Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 18:31
By Andrew Vitalis
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Talk about an unusual predicament. Last weekend, Brett Hammond found himself keeping one eye on the ice and one eye on the WCHA Final Five. The former Bulldog had a vested interest. After all, the Bulldogs had rolled their way into the championship, setting up a match-up with, of all teams, the Denver Pioneers. Did I mention Hammond’s current team, the Colorado Eagles, also played that night? Talk about a conflict of interest.
“It was fun,” laughed Hammond. “When I played (for UMD), we lost in the Frozen Four to Denver so I had a little bet going with some of the guys. One of the guys on our team actually played for that Denver team that beat us. He’s going to have to wear my UMD shirt when we go golfing this summer. They got a little revenge by winning this time.”
Despite being four seasons removed from college, it’s obvious Hammond still bleeds Bulldog maroon. Now a 28 year-old veteran, he frequently finds himself reflecting on his time in the WCHA. That’s really not surprising when you consider that allHammond wanted to do was to play college hockey in Duluth.
After playing two seasons in the USHL with Green Bay, Hammond realized his dream, accepting a partial scholarship. From there, he continued to work his way into the lineup, eventually becoming a staple in the Bulldog lineup. Before he knew it, four seasons later, Hammond had played in 146 games and tallied 66 points. When you break it down, his experience with UMD, even today, sums up the type of player Brett Hammond is. He most likely won’t be the first player you realize on the ice, but when it’s all said and done, his work ethic did, and still does, set him apart from the rest.
“Coming out of juniors, I knew I wasn’t going to make it to the NHL. I just wanted to play college hockey. It was a tough road for me. Growing up, I really wanted to play at UMD. When I did get a chance to play there, I wasn’t even a full-ride guy. I remember my freshman year, I just got money for books,” mentioned Hammond. “I got into the lineup early on by working hard, blocking shots on the penalty kill. Basically, I just found a role. That’s really what I’ve done throughout my career. I’ve never really been a big skill guy in terms of scoring points. I think I have the ability to score points, but I’ve always been that guy who works hard and does the little things. I think because of that, teams have always wanted me back at the end of the season. It’s worked out for me.”
It certainly has. After finishing his career with UMD, Hammond went directly to the ECHL, joining the Fresno Falcons. Despite playing just seven games to close out the 2004-05 season, Hammond’s recipe for success left Fresno with a good taste in their mouth.
The next season, Hammond’s first full professional campaign, the Roseville native found himself back with Fresno. He played the next two seasons with the Falcons, playing close to 100 games. During that time, while most of his first- or second-year colleagues were struggling to find a consistent home, Hammond found his in the ECHL.
“Playing professional hockey was different from college, but I think I was prepared for it. Strength wise and skill wise, I was up there. I was older after playing two years of juniors and four years of college. My body was pretty developed, so I wasn’t getting pushed around. Aside from the little things like traveling and roster sizes, I was pretty comfortable,” said Hammond. “When I was with Fresno, at the end of every season, they would protect 6-8 players and I was always one of those guys.”
Then last season, Hammond went for a change of pace, deciding to play for a league in Germany. For a guy who has always been known for his defensive play, Hammond saw his European experience as an opportunity to work on his offense. In 44 games, he scored 41 points. Still, after one season abroad, the winger was ready to make his way back to the states. Back inMinnesota, working as his own agent, Hammond learned about an organization out of the CHL from his parents. A few uncomfortable phone calls later, Hammond had found a new home in Colorado.
“In Germany, I think the level of play was probably lower than the East Coast League. It was different, a different experience for me. Coming back, my parents had a timeshare in Colorado and they told me about the organization. I talked to a few people in the league and made a few phone calls,” remarked Hammond. “I remember calling the ticket office number just to speak with someone. It was a little different talking to the coach and trying to sell myself on the phone. Fortunately it worked out for me. It’s such a great organization that very few people leave. I was able to find a spot.”
If you ask Hammond directly, he didn’t just walk into a roster spot. Playing for the Eagles, Hammond has found a home in Colorado. Last season, the Eagles won the league title. This season, they’re the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs, meaning a second title may soon follow. For Hammond these days, words like “winning” and “titles” mean more than “money” and “fame.” Considering that his entire career has been built around the team concept, are you really surprised?
“With this team, we all have a common goal. Everyone wants to stay here and win, and that helps. It’s kind of like a college team. Especially with this organization, the team you see at the beginning of the season is most likely the team you’re going to get at the end of the year. Guys stay here, they’re really aren’t a lot of changes,” explained Hammond. “I want to win games and be a part of winning with these guys. I don’t feel like I need to be the key guy on a team or anything. I’m going to continue to play as hard as I can for a team, take whatever position they give me and work as hard as I can filling that role.
“You hear horror stories from guys who play at different places,” continued Hammond. “Here, the organization takes care of you. I have a great place to live and the team really treats you well. You really take that into consideration.”
Hmmm, a winning combination on and off the ice? It looks like Hammond has made it big after all.
