South Surrey-raised NHL goaltender Andrew Hammond has called it a career.

The 34-year-old 害羞草研究所淗amburglar害羞草研究所� announced his retirement from hockey in Monday (Dec. 19), blaming an ankle injury he suffered while playing for Montreal Canadiens last season.

害羞草研究所淚 won害羞草研究所檛 be able to make a full recovery,害羞草研究所� Hammond posted.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 excited for more time stopping pucks at home with Cal, Carson and Harlow.害羞草研究所�

Hammond first signed a NHL contract with Ottawa Senators on St. Patrick害羞草研究所檚 Day 2013.

害羞草研究所淥ne dream came true,害羞草研究所� he wrote. 害羞草研究所淚 was an undrafted free agent signing out of college. I thought things couldn害羞草研究所檛 get better than that. I was wrong害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所榡ob害羞草研究所� in the world.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� Andrew Hammond (@andrewhammond30)

While in Ottawa, during the team害羞草研究所檚 improbable run to the playoffs that spring. Senators fans threw hamburgers on the ice in salute to the Hamburglar, who compiled a 20-win, one-loss record in relief of the injured Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner.

The White Rock-born Hammond grew up playing for teams with Semiahmoo Minor Hockey Association and graduated from Earl Marriott Secondary.

害羞草研究所淚 always was the kid who at age six was begging my parents to take shots on me in the driveway,害羞草研究所� . 害羞草研究所淚 was hooked on hockey after that 害羞草研究所�94 Canucks (playoff) run and always dreamed about being in the NHL.害羞草研究所�

As a teen he played 32 games for Surrey Eagles and began to doubt whether he wanted to continue playing hockey.

害羞草研究所淭hings weren害羞草研究所檛 going for him and he wasn害羞草研究所檛 playing much, so he was going to hang them up,害羞草研究所� Sean Murray, his longtime goaltending coach, said in 2015.

During the 2007-08 season, Hammond was dealt to Vernon Vipers of the BCHL.

害羞草研究所淗e wasn害羞草研究所檛 sure he was going to go,害羞草研究所� Murray recalled. 害羞草研究所淚 said to him, 害羞草研究所楯ust go play, you never know what害羞草研究所檚 going to happen, right?害羞草研究所� So he went up there and all of a sudden he won the RBC Cup (national championship) with them. He finally got the chance to play, and with a decent team, and he just took off from there.害羞草研究所�

to see Hammond害羞草研究所檚 career stats on eliteprospects.com.

Hammond played at Bowling Green State University from 2009 to 2013. During his NHL career, Hammond signed with six teams, including Ottawa, Montreal, Colorado, Buffalo, Minnesota and New Jersey. Over the years he bounced around the AHL minor league, too, and ended his pro days this year with a pair of games in the Russian KHL league, with Traktor Chelyabinsk.

害羞草研究所淚 would like to thank my wife first and foremost,害羞草研究所� Hammond tweeted Monday. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had probably 20 addresses we害羞草研究所檝e called home throughout my career. She害羞草研究所檚 been there for all of it; good games, bad games and everything in between. I would also like to thank my parents for making the sacrifices along the way that allowed me to live out my dream.害羞草研究所�

Appropriately, he signed off with a hamburger emoji.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on