The Washington Capitals are gearing up for their 2024 Development Camp as several college players have been invited for the typically week-long, summer event in DC.
Mark Divver, a New England Hockey Journal reporter, revealed the five NCAA names that were extended invites by the Capitals.
- F Ryan McGuire, Northeastern University
- D Eric Charpentier, Dartmouth College
- F Nikita Nikora, Dartmouth College
- D Duncan Ramsay, University of Vermont
- F Jens Richards, University of Vermont
Ryan McGuire, a 21-year-old centerman, is the son of Pierre McGuire — the former NBC Inside the Glass analyst, a Stanley Cup-winning assistant coach with the Penguins, and RMNB party attendee. Ryan played the last three seasons at Colgate University, recording 26 points (14g, 12a) in 34 games last year, but transferred to Northeastern for his senior campaign.
Eric Charpentier is a local product, born in Silver Spring, Maryland. The 21-year-old defenseman attended Montgomery Blair High School before spending three seasons with the NAHL’s New Jersey Titans. In his first year with Dartmouth last season, the big blueliner recorded 11 points (4g, 7a) in 32 games. Eric does not appear to have any relation to former Capitals goaltender Sébastien Charpentier.
Nikita Nikora, a Russian-born, SKA St. Petersburg youth player, also played his first year with Dartmouth last season. The 20-year-old, left-shot winger finished fourth on the team in scoring with 20 points (3g, 17a) in 25 games. Nikora has been over in North America for quite some time now, playing his high school hockey in Canada with the Notre Dame Hounds.
Duncan Ramsay is a massive, six-foot-five, 205-pound defenseman from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ramsay played his high school hockey in both Canada and New Hampshire before spending a season in the BCHL with the Chilliwack Chiefs. In his freshman campaign at Vermont, he recorded one assist in 26 games.
Jens Richards was the leading scorer on that Vermont team, posting 21 points (10g, 11a) in 32 games. Richards, like a few others in this group of NCAA talent, spent some time in the NAHL with the Austin Bruins before heading to college. The 21-year-old forward went to high school at the North Star Christian Academy in Alexandria, Minnesota.
The Capitals usually hold their development camp after the draft each year. The 2024 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 28-29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Members of the Capitals’ newest draft class could join the above names like Ryan Leonard, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Andrew Cristall, Ryan Chesley, and Alexander Suzdalev at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
