Here is an article/story on former Vernon Vipers goaltender Andrew Hammond.
Hammond is in his first season with the American Hockey League Rochester Americans/Buffalo Sabres.
Hammond was a free agent signed with the Buffalo Sabres July 1st 2019 was reassigned to the Americans September 22nd 2019. In 33 games this season, Hammond is 16-12-3 with a 2.53 GAA
The American Hockey League has advised its clubs that the indefinite suspension of AHL play due to the Coronavirus will not be lifted before May.
Hammond made his Sabres preseason debut September 17th 2019 in a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hammond replaced Sabres starting goaltender Linus Ullmark halfway through the 2nd period, allowed two goals on fifteen shots.
Hammond played last year with the American Hockey League Iowa Wild. In 33 games last season Hammond went 19-14-0 with three shutouts and a 2.81 GAA Hammond & the Wild clinched a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history.
The Minnesota Wild signed Hammond July 1st 2018, reassigned Hammond to the Iowa Wild October 1st 2018. Hammond played the past five seasons with the Ottawa Senators/American Hockey League Binghamton Senators before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche November 5th 2017.
After four seasons with Bowling Green University, Hammond signed his first pro contract with the Ottawa Senators on March 20th 2013. Hammond attended the Chicago Blackhawks 2012 development camp and Ottawa Senators 2013 development camp.
Hammond made his NHL debut February 27th 2014 vs the Detroit Red Wings. Hammond was called up that night from the American Hockey League as the backup for Senators starting goaltender Robin Lehner. Hammond would replace Lehner late in the 2nd period who was pulled after giving up six goals on fifteen Detroit shots. Hammond would finish the game playing just over thirty four minutes stopping all eleven Red Wing shots in a 6-1 loss to Detroit. Hammond made his first career NHL start February 18th 2015 vs the Montreal Canadians, recorded 42 saves in a 4-2 win over the Habs for his first career NHL victory. Hammond is the only goaltender in NHL history to earn 21 wins in his first 27 games.
Hammond played parts of two years in Vernon (2007-2009) after coming over in a trade with the Surrey Eagles during the 2007-08 season. In 52 regular season games with the Vipers
Hammond posted a (33-15-1) record recording 6 shutouts.
Andrew Hammond's Player Profile:
This was posted on buffalonews.com
'The Hamburglar' robbing opposing AHL shooters at rapid pace in hot streak
By Bill Hoppe
December 20, 2019
ROCHESTER – Having recorded four shutouts in his last 10 starts, Andrew Hammond might be the American Hockey League’s best goalie right now.
Hammond, 31, has compiled a 7-2-1 record with a 1.40 goals-against and a .947 save percentage since Nov. 1 with the Americans.
“As far as consistency in my game, I think it’s about as good as I ever felt,” Hammond said recently.
Considering the dynamic rookie season he enjoyed with the Ottawa Senators in 2014-15 – he closed it by compiling a stunning 20-1-2 record – Hammond’s words hold meaning.
“I think about my game, I’m as confident as I was then,” said Hammond, who signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 1. “It’s a different level, too, but at the same time, I feel like the goaltender I was then I’m getting back to. I feel very good about that.”
Hammond, of course, is best remembered for backstopping the Senators to an unlikely playoff berth. For three months, the phenom nicknamed “The Hamburglar” was the NHL’s hottest goalie.
But Hammond, 31, has endured some tough seasons in the past five years, battling injuries and bouncing around.
The Bowling Green product has played only 37 NHL games since his breakout campaign, his last appearance coming with the Colorado Avalanche in the 2018 playoffs.
Action, even in the minors, has often been sporadic. Over a three-year stretch, he played just 26 AHL games.
By early 2017-18, the Senators buried Hammond down the AHL depth chart with Belleville as he waited for a trade.
“We had four goalies at one point there, and obviously they want to develop younger guys and get them their games, so he wasn’t getting the games that he needed,” said Amerks winger Tyler Randell, Hammond’s teammate in Belleville.
The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Hammond started getting on track in 2018-19, playing 33 contests with the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s affiliate. Despite staying in the minors all season for the first time, he was buoyed by the stability of remaining in one place and being injury-free.
“Right now, I definitely feel more confident than ever about how I’m playing and just knowing what I do to be successful,” he said. “Last year, I got a chance to play again regularly. This year, I’m just building off that.”
Hammond has developed a rhythm in Rochester that he hasn’t felt in a long time. Overall, he has played 16 games, compiling a 10-3-2 mark with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
He’s on pace to play 45 games, the most since he appeared in 48 contests between Ottawa and the Binghamton Senators in 2014-15.
In Hammond and prospect Jonas Johansson, the Amerks possess arguably the league’s best goaltending tandem.
“They’re feeding off each other, the internal competition is really good,” Amerks coach Chris Taylor said. “One does well, the other one’s doing really well. It’s just great.”
Not surprisingly, Hammond has evolved this season, focusing more on his own game than what’s happening around him.
“I just think this year, maybe more than others, I’m not worrying about the team around me as much,” he said. “I’m just worrying about my job and understanding at the end of the day, my job’s just to stop the puck. Whether it’s a breakdown or a routine save, it’s my job to make those.”
Most games, Hammond usually makes routine saves. The Amerks, having allowed only 62 goals in 26 games, showcase the league’s tightest defense.
Hammond has faced 30 or more shots in a game only three times this season.
“It’s both a blessing and at times it can be a struggle, too, because you’re trying to keep your focus,” said Hammond, who accompanied the Sabres to Sweden last month as their third goalie. “But I think in a lot of ways it’s definitely been great for me because you just really are able to focus on your own game and making sure that you’re there for those routine saves and understanding that there’s going to be breakdowns.”
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