As a young Canadian goaltender aspiring to reach the highest level of hockey, Andrew Hammond could have never envisioned how northwest Ohio would play such a crucial role in his journey.
Hammond credits his time as the No. 1 goaltender at Bowling Green State University for helping him reach the NHL. The 31-year-old, who resides in Monclova Township, has appeared in 56 NHL games for the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche.
The former Falcon, who still trains in Northwest Ohio during the offseason, appeared in 119 games at BGSU over four seasons (2009-13).
“The experience I had at BG was probably the highlight of my hockey career,” Hammond said. “The overall experience with how you are treated and the people you meet, it's a really special place. I still reside in the area, and I'm still a part of it. It all worked out for me. I parlayed it into a hockey career after playing there. I think it helped me a lot.”
It was when he was a Falcon that Hammond was bestowed with one of the best nicknames in hockey — The Hamburglar. In a sport full of colorful monikers, Hammond earned his due to his penchant for stealing games for the Falcons.
Former BGSU teammate, forward Wade Finegan, came up with the nickname based on the McDonald's character.
“It started off as kind of a nothing thing, and I decided the next season to put it on my helmet. I thought it might be funny. People seemed to like it,” Hammond said. “Once I got to pro and started winning some games, it was something that a lot of people latched on to.”
Hammond said he has embraced the nickname, which now follows him everywhere.
“It's funny. If someone is not familiar with you around the rink and then all the sudden it clicks when someone mentions The Hamburglar. Yep, that's me,” he said. “I think it's great.”
The native of Surrey, British Columbia, has started in 49 games in the NHL and has a record of 27-15-6 with a 2.31 goals-against average.
Hammond played all last season with the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League, where he put up numbers that earned him a contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He will compete for a spot with the NHL club when training camp opens next month.
“I got to play a lot in Iowa, and we had success, too,” said Hammond, who played in 44 games and had a 2.46 goals-against average in the playoffs. “Playing meaningful hockey and playing regularly showed me I still have the ability. Now I'm waiting on my next chance and doing what I can to create that chance.”
Hammond, who met his wife Marlee while attending BGSU, admitted he knew nothing of the area when he first came here.
“It was a big surprise for me coming here. I didn't know much about the area at all and every year I'm learning more about it. Now I understand in the Toledo area, whenever I'm out and about and hockey comes up, the people here follow it,” he said. “I've been to a couple of Walleye games and the playoff atmosphere is incredible. The people love hockey here. The city wraps their arms around and supports the lower level of pro sports, whether it be ECHL or Triple-A baseball.”
Hammond trains with Toledo Walleye strength and conditioning coach Dan Jones at EAO Sports in Sylvania.
“He's a big, physical dude,” Jones said of the 6-foot-2 and 233-pound goaltender. “Of all the goalies I've worked with, he is the strongest. As an athlete, he is wicked strong. He has great endurance, as well. His athleticism is great. He can move.”
Hammond said Jones helps him immensely as he prepares in the offseason. He has worked with Jones the past three summers.
“Going into training camp you know you are prepared. That is a big part of building confidence,” Hammond said.
Jones said he tailors Hammond's workouts to the goaltending position.
“His workouts are dramatically different at all times. There are some things we do with him … that help 'fertilize the lawn.' We work on balance and certain muscle groups. We use exercises that simulate [goaltending movements],” Jones said. “He's proven he can play at [the NHL] level. Now he's completely healthy and ready to compete. He just needs his chance, and the Sabres are giving him that opportunity.”
Hammond was on the ground level of the turnaround at BG under former coach Chris Bergeron, who took over the program when Hammond was a sophomore in 2010.
The Falcons went 171-154-44 under Bergeron and last season qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1990. Bergeron left in April to take over the program at Miami.
“During my time there, one of the best decisions they made was bringing in Chris Bergeron. He was huge for turning around the program,” Hammond said. “As a junior, I played in every game, and that helped me a lot. Mentally that prepared me for pro hockey.”
Hammond said BG officials made the right decision when they hired Bergeron's former assistant, Ty Eigner, to be his replacement.
“Ty and [and fellow assistant Barry Schutte] were a big part of that, too. Ty has definitely earned the opportunity. He is the right person for the job. He knows the standard that BG has now set for itself,” Hammond said. “[The former players] are all very excited to see where the program is going.”
Hammond had one of the greatest debuts of any goaltender in NHL history. In his first 24 games with the Ottawa Senators in 2014-15, he posted a 20-1-2 record with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage to go along with three shutouts.
“That's something I really take with me these days. It's something that I know I've had success,” Hammond said.
He also said he will never forget the phone call notifying him that he had been called up.
Hammond was called early one morning in San Antonio, where he was playing for Binghamton of the AHL, and was told he needed to fly at 12:30 in the morning to Denver.
“You show up at the rink an hour and a half before your first NHL game. For me, there was nothing to lose. It was a good game for me and it worked out for me,” he said.“All those situations I’ve faced at that level have prepared me for whatever I could face next.”
Hammond appeared in 24 games for the Senators the following season and then in six games in 2016-17 before he was traded to Colorado.
“I'd been through some injury troubles and bounced around a bit. I've dealt with some of the things that are less glamorous about pro sports,” he said. “[In Iowa] I got to play a lot and we had success, too. Playing meaningful hockey and playing regularly showed me I still have the ability. Now I'm waiting on my next chance and doing what I can to create that chance.”
He said he hopes all the little things add up to him getting back to the NHL.
“The fact that I've gotten the chance to live that dream is very special to me,” he said. “As a kid growing up if you told me that would happen, I would have been smitten with that idea. That's fueling me to get back there.”
First Published August 10, 2019, 1:01 a.m.
