) in 55 games, also adding a career high 132 PIM. He went pointless in 2 playoff games, and retired from pro hockey as a Fife Flyer that spring.
2013/2014 – Brantford Blast – ACH
Jeff Caister with the Brantford Blast of the ACH in 2013
Upon retiring Caister moved back home to Ontario to begin working. He ended up signing a player card with the Brantford Blast to play in the Allan Cup Hockey League (ACH). Caister has been an effective two-way defenseman so far in his time spent with the Blast, as he has scored 1 goal and added 8 assists for 9 points in 16 games in a Blast uniform.