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{{short description|Canadian ice hockey player}}
{{for|the British journalist|Al Hamilton (journalist)}}
{{for|the British journalist|Al Hamilton (journalist)}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_size = 230px
| position = [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|Defence]]
| position = [[Defenceman|Defence]]
| played_for = [[New York Rangers]]<br>[[Buffalo Sabres]]<br>[[Edmonton Oilers|Alberta/Edmonton Oilers]]
| played_for = [[New York Rangers]]<br>[[Buffalo Sabres]]<br>[[Edmonton Oilers|Alberta/Edmonton Oilers]]
| shoots = Right
| shoots = Right
Line 11: Line 12:
| ntl_team = CAN
| ntl_team = CAN
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|8|20|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|8|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Flin Flon]], [[Manitoba|MB]], [[Canada|CAN]]
| birth_place = [[Flin Flon|Flin Flon, Manitoba]], Canada
| draft =
| draft =
| draft_year =
| draft_year =
Line 21: Line 22:
| career_end = 1980
| career_end = 1980
}}
}}
'''Allan Guy Hamilton''' (born August 20, 1946 in [[Flin Flon]], [[Manitoba]]) is a retired [[Canada|Canadian]] [[ice hockey]] [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|defenceman]], most notably with the [[Edmonton Oilers]] of the [[World Hockey Association]]. He also played in the [[National Hockey League]] for the Oilers, as well as the [[New York Rangers]] and [[Buffalo Sabres]].
'''Allan Guy Hamilton''' (born August 20, 1946) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] former [[ice hockey]] [[defenceman]], most notably with the [[Edmonton Oilers]] of the [[World Hockey Association]]. He also played in the [[National Hockey League]] for the Oilers, as well as the [[New York Rangers]] and [[Buffalo Sabres]].


==Playing career==
==Playing career==
Signed by the [[New York Rangers]] of the [[National Hockey League]] as a teenager, Hamilton spent his junior career with the [[Edmonton Oil Kings]]. He met with great success in juniors, being one of the rare players to play in the [[Memorial Cup]] tournament three consecutive years.<ref name="LOH">{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12829 |title=Al Hamilton player profile |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref> His final season in 1966 with the Oil Kings saw the team win the Memorial Cup, led by Hamilton's remarkable 82 points in 55 regular season and playoff games, drawing frequent comparisons with his junior contemporary [[Bobby Orr]] of the [[Oshawa Generals]]. In fact in Hamilton's Memorial Cup-winning final junior year, Hamilton and Orr highlighted the championship game by trading end-to-end rushes.<ref name="EOH">{{cite web |url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/WHA_players_alhamilton.html |title=Al Hamilton – Number 3 forever |publisher=Edmonton Oilers Heritage Foundation |accessdate=2010-01-27| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100121221626/http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/WHA_players_alhamilton.html| archivedate= 21 January 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
Signed by the [[New York Rangers]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) as a teenager, Hamilton spent his junior career with the [[Edmonton Oil Kings]]. He met with great success in juniors, being one of the rare players to play in the [[Memorial Cup]] tournament for three consecutive years.<ref name="LOH">{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12829 |title=Al Hamilton player profile |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref> His final season in 1966 with the Oil Kings saw the team win the Memorial Cup, led by Hamilton's remarkable 82 points in 55 regular season and playoff games, drawing frequent comparisons with his junior contemporary [[Bobby Orr]] of the [[Oshawa Generals]]. In fact in Hamilton's Memorial Cup-winning final junior year, Hamilton and Orr highlighted the championship game by trading end-to-end rushes.<ref name="EOH">{{cite web |url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/WHA_players_alhamilton.html |title=Al Hamilton – Number 3 forever |publisher=Edmonton Oilers Heritage Foundation |accessdate=2010-01-27| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100121221626/http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/WHA_players_alhamilton.html| archivedate= 21 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>


Hamilton made a rather auspicious debut with the Rangers on a Wednesday night hockey broadcast. As Frank Mahovlich came flying down the boards at the old Maple Leaf Gardens as only the Big M could, 19-year-old Al suddenly entered the playing surface from the New York bench (allegedly) on a line change and decked the unsuspecting Mahovlich with a thundering shoulder check that required smelling salts to the prone Big M. While he played a few games for the Rangers in [[1965–66 NHL season|1966]], he toiled for the next three seasons in the minors, winning all-star accolades for the [[Omaha Knights]] of the [[Central Hockey League]] in 1967 and spending the two years thereafter with the [[Buffalo Bisons (AHL)|Buffalo Bisons]] of the [[American Hockey League]]. Hamilton finally cracked the Rangers' lineup in [[1969–70 NHL season|1969]], playing in 59 games, but he had arrived at a time when the Ranger defence was stacked and a new kid named Brad Park was turning heads. Hamilton was left unprotected for the [[1970 NHL Expansion Draft]] and was selected by the [[Buffalo Sabres]] as their third choice.<ref name="LOH" />
Hamilton made a rather auspicious debut with the Rangers on a Wednesday night hockey broadcast. As [[Frank Mahovlich]] was skating down the boards, Hamilton entered the playing surface from the bench on a line change and knocked out the unsuspecting Mahovlich with a thundering shoulder check that required smelling salts to help him retain consciousness.{{Citation needed|reason=highly editorialized and subjectively worded with no quote attributed. Reworded in the abscense of attribution.|date=December 2017}}. While he played a few games for the Rangers in [[1965–66 NHL season|1966]], he toiled for the next three seasons in the minors, winning all-star accolades for the [[Omaha Knights (1963–1965)|Omaha Knights]] of the [[Central Professional Hockey League|Central Hockey League]] in 1967 and spending the two years thereafter with the [[Buffalo Bisons (AHL)|Buffalo Bisons]] of the [[American Hockey League]]. Hamilton finally cracked the Rangers' lineup in [[1969–70 NHL season|1969]], playing in 59 games, but he had arrived at a time when the Ranger defence was stacked and a new kid named [[Brad Park]] was turning heads. Hamilton was left unprotected for the [[1970 NHL Expansion Draft]] and was selected by the [[Buffalo Sabres]] as their third choice.<ref name="LOH" />


However, when the [[World Hockey Association]] began in [[1972–73 WHA season|1972]], Hamilton jumped back to the fledgling league, signing with the [[Alberta Oilers]] for their first season. Named the team's captain at the age of 26, he immediately responded with a 61 point season, his best as a pro,<ref name="LOH" /> A superb defender and leader, he captained the Oilers for four seasons and was chosen to represent [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]] in the [[1974 Summit Series]] against the [[Soviet Union national ice hockey team|Soviet Union]].<ref name="EOH" /> Overcoming injuries that frequently struck—and which cost him most of the [[1974–75 WHA season|1975 season]]—Hamilton remained the leader of the Oilers' defence corps for the whole of the WHA's history.
However, when the [[World Hockey Association]] began in [[1972–73 WHA season|1972]], Hamilton jumped over to the fledgling league, signing with the [[Alberta Oilers]] for their first season. Named the team's captain at the age of 26, he immediately responded with a 61-point season, his best as a pro,<ref name="LOH" /> A superb defender and leader, he captained the Oilers for four seasons and was chosen to represent [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]] in the [[1974 Summit Series]] against the [[Soviet Union national ice hockey team|Soviet Union]].<ref name="EOH" /> Overcoming injuries that frequently struck—and which cost him most of the [[1974–75 WHA season|1975 season]]—Hamilton remained the leader of the Oilers' defence corps for the whole of the WHA's history. When the Oilers joined the NHL for the [[1979–80 NHL season]], Hamilton had set the record for most games played (455) and most points scored (311) by [[List of Edmonton Oilers (WHA) players|any player while a WHA Oiler]].


==Retirement==
==Retirement==
Hamilton finished his career back in the NHL, playing 31 games with the Edmonton Oilers in [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]]; however, beset by a lingering eye injury from the previous season, he retired at season's end. His number 3 jersey was the first retired by the franchise.<ref name="EOH" /> As of 2014, Hamilton is the only Oiler not to be a member of the 1980's Stanley Cup teams to have his jersey retired.
Hamilton finished his career back in the NHL, playing 31 games with the Edmonton Oilers in [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]]; however, beset by a lingering eye injury from the previous season, he retired at season's end. His number "3" was the first retired by the franchise.<ref name="EOH" /> As of 2024, Hamilton is the only Oiler not to be a member of the 1980s Stanley Cup teams to have his number retired.


For the WHA all-time, he is 13th in games played, 15th in assists, 40th in points and 38th in penalty minutes. He was also the franchise leader for the WHA Oilers in games, assists and points, and second in penalty minutes.
For the WHA all-time, he is 13th in games played, 15th in assists, 40th in points, and 38th in penalty minutes. He was also the franchise leader for the WHA Oilers in games, assists, and points, and second in penalty minutes.


Hamilton remains active with the Oiler alumni and community affairs in the Edmonton area.
Hamilton remains active with the Oiler alumni and community affairs in the Edmonton area.


==Family==
==Family==
His son, [[Steve Hamilton (ice hockey)|Steve Hamilton]] (born 1973) has served as an assistant coach with the [[Edmonton Oil Kings]] of the [[Western Hockey League]] since the [[2010–11 WHL season|2010–11 season]].<ref>http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=86789</ref>
His son, [[Steve Hamilton (ice hockey)|Steve Hamilton]] (born 1973) is the current head coach with the [[Everett Silvertips]] of the [[Western Hockey League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=86789 |title = Steve Hamilton - Elite Prospects}}</ref>


== Awards and achievements ==
==Awards and achievements==
*[[Memorial Cup]] Championship (1966)<ref name="EOH" />
*[[Memorial Cup]] Championship (1966)<ref name="EOH" />
*[[Central Hockey League (1963–84)|CPHL]] Second All-Star Team (1967)<ref name="LOH" />
*[[Central Professional Hockey League|CPHL]] Second All-Star Team (1967)<ref name="LOH" />
*[[World Hockey Association|WHA]] Second All-Star Team (1974)<ref name="LOH" />
*[[World Hockey Association|WHA]] Second All-Star Team (1974)<ref name="LOH" />
*Member of Team Canada in the [[1974 Summit Series]]<ref name="EOH" />
*Member of Team Canada in the [[1974 Summit Series]]<ref name="EOH" />
*[[World Hockey Association|WHA]] First All-Star Team (1978)<ref name="LOH" />
*[[World Hockey Association|WHA]] First All-Star Team (1978)<ref name="LOH" />
*“Honoured Member” of the [[Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/players.html?category=9&id=96 |title=Al Hamilton profile |publisher=Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>
*"Honoured Member" of the [[Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/players.html?category=9&id=96 |title=Al Hamilton profile |publisher=Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=2010-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215142609/http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/players.html?category=9&id=96 |archive-date=2012-02-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Inaugural member of the [[World Hockey Association Hall of Fame]]<ref>[http://www.whahof.com/hofmembers.html WHA Hall of Fame Members]</ref>
*Inaugural member of the [[World Hockey Association Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.whahof.com/hofmembers.html |title=WHA Hall of Fame Members |access-date=2013-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826175702/http://www.whahof.com/hofmembers.html |archive-date=2018-08-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Jersey #3 retired by the [[Edmonton Oilers]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/edmonton-oilers-history-team-retires-al-hamiltons-no-3-oct-10-1980 |title=Hamilton's number retired |access-date=2024-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126125403/https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/edmonton-oilers-history-team-retires-al-hamiltons-no-3-oct-10-1980|archive-date=2021-01-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


== Career statistics ==
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:90%; text-align:center;"
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;"
|- style="background: #e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" style="background: #fff;" |
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! rowspan="99" style="background: #fff;" |
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! colspan="6" | [[Regular season|Regular&nbsp;season]]
! colspan="5" | [[regular season|Regular&nbsp;season]]
! rowspan="99" style="background: #fff;" |
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! colspan="6" | [[Playoffs]]
! colspan="5" | [[Playoffs]]
|- style="background: #e0e0e0;"
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! Team
! Team
Line 65: Line 68:
! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]]
! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]]
! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]]
! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]]
! [[Plus-minus (ice hockey)|+/-]]
! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP
! GP
Line 71: Line 73:
! A
! A
! Pts
! Pts
! Plus-minus|+/-
! PIM
! PIM
|-
|-
| 1964–65||[[St. Paul Rangers]]||CPHL||3||0||2||2||||0||||||—||—||||
| 1963–64||[[Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)|Edmonton Oil Kings]]||[[Central Alberta Hockey League|CAHL]]||14||4||7||11||26||5||2||3||5||15
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1965–66||[[New York Rangers]]||[[National Hockey League|NHL]]||4||0||0||0||—||0||—||||||||||
| [[1964 Memorial Cup|1963–64]]||Edmonton Oil Kings||[[Memorial Cup|M-Cup]]||||||||—||—||19||4||8||12||15
|-
|-
| 1966–67||[[Omaha Knights]]||CPHL||68||11||25||36||—||96||12||4||3||7||—||16||
| 1964–65||Edmonton Oil Kings||CAHL||30||10||15||25||—||||||||||—
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1967–68||New York Rangers||NHL||2||0||0||0||||0||—||—||—||—||—||—
| [[1964–65 CPHL season|1964–65]]||[[St. Paul Rangers]]||[[Central Professional Hockey League|CPHL]]||3||0||2||2||0||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|-
| 1967–68||[[Buffalo Bisons (AHL)|Buffalo Bisons]]||[[American Hockey League|AHL]]||72||9||21||30||—||82||5||0||4||4||—||23||
| [[1965 Memorial Cup|1964–65]]||Edmonton Oil Kings||M-Cup||||||||—||||20||4||12||16||40
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1968–69||New York Rangers||NHL||16||0||0||0||||8||1||0||0||0||—||0
| 1965–66||Edmonton Oil Kings||[[Alberta Senior Hockey League (1965–78)|ASHL]]||28||15||22||37||99||8||3||10||13||16
|-
| [[1965–66 NHL season|1965–66]]||[[New York Rangers]]||[[National Hockey League|NHL]]||4||0||0||0||0||—||—||—||—||—
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| [[1966 Memorial Cup|1965–66]]||Edmonton Oil Kings||M-Cup||—||—||—||—||—||19||9||23||32||29
|-
| [[1966–67 CPHL season|1966–67]]||[[Omaha Knights (1966–1975)|Omaha Knights]]||CPHL||68||11||25||36||96||12||4||3||7||16
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68]]||New York Rangers||NHL||2||0||0||0||0||—||—||—||—||—
|-
| [[1967–68 AHL season|1967–68]]||[[Buffalo Bisons (AHL)|Buffalo Bisons]]||[[American Hockey League|AHL]]||72||9||21||30||82||5||0||4||4||23
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]]||New York Rangers||NHL||16||0||0||0||8||1||0||0||0||0
|-
|-
| 1968–69||Buffalo Bisons||AHL||41||4||14||18||—||61||6||0||4||4||—||12
| [[1968–69 AHL season|1968–69]]||Buffalo Bisons||AHL||41||4||14||18||61||6||0||4||4||12
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1969–70||New York Rangers||NHL||59||0||5||5||—||54||5||0||0||0||—||2
| [[1969–70 NHL season|1969–70]]||New York Rangers||NHL||59||0||5||5||54||5||0||0||0||2
|-
|-
| 1970–71||Buffalo Sabres ||NHL||69||2||28||30||—||71||—||—||—||—||—||—
| [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71]]||[[Buffalo Sabres]]||NHL||69||2||28||30||71||—||—||—||—||—
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1971–72||Buffalo Sabres ||NHL||76||4||30||34||—||105||—||—||—||—||—||—
| [[1971–72 NHL season|1971–72]]||Buffalo Sabres||NHL||76||4||30||34||105||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|-
| 1972–73||[[Alberta Oilers]] ||[[World Hockey Association|WHA]]||78||11||50||61||—||124||1||0||0||0||—||2
| [[1972–73 WHA season|1972–73]]||[[Alberta Oilers]] ||[[World Hockey Association|WHA]]||78||11||50||61||124||1||0||0||0||2
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1973–74||[[Edmonton Oilers]] ||WHA||78||14||45||59||—||104||4||1||1||2||—||15
| [[1973–74 WHA season|1973–74]]||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||78||14||45||59||104||4||1||1||2||15
|-
|-
| 1974–75||Edmonton Oilers ||WHA||25||1||13||14||—||42||—||—||—||—||—||—
| [[1974–75 WHA season|1974–75]]||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||25||1||13||14||42||—||—||—||—||—
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1975–76||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||54||2||32||34||—||78||4||0||1||1||—||6
| [[1975–76 WHA season|1975–76]]||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||54||2||32||34||78||4||0||1||1||6
|-
|-
| 1976–77||Edmonton Oilers ||WHA||81||8||37||45||—||60||5||0||4||4||—||4
| [[1976–77 WHA season|1976–77]]||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||81||8||37||45||60||5||0||4||4||4
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1977–78||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||59||11||43||54||—||46||—||—||—||—||—||—
| [[1977–78 WHA season|1977–78]]||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||59||11||43||54||46||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|-
| 1978–79||Edmonton Oilers ||WHA||80||6||38||44||+22||38||13||4||5||9||—||4
| [[1978–79 WHA season|1978–79]]||Edmonton Oilers||WHA||80||6||38||44||38||13||4||5||9||4
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
|- style="background: #f0f0f0;"
| 1979–80||Edmonton Oilers||NHL||31||4||15||19||-2||20||1||0||0||0||—||0
| [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]]||Edmonton Oilers||NHL||31||4||15||19||20||1||0||0||0||0
|-
|-
| 1979–80||[[Houston Apollos]]||CHL||4||0||0||0||—||0||—||—||—||—||—||—
| [[1979–80 CHL season|1979–80]]||[[Houston Apollos]]||CHL||4||0||0||0||0||—||—||—||—||—
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" | WHA totals
! colspan="3" | WHA totals
! 455 !! 53 !! 258 !! 311 !! +22 !! 492
! 455 !! 53 !! 258 !! 311 !! 492
! 27 !! 5 !! 11 !! 16 !! —!! 31
! 27 !! 5 !! 11 !! 16 !! 31
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! 257 !! 10 !! 78 !! 88 !! -2 !! 258
! 257 !! 10 !! 78 !! 88 !! 258
! 7 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! — !! 2
! 7 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2
|}

===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:50em"
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Event
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp;
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|-
| [[1974 Summit Series|1974]]
| [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]]
| SS
| 3
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 4
|}
|}


Line 125: Line 161:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{icehockeystats|legends=12829}}
*{{eliteprospects|73612}}
*{{hockeydb|00002111}}
*{{legendsofhockey|12829}}


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = Position created | title = [[Edmonton Oilers#Team captains|Edmonton Oilers captain]]| years = [[1972–73 WHA season|1972]]-[[1975–76 WHA season|76]] | after = [[Glen Sather]]}}
{{succession box | before = Position created | title = [[Edmonton Oilers#Team captains|Edmonton Oilers captain]]| years = [[1972–73 WHA season|1972]]&ndash;[[1975–76 WHA season|76]] | after = [[Glen Sather]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Hamilton, Al
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Canadian ice hockey player
| DATE OF BIRTH = August 20, 1946
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Flin Flon]], [[Manitoba|MB]], [[Canada|CAN]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Al}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Al}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
Line 151: Line 176:
[[Category:Edmonton Oilers (WHA) players]]
[[Category:Edmonton Oilers (WHA) players]]
[[Category:Edmonton Oilers players]]
[[Category:Edmonton Oilers players]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Flin Flon]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Manitoba]]
[[Category:National Hockey League players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:National Hockey League players with retired numbers]]
[[Category:New York Rangers players]]
[[Category:New York Rangers players]]
[[Category:St. Paul Rangers players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Flin Flon]]

Latest revision as of 17:19, 17 October 2024

Al Hamilton
Born (1946-08-20) August 20, 1946 (age 78)
Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Buffalo Sabres
Alberta/Edmonton Oilers
National team  Canada
Playing career 1964–1980

Allan Guy Hamilton (born August 20, 1946) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman, most notably with the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association. He also played in the National Hockey League for the Oilers, as well as the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres.

Playing career

[edit]

Signed by the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) as a teenager, Hamilton spent his junior career with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He met with great success in juniors, being one of the rare players to play in the Memorial Cup tournament for three consecutive years.[1] His final season in 1966 with the Oil Kings saw the team win the Memorial Cup, led by Hamilton's remarkable 82 points in 55 regular season and playoff games, drawing frequent comparisons with his junior contemporary Bobby Orr of the Oshawa Generals. In fact in Hamilton's Memorial Cup-winning final junior year, Hamilton and Orr highlighted the championship game by trading end-to-end rushes.[2]

Hamilton made a rather auspicious debut with the Rangers on a Wednesday night hockey broadcast. As Frank Mahovlich was skating down the boards, Hamilton entered the playing surface from the bench on a line change and knocked out the unsuspecting Mahovlich with a thundering shoulder check that required smelling salts to help him retain consciousness.[citation needed]. While he played a few games for the Rangers in 1966, he toiled for the next three seasons in the minors, winning all-star accolades for the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League in 1967 and spending the two years thereafter with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League. Hamilton finally cracked the Rangers' lineup in 1969, playing in 59 games, but he had arrived at a time when the Ranger defence was stacked and a new kid named Brad Park was turning heads. Hamilton was left unprotected for the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft and was selected by the Buffalo Sabres as their third choice.[1]

However, when the World Hockey Association began in 1972, Hamilton jumped over to the fledgling league, signing with the Alberta Oilers for their first season. Named the team's captain at the age of 26, he immediately responded with a 61-point season, his best as a pro,[1] A superb defender and leader, he captained the Oilers for four seasons and was chosen to represent Canada in the 1974 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.[2] Overcoming injuries that frequently struck—and which cost him most of the 1975 season—Hamilton remained the leader of the Oilers' defence corps for the whole of the WHA's history. When the Oilers joined the NHL for the 1979–80 NHL season, Hamilton had set the record for most games played (455) and most points scored (311) by any player while a WHA Oiler.

Retirement

[edit]

Hamilton finished his career back in the NHL, playing 31 games with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979–80; however, beset by a lingering eye injury from the previous season, he retired at season's end. His number "3" was the first retired by the franchise.[2] As of 2024, Hamilton is the only Oiler not to be a member of the 1980s Stanley Cup teams to have his number retired.

For the WHA all-time, he is 13th in games played, 15th in assists, 40th in points, and 38th in penalty minutes. He was also the franchise leader for the WHA Oilers in games, assists, and points, and second in penalty minutes.

Hamilton remains active with the Oiler alumni and community affairs in the Edmonton area.

Family

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His son, Steve Hamilton (born 1973) is the current head coach with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League.[3]

Awards and achievements

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1963–64 Edmonton Oil Kings CAHL 14 4 7 11 26 5 2 3 5 15
1963–64 Edmonton Oil Kings M-Cup 19 4 8 12 15
1964–65 Edmonton Oil Kings CAHL 30 10 15 25
1964–65 St. Paul Rangers CPHL 3 0 2 2 0
1964–65 Edmonton Oil Kings M-Cup 20 4 12 16 40
1965–66 Edmonton Oil Kings ASHL 28 15 22 37 99 8 3 10 13 16
1965–66 New York Rangers NHL 4 0 0 0 0
1965–66 Edmonton Oil Kings M-Cup 19 9 23 32 29
1966–67 Omaha Knights CPHL 68 11 25 36 96 12 4 3 7 16
1967–68 New York Rangers NHL 2 0 0 0 0
1967–68 Buffalo Bisons AHL 72 9 21 30 82 5 0 4 4 23
1968–69 New York Rangers NHL 16 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 0 0
1968–69 Buffalo Bisons AHL 41 4 14 18 61 6 0 4 4 12
1969–70 New York Rangers NHL 59 0 5 5 54 5 0 0 0 2
1970–71 Buffalo Sabres NHL 69 2 28 30 71
1971–72 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 4 30 34 105
1972–73 Alberta Oilers WHA 78 11 50 61 124 1 0 0 0 2
1973–74 Edmonton Oilers WHA 78 14 45 59 104 4 1 1 2 15
1974–75 Edmonton Oilers WHA 25 1 13 14 42
1975–76 Edmonton Oilers WHA 54 2 32 34 78 4 0 1 1 6
1976–77 Edmonton Oilers WHA 81 8 37 45 60 5 0 4 4 4
1977–78 Edmonton Oilers WHA 59 11 43 54 46
1978–79 Edmonton Oilers WHA 80 6 38 44 38 13 4 5 9 4
1979–80 Edmonton Oilers NHL 31 4 15 19 20 1 0 0 0 0
1979–80 Houston Apollos CHL 4 0 0 0 0
WHA totals 455 53 258 311 492 27 5 11 16 31
NHL totals 257 10 78 88 258 7 0 0 0 2

International

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Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1974 Canada SS 3 0 1 1 4

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Al Hamilton player profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Al Hamilton – Number 3 forever". Edmonton Oilers Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  3. ^ "Steve Hamilton - Elite Prospects".
  4. ^ "Al Hamilton profile". Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  5. ^ "WHA Hall of Fame Members". Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  6. ^ "Hamilton's number retired". Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
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Preceded by
Position created
Edmonton Oilers captain
197276
Succeeded by