Kelly Chase was born on October 25, 1967 in Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan. He grew up on the prairies playing hockey and went on to play his junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He wasn't drafted but signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues in 1988. Kelly spent parts of the next two seasons with the Peoria Riverman of the International Hockey League (IHL) before making the jump to the NHL with the Blues.
In his first season, he took over the role of enforce with the team racking up 244 penalty minutes in 43 games. By 1990 Chase was a regular with the Blues, cementing his role as their enforcer. In January of 1995, he was claimed by the Hartford Whalers in the NHL Waiver Draft. After just over two seasons with the Whalers, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a draft pick. Kelly Chase only played two games in Toronto picking up 27 minutes in penalties along the way.
He was then dealt back to his original NHL team, the St. Louis Blues, for a conditional draft pick. In 1998 he won the King Clancy Trophy, given by the NHL to the player that best exemplifies leadership qualities both on and off the ice.
He retired from hockey as a Blue in 2000, having missed the majority of that season with a knee injury. Kelly Chase continues to be part of the game, working as a radio colour analyst on St. Louis Blues' broadcast team.
