Ken Hammond

Kenneth Paul Hammond (born August 22, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Hammond was born in Port Credit, Ontario (now Mississauga). He played as a defenceman in college hockey with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers, winning the 1985 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament championship and was named a First Team All-American. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the eighth round, 147th overall, in the 1983 NHL entry draft. He played with the Kings, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, and Ottawa Senators in the NHL between 1985 and 1993. He played in both the Sharks and Senators inaugural games. He finished his career in the minor leagues, retiring in 1996.

Youth and college career Hammond played as a defenceman with the London Diamonds in the Ontario Hockey Association's Junior B league in the 1980–81 season. He then joined the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers of the ECAC Hockey conference, an NCAA Division I conference. In his freshman season, the 1981–82 season, Hammond appeared in 24 games, scoring two goals and five points. In 1982–83, Hammond improved his offensive production, as he scored four goals and 17 points in 28 games.

In 1983–84, Hammond was named co-captain of RPI alongside Mike Dark. In 34 games, Hammond scored five goals and 16 points. However, the Engineers were defeated by the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the quarterfinals. In his final season with RPI, Hammond led the team to their second ECAC Division I championship and the 1985 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament championship. Hammond played in 38 games, scoring 11 goals and 39 points, He was also named to the 1985 ECAC First All-Star Team, along with teammates Oates and John Carter.

Professional career Los Angeles Kings Hammond was selected by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the eighth round, 147th overall, at the 1983 NHL entry draft. He signed with the Kings on April 1, 1985. Hammond made his NHL debut at the end of the 1984–85 season with the Kings on April 2 in a 6–4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. On April 5, 1985, Hammond scored his first career NHL goal and point, against Richard Brodeur of the Vancouver Canucks in a 4–3 victory. Overall, Hammond appeared in three games, scoring the one goal. He played in three post-season games with Los Angeles, earning no points. In his second game on October 13, Hammond earned his first assist on a goal by Dave Williams in a 9–2 loss to the Calgary Flames. He was assigned to the Kings' affiliate, the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League (AHL), for the remainder of 1985–86 season on October 28. In 67 games with the Nighthawks, Hammond scored four goals and 16 points, and accumulated 96 penalty minutes, and spent a majority of the season with the Nighthawks and in 66 games, he scored a goal and 16 points. and made his NHL season debut on February 18 in a 7–4 victory over the Washington Capitals. He registered his first point of the season with an assist on Jimmy Carson's third period goal in an 8–3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on February 24. In total he played in ten games, scoring two points. Hammond added one assist in six playoff games with New Haven.

Hammond began the 1987–88 season with New Haven. In 26 games, he scored three goals and 11 points. and made his NHL season debut that night in a 4–3 loss to the New York Islanders. Hammond registered his first point of the season on November 25 with an assist on Luc Robitaille's goal in the first period in a 6–4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. He was returned to New Haven before getting a second recall on December 21. On December 30, 1987, Hammond recorded his first multi-point NHL game, scoring a goal (his first of the season) and an assist in a 6–4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. On February 6, 1988, Hammond had his first career multi-goal game, scoring two goals on goaltender Grant Fuhr, his replacement Warren Skorodenski, and the Edmonton Oilers in a 7–2 win. Fuhr was pulled from the game for Skorodenski against the Kings, the first time in Fuhr's career as he had an excellent record against Los Angeles. In total, Hammond played in 46 games with Los Angeles, scoring seven goals and 16 points while getting 69 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, Hammond played in two games, earning no points and a -5 rating. In the offseason, he was re-signed by the Kings and was among those discussed as part of the Kings' package in the trade for Wayne Gretzky. Unable to stick with the Kings out of training camp due to the intense competition of ten players for the defence, on October 3, 1988, Hammond was left unprotected in the waiver draft and was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton, New York, Toronto Hammond began the 1988–89 season with the Edmonton Oilers, appearing in his first game with the team on October 9, 1988, earning no points in a 5–4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. On October 12, Hammond earned his first point as an Oiler, an assist on a goal scored by Jari Kurri in a 6–2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Overall, Hammond appeared in five games with Edmonton, earning the one assist. Hammond debuted with the Rangers on November 2, replacing the injured Ron Greschner, and was held pointless in a 6–4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. After three games, in which Hammond did not earn a point, In 38 games with Denver, Hammond scored five goals and 23 points. Hammond made his debut with the Maple Leafs on February 20 against the Kings in a 5–4 loss. Hammond earned his first point, an assist on the game-winning goal scored by Vincent Damphousse in a 4–2 win over the Minnesota North Stars on February 25. In total, Hammond played in 14 games with Toronto in the 1988–89 season, earning two assists. On August 20, 1990, the Maple Leafs traded Hammond's rights to the Bruins for cash as he already had an agreement in place with Boston.

Boston, San Jose, Vancouver, Ottawa Hammond was assigned by the Bruins to their AHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners, for the 1990–91 season. In 80 games with Maine, Hammond scored 10 goals and 51 points, and accumulated 159 penalty minutes. Hammond then appeared in eight playoff games for Boston, earning no points. Hammond played in the Sharks' inaugural game on October 4, 1991, in which he was held pointless in a 4–3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. On October 10, Hammond scored his first goal for the Sharks on a slapshot that beat Stéphane Beauregard in a 5–4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. On November 8, Hammond earned two assists in a 6–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. He suffered a groin injury in January and returned February 4 after missing five games. In a game against the Vancouver Canucks on February 21, Hammond broke a knuckle in a fight with Geoff Courtnall, and was sidelined for three to four weeks. With the Sharks, Hammond played in 46 games, scoring five goals and 15 points, and earned 86 penalty minutes. Hammond made his Canucks debut in the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs on May 10, 1992, after three Vancouver defencemen were declared out with injury. He earned no points and four penalty minutes in a 4–3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. In two playoff games for the Canucks, Hammond had no points and six penalty minutes. In 62 games with Ottawa, Hammond scored four goals and eight points, getting 104 penalty minutes. He played in four games, earning an assist. but failed to make the team and was assigned to their new AHL affiliate, the Prince Edward Island Senators, in late September. The Senators bought Hammond out of his contract after he was assigned to the AHL. Hammond signed with the Providence Bruins of the AHL for the 1993–94 season.

Hammond signed with the Kansas City Blades of the IHL for the 1994–95 season. Hammond returned to the Blades for the 1995–96 season. In 33 games, he scored a goal and eight points. Hammond then served as color commentator for Blades home radio broadcasts.

Personal life Hammond completed his degree in civil engineering and later returned to achieve a Master of Business Administration postgraduate degree in finance and accounting, taking a position with Ernst & Young after his retirement from hockey. AHCA East First-Team All-American 1984–85 All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 1985