Andrew Hammond (ice hockey)

Andrew Robert Hammond (born February 11, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils. Nicknamed the "Hamburglar", he rose to fame in 2014–15 when he was called up from the minors and led the Senators to a 20–1–2 record to clinch a previously unthinkable Stanley Cup playoff berth.[1]

Andrew Hammond
Hammond with the Binghamton Senators in 2014
Born (1988-02-11) February 11, 1988 (age 36)
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Ottawa Senators
Colorado Avalanche
Montreal Canadiens
New Jersey Devils
Traktor Chelyabinsk
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2013–2022

Playing career

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Amateur

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Hammond played his junior hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He played one game with the Westside Warriors in the 2006–07 season before being cut by the team and returning to the Grandview Steelers of the Junior "B" Pacific Junior Hockey League to finish the season.[2][3][4] Hammond played 32 games with the Surrey Eagles to start the 2007–08 BCHL season before being traded to the Vernon Vipers for $2,500.[5][3][6] In his final season with the Vipers, the team won the Royal Bank Cup national Junior "A" championship and Hammond posted a 2–0 shutout in the final game.[4]

Hammond attended Bowling Green State University where he played four seasons (2009 to 2013) with the Falcons ice hockey team. In 111 NCAA games, he earned a record of 30–68–13 and was named Bowling Green's Most Valuable Player for both the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons.[7] It was at Bowling Green that Hammond's ability to "steal" wins for the Falcons prompted teammate Wade Finegan to start calling the goaltender "Robber," then "Burglar," then simply "Burgs." The nickname finally evolved to "The Hamburglar."[8][9][10] A play on his name, the nickname refers to the McDonald's restaurants' mascot character whose likeness, in the guise of MAD magazines' Alfred E. Neuman, Hammond had painted onto his goalie mask.[11]

Professional

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Ottawa Senators (2013–2017)

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The NHL's Ottawa Senators signed Hammond as a free agent goaltender to a two-year, entry-level contract on March 20, 2013.[12][13] He was subsequently assigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, where he finished the 2012–13 season.

Hammond attended the Senators' training camp ahead of the 2013–14 season, but was later designated to Binghamton on September 30, 2013.[14][15] He was recalled by Ottawa on February 26, 2014, to replace goaltender Craig Anderson, who was with his wife for the birth of the couple's second child.[16] The next day, Hammond, who backed-up goaltender Robin Lehner, entered a game against the Detroit Red Wings at 5:05 of the second period after Lehner gave up six goals and was pulled. Hammond stopped all 11 shots he faced in the remainder of the game.

Hammond attended Ottawa's training camp ahead of the 2014–15 season, but on September 29, 2014, was again designated to Binghamton to start the season.[17][18] He made his first career NHL start against the Montreal Canadiens at the Canadian Tire Centre on February 18, 2015, after goaltender Robin Lehner was injured in Ottawa's previous game. Hammond earned his first NHL victory in the game, stopping 42 shots in a 4–2 victory, also being named the game's First Star.[19] Two games later, he recorded his first career NHL shutout as the Senators defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3–0,[20] and the next day, he recorded his second consecutive shutout in a 1–0 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Hammond's four consecutive wins marked only the second time of the season that Ottawa won more than two games in a row.[21] On March 2, 2015, Hammond was rewarded for his surprising success as the NHL named him the First Star of the Week.[22] After winning a game against the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime on March 17, Hammond became just the second goaltender in NHL history to allow two goals or fewer in their first 12 starts, a feat matching Hockey Hall of Famer Frank Brimsek's record set during the 1938–39 season with the Boston Bruins.[23]

On April 1, 2015, Hammond was named the NHL's First Star for the Month of March after compiling a 10–1–1 record with a 2.09 goals against average (GAA) and a .930 save percentage, helping the Senators climb to within three points of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.[24] On the same day, the Ottawa Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association announced Hammond as Ottawa's 2015 nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.[25] He came seventh in voting for the Vezina Trophy for the league's best goaltender and fifteenth in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy for most valuable player to his team.[1]

Hammond finished the 2014–15 regular season with a record of 20–1–2, helping the Senators clinch a Stanley Cup playoff berth, where they were eventually ousted by the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Hammond started Ottawa's first two games of the series before being replaced by Craig Anderson for the following four games.

On May 20, shortly after the end of the Senators' season, Hammond was rewarded by signing a three-year, $4.05 million contract extension with Ottawa, carrying an average annual value of $1.35 million.[26] In the following 2015–16 season, Hammond was unable to replicate his previous season success, winning just 7 out of 24 games with the Senators including a two-game return to the Binghamton Senators.

By the 2016–17 season, Hammond was struggling through a lack of form and hampered through injury. He appeared in just 6 games with Ottawa in a backup role going winless before on February 11, 2017, Hammond's 29th birthday, he was put on waivers by the Ottawa Senators after goaltender Craig Anderson returned from tending to his wife, who was suffering from cancer, and the recent success of backup goaltender Mike Condon. He was reassigned to Binghamton and appeared in just five games before suffering a tear in his right labrum requiring season-ending hip surgery on February 27, 2017.[27]

Later years (2017–2022)

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Hammond returned to full health in time for the 2017–18 season, his final year of contract with the Senators. After clearing waivers, he was assigned by Ottawa following training camp to new AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators on September 29, 2017.[28] On November 5, 2017, Hammond's contract was included by the Senators in a three-way trade with the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Matt Duchene.[29] With the Avalanche already at a surplus with goaltenders, Hammond was announced to remain with the Belleville Senators on loan from Colorado.[30]

Hammond was recalled by the Avalanche on multiple occasions serving as backup through corresponding injuries to Avalanche duo, Semyon Varlamov and Jonathan Bernier.[31] Before making an appearance with the Avalanche, Hammond was placed on the injured reserve after receiving an errant stick on the bench resulting in a concussion in a game against the Vancouver Canucks.[32] Upon his recovery, Hammond was assigned to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage on March 23, 2018.[33] He was recalled by the Avalanche and started one game in the regular season, and then appeared in three playoff games, starting two of them.

As a free agent from the Avalanche, Hammond opted to continue his career in the Central Division, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract to compete for the backup role with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2018.[34]

Having left the Wild as a free agent after the conclusion of his contract, Hammond signed a one-year, two-way $700,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2019.[35] In the following 2019–20 season, Hammond played exclusively with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, matching his previous season total in playing 33 games while posting 16 wins.

On December 17, 2020, Hammond was signed as a free agent to return to the Minnesota Wild on a one-year, two-way contract.[36] He was assigned to the Wild's taxi squad on January 13, 2021, and did not appear in a game during the 2020–21 season. On July 27, 2021, Hammond was re-signed by the Wild to a one-year, two-way contract extension.[37]

In the following 2021–22 season, Hammond was assigned to the AHL, playing his first professional hockey in over a year by appearing in 11 games with Iowa, posting 6 wins. On February 12, 2022, Hammond was traded by the Wild to the injury-depleted Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Brandon Baddock.[38] Eight days later on February 20, Hammond made his first regular season start in the NHL since March 28, 2018 in a 3–2 shootout victory over the New York Islanders. It was his first win in the NHL since April 9, 2016.[39] He was then chosen to start against his former team, the Senators, marking his return to the Canadian Tire Centre five years after being traded. Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said there was "a humanity piece" in the selection.[40] Hammond made 26 saves in a 2–1 victory over the Senators.[41] In his next start, a 5–4 victory over the Calgary Flames, he sustained a lower body injury and was placed on injured reserve on March 4.[42]

Collecting three wins in four appearances (one of those in relief), Hammond's tenure with the Canadiens ended while in recovery from his injury, after he was dealt at the NHL trade deadline to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Nate Schnarr on March 21, 2022.[43] Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said that with the return of Jake Allen from injury, he felt that the trade would give Hammond more opportunity to continue in the NHL.[44] Hammond finished out the season with the Devils, but he would later reveal that an ankle injury acquired while in Montreal continued to affect him, and he left the team following the season's end.[45]

On September 16, 2022, he signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[46] Hammond's tenure in the KHL was brief, appearing in two games with Traktor in the 2022–23 season before opting to terminate his contract in order to return to North America on October 20, 2022.[47] On December 19, Hammond announced his retirement from professional hockey, saying "my career was a series of unbelievable and unexpected memories. I met some of the best people I know and I can honestly say I had the best 'job' in the world."[45]

Personal life

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Hammond was born in White Rock, British Columbia to Marshall and Sandie Hammond, and grew up in adjacent Surrey.[48] He has a brother, Matt, and a sister, Christine.[48]

Hammond has said that he almost quit hockey on two separate occasions, the first when he was cut after a junior A game in the 2006–07 season, and the second when he was traded from the BCHL's Surrey Eagles mid-season in 2007–08.[4]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2006–07 Westside Warriors BCHL 1 0 1 0 34 4 0 7.06 .636
2006–07 Grandview Steelers PJHL 28 17 5 3 1568 60 3 2.30 .930 16 9 7 988 44 1 2.67 .921
2007–08 Surrey Eagles BCHL 32 15 14 1 1568 90 2 3.44 .898
2007–08 Vernon Vipers BCHL 9 6 3 0 538 22 1 2.45 .901 7 3 3 412 20 0 2.91 .908
2008–09 Vernon Vipers BCHL 43 27 12 1 2479 95 5 2.30 .912 17 12 5 1082 27 4 1.50 .946
2009–10 Bowling Green University CCHA 19 0 12 2 837 60 0 4.30 .880
2010–11 Bowling Green University CCHA 27 6 17 3 1528 68 2 2.67 .915
2011–12 Bowling Green University CCHA 44 14 24 5 2615 119 2 2.73 .903
2012–13 Bowling Green Falcons CCHA 29 10 15 3 1625 67 3 2.47 .917
2013–14 Binghamton Senators AHL 48 25 19 3 2733 128 1 2.81 .910 4 1 3 265 13 0 2.95 .891
2013–14 Ottawa Senators NHL 1 0 0 0 35 0 0 0.00 1.000
2014–15 Binghamton Senators AHL 25 7 13 2 1369 80 2 3.51 .898
2014–15 Ottawa Senators NHL 24 20 1 2 1411 42 3 1.79 .941 2 0 2 122 7 0 3.44 .914
2015–16 Ottawa Senators NHL 24 7 11 4 1375 61 1 2.65 .914
2015–16 Binghamton Senators AHL 2 0 2 0 119 8 0 4.05 .864
2016–17 Ottawa Senators NHL 6 0 2 0 206 14 0 4.08 .837
2016–17 Binghamton Senators AHL 5 2 3 0 297 16 0 3.24 .884
2017–18 Belleville Senators AHL 18 8 6 2 987 55 0 3.34 .900
2017–18 San Antonio Rampage AHL 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1.00 .969
2017–18 Colorado Avalanche NHL 1 0 1 0 59 2 0 2.07 .939 3 1 1 138 6 0 2.63 .933
2018–19 Iowa Wild AHL 33 19 12 2 1988 93 3 2.81 .910 11 5 6 683 28 2 2.46 .912
2019–20 Rochester Americans AHL 33 16 12 3 1923 81 4 2.53 .908
2021–22 Iowa Wild AHL 11 6 2 3 664 27 3 2.44 .908
2021–22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 4 3 0 0 201 8 0 2.40 .920
2021–22 New Jersey Devils NHL 7 1 5 1 386 30 0 4.66 .860
2022–23 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 2 0 2 0 97 7 0 4.33 .851
NHL totals 67 31 20 7 3,679 157 4 2.56 .916 5 1 3 260 13 0 3.00 .924

Awards and records

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  • First goalie in NHL history to earn 21 wins in his first 27 games.
  • First goaltender in Ottawa history to win first five starts of his career.
  • One of two goalies in NHL history to allow two goals or fewer in their first 12 career starts. The first was Frank Brimsek for the 1938-39 Boston Bruins.
  • March 2, 2015 - NHL First Star of the Week.[22]
  • March 2015 - NHL First Star of the Month

Source: AHL[49]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hickey, Pat (February 26, 2022). "Canadiens at Senators, Feb. 26, 2022: Five things you should know". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Andrew Hammond BCHL Statistics". British Columbia Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Greenizan, Nick (February 18, 2015). "Semiahmoo Minor Hockey alum to make first NHL start". Surrey Leader. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Woodley, Kevin (March 6, 2015). "Senators goalie Hammond making hometown proud". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  5. ^ "Andrew Hammond PJHL Statistics". Pacific Junior Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  6. ^ Brennan, Don (March 5, 2015). "Senators goalie Andrew Hammond led junior team to RBC Cup". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  7. ^ "Goalie Hammond named team MVP at Falcons' end of the year banquet". The BG News. April 1, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "Andrew 'The Hamburglar' Hammond: 5 things to know". CBC Sports. March 16, 2015.
  9. ^ Cantlon, Kyle (April 21, 2018). "Return of 'The Hamburglar': the storyline we didn't know we needed". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  10. ^ Traikos, Michael (March 11, 2015). "Meet the Ottawa Senators' Andrew Hammond (a.k.a. 'The Hamburglar'), the unheralded goalie who has helped put his team back in the playoff race". The National Post. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  11. ^ Clinton, Jared (August 19, 2015). "ANDREW HAMMOND PAYS TRIBUTE TO 'BUTTERFLY CHILD' ON NEW MASK". hehockeynews.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  12. ^ "Senators sign goaltender Andrew Hammond to a two-year contract". Ottawa Senators. March 20, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  13. ^ "Andrew Hammond signs his first NHL contract". Twitter. March 20, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  14. ^ "Senators announce 2013–14 training camp roster". Ottawa Senators. September 9, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  15. ^ "Ottawa Senators reduce roster to 22 players". Ottawa Senators. September 30, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  16. ^ "Ottawa Senators recall Andrew Hammond to back up Robin Lehner". National Hockey League. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  17. ^ "Senators announce 2014–15 training camp roster". Ottawa Senators. September 16, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  18. ^ "Senators reduce 2014–15 training camp roster by 21 players". Ottawa Senators. September 29, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  19. ^ "Hammond leads Sens over Habs in first start". The Sports Network. February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  20. ^ "Senators go Duck hunting, blank Anaheim". Ottawa Sun. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  21. ^ "Hammond, Senators blank Ducks". The Sports Network. February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Hammond, Subban and Malkin named stars of week". National Hockey League. March 2, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  23. ^ "Andrew Hammond secures NHL goaltending record, Senators claim crucial OT victory". Ottawa Citizen. March 18, 2015. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  24. ^ "Hammond, Hudler, Dubnyk named stars for March". NHL Public Relations. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  25. ^ "Hammond nominated for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy". Ottawa Senators. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  26. ^ NHL.com (May 20, 2015). "Hammond, Senators agree on three-year contract". NHL.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  27. ^ "After suffering hip injury, Goalie Andrew Hammond out for season". Ottawa Citizen. February 27, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  28. ^ "Andrew Hammond re-assigned to Belleville". Belleville Senators. September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  29. ^ "Avalanche acquires four players and three picks in three-team trade". Colorado Avalanche. November 5, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  30. ^ James Gordon (November 6, 2017). "Andrew Hammond will remain with the Belleville Senators". Twitter. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  31. ^ "Hammond returns to Colorado". Belleville Senators. February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  32. ^ "Avalanche's Andrew Hammond dealing with head injury". CBS Sports. February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  33. ^ "Goalie shuffling between Avs and Rampage". Twitter. March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  34. ^ "Wild, Hammond agree to two-way deal". Minnesota Wild. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  35. ^ "Sabres sign Goaltender Andrew Hammond". Buffalo Sabres. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  36. ^ "Wild signs goaltender Andrew Hammond to one-year contract". Minnesota Wild. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  37. ^ "Wild re-signs goaltender Andrew Hammond". Minnesota Wild. July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  38. ^ "Canadiens acquire goaltender Andrew Hammond". Montreal Canadiens. February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  39. ^ "Andrew Hammond leads Canadiens past Islanders in shootout win". Sportsnet. February 20, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  40. ^ Cowan, Stu (February 25, 2022). "'The Hamburglar' returns to Ottawa, but this time in Canadiens' net". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  41. ^ Hickey, Pat (February 26, 2022). "Lehkonen's two goals power Canadiens over Senators for their 5th straight win". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  42. ^ "Hammond placed on injured reserve, Primeau recalled". Montreal Canadiens. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  43. ^ "Hammond acquire by Devils". New Jersey Devils. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  44. ^ Cowan, Stu (March 22, 2022). "Jeff Petry will have to stick it out with Habs". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  45. ^ a b Mendes, Ian (December 19, 2022). "Andrew Hammond, who led Senators on improbable playoff run, retires after 6 NHL seasons". The Athletic. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  46. ^ "Эндрю Хэммонд – в "Тракторе"". hctraktor.org (in Russian). September 16, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  47. ^ "Andrew Hammond leaves Traktor" (in Russian). Traktor Chelyabinsk. October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  48. ^ a b "Andrew Hammond – 2011–12 Ice Hockey". Bowling Green Falcons. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  49. ^ "Andrew Hammond Stats and Player Profile". theahl.com. American Hockey League. March 6, 2019.
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