Jeff Hamilton

2006-07 Update: November 1, 2006: Jeff Hamilton became an unrestricted free agent and the Islanders chose not to resign him. He suffered a bad concussion that caused him to miss the Bridgeport Sound Tigers playoff series vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season. He signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and has played very well for them: Scored the game winner in a 3-1 win over Nashville on Oct.12th - Scored his first goal as a Blackhawk, a power play tally, and added an assist vs. Columbus on Oct.7 - Made his Blackhawk debut on Oct.5 in an 8-6 win at Nashville - Pre-Season: 6 gp - 2-6=8 - 2 pim.

Hamilton '01 Making Significant Impact For Chicago Blackhawks
Yale's All-Time Leading Scorer Has Strong Start In NHL
yalebulldogs.cstv.com, Oct. 16, 2006

New Haven, CT - Jeff Hamilton '01, Yale's all-time leading scorer with 173 career points (80 goals, 93 assists), is making an immediate impact for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, who he signed with at the beginning of this season. In four games, Hamilton has two goals and one assist.

Hamilton's contribution to the Blackhawks so far this year is arguably his best NHL performance to date since joining hockey's top league.

In his three-year NHL career, Hamilton has played in 18 games with the New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks, recording four goals and seven assists for 11 points. During this stretch, he has also spent time with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. In 2003-04, he led the AHL in goals with 41.

Hamilton had his best season at Yale as a senior, playing in 31 games and scoring 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points. The Englewood, Ohio native was a two-time finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to college hockey's top player, in 1999 and 2001. No Yale player has ever won the award and Hamilton is the only player to be named a finalist twice.

Selected to first-team All-ECACHL and All-Ivy three times each while at Yale, Hamilton was also named a second-team All-American in 1997-98 and 1998-99, and made first-team during the 2000-01 season. He was named Ivy League Player of the Year twice, first in 1999 and again in 2001.

General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward Jeff Hamilton on a 1-year contract.

“Hamilton made our team by having a great camp,” said Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon. “He really impressed our staff by the way he played. He was a big part of our success on the power play.”

Hamilton was invited to Blackhawks’ training camp on a tryout basis after having played last season at both Bridgeport in the AHL and with the New York Islanders in the NHL.

At Bridgeport last season, Hamilton appeared in 39 games scoring 24 goals and 49 points. With the New York Islanders, Hamilton played in 13 games and scored 2 goals and 8 points.

In 5 preseason games for the Blackhawks this year, Hamilton has 2 goals, both on the power play, and 6 assists for 8 points.

Hamilton, 29, stands at 5.10 and weighs in at 185 pounds. He is a graduate of Yale University where he is the all-time scoring leader with 80 goals and 174 points in 127 career games. He played one season in Finland, 2001-02, for Karpat where he had 33 points in 39 games.

He signed with the New York Islanders as a free agent in August of 2002 and played the next two seasons, 2002-03 and 2003-04, for Bridgeport in the AHL. He got his first taste of the NHL with the New York Islanders in 2003-04 playing in just one game. In his brief NHL career, Hamilton has appeared in 14 games scoring 2 goals and 8 points with 8 penalty minutes.

2005-06 Update: May 1, 2006 Update: Jeff Hamilton missed the remainder of the AHL season after sustaining a concussion on March 24th at Manchester. His absence was a huge loss in the Bridgeport Sound Tigers first round playoff loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, a series that went 7 games. Hamilton will be an unrestricted group VI free agent this summer. He had 2 goals and 8 points in 13 games played with the New York Islanders in 2005-06. He led the Sound Tigers with 15 power play goals, despite only playing 39 games with Bridgeport this season. This season Hamilton became the second all time leading scorer in Sound Tiger history with 155 points. He is second to only Rob Collins who finished last season with 163 points. Hamilton is Bridgeport's all time leader in goals with 89.

Snippet 4/21/06: SITTING OUT — Jeff Hamilton (concussion) skated Thursday morning, staying out late with healthy scratches Peter Tsimikalis, Dustin Kohn and Luch Aquino, along with backup goalie Frederic Cloutier.

April 1, 2006 Update: Jeff Hamilton went 6-3-9 in 8 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of March. He's fourth on the team in scoring and his 15 power play goals is more than twice as many as any other player on the team. His points on the month, 6-3-9 came in a 6 game scoring streak from March 4th to 18th. Hamilton sustained a concussion on March 24th and had to leave the game at Manchester. He missed the last four games in March and remains day to day.

March 1, 2006 Update: Jeff Hamilton went 6-8-14 in 9 games played with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of February. Had a seven game point scoring streak and went 3-8-11 from February 3rd to 17th. Missed three games from February 18th to 22nd. Returned to lineup on February 24th and scored 2 goals in a 3-1 win at the Lowell Lock Monsters.

February 1, 2006 Update: Jeff Hamilton was called up to the Islanders on January 2, 2006 in time to play that night vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Islanders lost the game 2-1 with Hamilton scoring their only goal on the powerplay. It was Hamilton's 2nd goal of the season for the Islanders. He played in the next four games for the Islanders without registering a point and was sent back down to Bridgeport on January 12, 2006. He played in the next two games for Bridgeport and recorded a goal and 3 assists. Hamilton was recalled to the Islanders on January 16, 2006 and on the 17th he recorded an assist at Chicago on an Alexei Yashin goal. The Islanders won the game 2-1. On January 19th Hamilton recorded another assist (second straight game) in a 4-3 loss at Carolina on the first goal of the season by Radek Martinek. The Islanders didn't dress Hamilton for the next three contests and finally he was re-assigned once again to Bridgeport on January 26, 2006. Jeff recorded an assist in his first game back but it was his only point in three games with the Sound Tigers to close out the month of January. When Hamilton was held scoreless in a 3-2 win vs. the Philadelphia Phantoms on January 28, 2006 it snapped a personal 13 game AHL scoring streak in which he went 10-12-22 dating back to a game he played December 2, 2005 which was a 4-0 win at the Lowell Lock Monsters. He went 1-2-3 in 7 games with the Islanders and 1-4-5 in 5 games played with Bridgeport during the month of January.

January 1, 2006 Update: Jeff Hamilton was called up for his first game of the season as an Islander and scored the first goal of the game against the Colorado Avalanche on December 17, 2005. He was one of four players called up that night as the Islanders were experiencing injuries and were down to around 10 players in practice. Since that night Hamilton has been up and down from Bridgeport to the Islanders. Reportedly, a couple of times he was returned to Bridgeport even when they did not have a game so that the Islanders would not have to pay the mandatory $5,000 daily to keep him at the NHL level. Hamilton officially returned to the Sound Tigers lineup on November 16, 2005 from Kazan Ak-bars in Russia. In his six games with the Islanders during the month of December he recorded 5 points(1g, 4a) playing predominantly on the powerplay. During the month of December with Bridgeport Hamilton went 9-9-18 in 10 games played. He went 2-2-4 in 7 games played with Bridgeport during the month of November.

As the article below states, Jeff Hamilton began the 2005-06 season in Russia playing for Kazan Ak-Bars but quickly realized that things were not working out there. The Islanders, still holding his rights, re-signed Hamilton in mid November and brought him back to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He returned to the Sound Tigers lineup on November 16, 2005 in a 1-0 shutout win over the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Personal: Jeff is engaged to Jane Resor, who attended Yale University and played for the women's team the same years Hamilton played at Yale, 1997-01. Jane's younger sister Helen was recently a member of the Bronze winning Team USA Women's Hockey Team at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy.

Highlights: 

* Named third star with a goal in a 5-2 loss vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Nov. 20, 2005.

* Named second star with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win vs. Philadelphia Phantoms Dec. 3, 2005.

* Named third star with a goal and 2 assists in a 5-3 loss vs. Hartford Wolfpack Dec. 4, 2005.

* Named third star with a goal in a 4-1 loss vs. Hershey Bears December 7, 2005.

* Named 1st star with 3 goals(2 PP & GW) and an assist in a 5-2 win vs. Lowell Lock Monsters 12/16/05.

* Named 1st star with his first NHL goal in a 5-4 New York Islanders win vs. Colorado 12/17/05.

* Named second star with a goal and 2 assists in a 7-4 win vs. Lowell Lock Monsters February 10, 2006.

* Named second star with a goal in 3-1 win vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins February 12, 2006.

* Named second star with 3 assists(all on power play) in 7-4 win vs. Hershey Bears February 15, 2006.

* Named first star with 2 goals(2 PP, GW) in 3-1 win at Lowell Lock Monsters February 24, 2006.

* Named second star with 2 goals(2 PP, OT GW) in 2-1 win vs. Norfolk Admirals March 5, 2006.

SOUND TIGERS OVERPOWER NORFOLK 2-1 IN OT
March 5, 2006

The Sound Tigers evened the score at 1-1 on a two-man advantage when Jeff Hamilton fired a slap shot off the left post and past Admirals netminder Corey Crawford for his 19th goal of the season with Rob Collins and Jeremy Colliton picking up assists at 8:16 of the third period.

In the extra frame, Hamilton's hot stick got the Sound Tigers the clinching goal at 1:04 when he one-timed his second power-play tally of the game and 20th overall of the season off assists from Bruno Gervais and Collins for the 2-1 victory.

Dubielewicz stopped 40 of 41 shots to earn the victory for the Sound Tigers who were 2 for 6 on the power play and 2 for 2 on the penalty kill while Crawford stopped 32 shots for the Admirals who held the shots on goal advantage at 41-34. The first star of the game was Dubielewicz, the second was Hamilton, and the third was Thornton.

Hamilton looks to pump up the volume for Sound Tigers
By Lindsay Kramer | NHL.com Correspondent
Dec. 1, 2005

It took a trip around the world for Jeff Hamilton to figure out he was better off at home.

Home, in a hockey sense, almost always has been some place in Connecticut. Hamilton is back there again this season, trying to pump some more offense into his former team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. It feels as right as snow falling on Christmas morning.

"There's something to be said for being comfortable where you're at, and it helps you adjust on the hockey side," said Hamilton, a 28-year-old center.

Hamilton's appreciation for a familiar rink has grown since the start of the season. He began the year with Kazan Ak-Bars in Russia, notching only 16 penalty minutes in eight games. He didn't need his Yale education to quickly surmise he had little future with that team.

So, Hamilton headed back to the AHL, where he played last season for the Hartford Wolf Pack (23 goals, 29 assists). The Islanders still held his NHL rights and he skated back into Bridgeport, site of his greatest pro glory.

"I was definitely happy they would welcome me back here," Hamilton said. "It was a matter of 10 seconds getting the deal done."

The Sound Tigers had every reason to leave a light on for him. Hamilton played for Bridgeport from 2002-04, and two seasons ago he produced one of the best AHL performances in recent years on behalf of the team.

In 2003-04, Hamilton led the Sound Tigers in scoring with 43 goals and 25 assists in just 67 games. Twenty of those goals came on the power play, and 15 of the markers were game-winners. Hamilton's numbers would have soared even more if he hadn't missed 13 games with a serious eye injury.

Trying to re-create success in old stomping grounds can be a tricky situation. But the Sound Tigers, off to an 8-10-2 start, desperately need Hamilton to rip off a reasonable facsimile. In his first six games, he has two goals and an assist.

"I definitely want to keep improving. I'm sure there's expectations," Hamilton said. "You don't want to take any step backwards."

Sound Tigers coach Dave Baseggio doesn't see that happening. As a former Yale player himself, and a Bridgeport assistant when Hamilton played there earlier, Baseggio has a bond with Hamilton that should keep the player comfortable and productive.

"He's an opportunistic guy with great speed and great instincts," Baseggio said. "You appreciate him a lot when he's with you. When you coach against him, you realize he's a threat every time he's on the ice. That's something you can't teach. He's part of a puzzle. It's a nice piece to have."

At the very least, the shared college background of Hamilton and Baseggio help them pass all of the season's down time.

"We always talk about Newton's Law and all that stuff," Baseggio joked. "Na, it's pretty much hockey."

Jeff Hamilton on the power play? No way, Bridgeport Sound Tigers coach Dave Baseggio said. Limited minutes in a defensive role. Baseggio couldn't keep a straight face on that punch line for long. Even if Hamilton isn't in top game shape when he returns to the Sound Tigers' lineup tonight after more than a year away, the small forward with the big shot will be a fixture on the man advantage again. "The power play's in an 0-for-17 drought. Now I have someone to blame for that if we don't score," Baseggio deadpanned.

Hamilton cleared NHL waivers at noon Tuesday. The team reintroduced him at a press conference later in the day, and he'll be back in his familiar No. 18 tonight when Philadelphia visits the Sound Tigers at the Arena at Harbor Yard. "I can't wait to get back on the ice and play some North American hockey," said Hamilton, 28, a Yale product who began the season playing in Russia. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Continuing injury troubles — and word Tuesday was that sniper Justin Papineau and defenseman Jody Robinson are both out for the year — make Hamilton even more of a bonus, both for Bridgeport and as a potential call-up forward for the New York Islanders. At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, he's a player who should benefit from the more wide-open NHL and AHL game created by the new rules package and restraining-foul crackdown. The AHL portion of Hamilton's two-way contract is below $75,000, so he would not have to clear waivers to go up to the Islanders. Getting him to the NHL is his and Baseggio's goal. "After watching some games over in Russia, talking to some people, coming back and seeing some games, it's a changed league," Hamilton said. "It definitely benefits players like myself. I thought it was a pretty good opportunity to give it another chance."

Hamilton played against much of the current roster last season, when he was with the Hartford Wolf Pack. In the two previous seasons, he played in Bridgeport with eight of the current Sound Tigers. It was in the second of those seasons, 2003-04, that he scored 43 goals, a league-record 15 of which were game-winners. It was also the year he took a stick in the left eye, permanently affecting his vision. "I actually just came from the doctor's office, and everything is the same," Hamilton said. "It's no better, no worse, which is good news."

Most of Jeff Hamilton's top-level competitive hockey career has been spent in this state. Hamilton, an Ohio native, lives here in the offseason. He played prep-school hockey at Avon Old Farms, college hockey at Yale, went to Finland for a year, then played two seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Last year, he played in Hartford. "It's the only place I know," Hamilton quipped. If he clears waivers at noon today, he'll stay right here. Hamilton, 28, signed a contract Sunday for the remainder of the season with the New York Islanders. He would join the Sound Tigers, and a reintroductory press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. at The Rinks at Shelton. The standout right winger set an AHL record with 15 game-winning goals in 2003-04 while scoring 43 goals overall despite a serious eye injury that cost him 13 games. He was in town for Sunday's win over Lowell, getting a physical.

Hamilton had offers in Switzerland, Russia and Finland, but he decided to come back to the team that still held his rights as a restricted free agent. "He turned down a lot of money to do this," Hamilton's agent, Bill Zito, said. "I'm proud of him. Now it's up to him."

Hamilton began the season with AK Bars Kazan in Russia, well east of Moscow; Hamilton said he's still a little jetlagged after a week back home. He was released in late October after playing only eight games, scoring no points. "I wasn't really playing that much. I ended up playing eight games of the 20 we played there, and the coach and the president decided to part ways. It was pretty much a mutual decision. I was ready to get going."

As it turned out, going back to Connecticut.

2004-05 Update: Jeff Hamilton's future with the Islanders organization seems a bit cloudy as he signs an AHL free agent contract with the New York Rangers affiliate the Hartford Wolf Pack. Since he is a restricted free agent with the Islanders, he remains their property. Hamilton's goal output drops back down to 23 goals. He also adds 4 goals and 7 points in 6 playoff games with the Wolf Pack.

Hamilton, Westlund Earn Medals with Team USA
Former Bulldog Stars Part of Bronze-Medal Finish at World Championships

May 9, 2004

Prague, Czech Republic - Former Yale hockey stars Jeff Hamilton and Alex Westlund earned medals as members of Team USA at the IIHF World Championships, which concluded Sunday in Prague. Team USA's 1-0 win over Slovakia in a shootout brought home the bronze medal, the first medal since 1996 for the United States.

Following three scoreless periods in regulation and a 10-minute overtime period, the Americans outdueled the Slovaks four goals to two in the shootout for a 1-0 victory. With the teams tied at two, Andy Roach's goal put Team USA up for good. American goalie Ty Conklin then stopped Marian Gaborik, and Erik Westrum added the USA's fourth goal to clinch the victory.

Hamilton, Yale's all-time leading scorer, was added to the Team USA roster April 29, following the conclusion of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) season. Westlund, Yale's career saves leader, was on the original roster after playing most recently for Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the Russian Elite League.

Canada defeated Sweden 5-3 to win the gold medal. Team USA's performance at the tournament qualified the United States for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

report by Sam Rubin '95, Yale Sports Publicity Department

2003-04 Update: Hamilton has a breakout year leading the AHL with 43 goals for Bridgeport. He also registers 4 goals in 7 playoff games. His play earned him a call up to the New York Islanders where he was held scoreless in one appearance.

Hamilton '01 skates in first NHL game
BY RUSSEL SPROLE - YaleDailyNews.com Contributing Reporter, December 10, 2003

Jeff Hamilton '01, one of the greats of Yale hockey, played his first National Hockey League game for the New York Islanders Dec. 2, a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals.

The call up to the big show came after Hamilton received the Sher-wood American Hockey League Player of the Week award while playing for the Islanders' minor league affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. During that week, Hamilton posted four goals and an assist in three wins for the Sound Tigers. Two of the goals were game-winners, including the deciding goal in a 4-3 overtime victory over Lowell.

So far this season, Hamilton leads the AHL in goals with 17 and is third in point standings with 25. His outstanding play has propelled the Sound Tigers, who are unbeaten in 16 games, to first place in the AHL.

Although Hamilton was recalled to Bridgeport after the Islanders loss to the Washington Capitals, it was an impressive achievement for a player of Hamilton's size.

Standing at only 5-foot-10-inches and tipping the scales at 185 lbs., Hamilton is very small for a league dominated by massive players. His puck-handling ability and outstanding shot compensate for his small build.

Steven Conn, Yale's director of sports publicity, watched most of Hamilton's games at Yale and was amazed with what he saw.

"[Hamilton's shot] was just a snap and the puck is heading towards the corner of the net," Conn said. "If it didn't hit the net, it is making a sound off the board, that makes you go, 'Oh my goodness, this guy can really shoot the puck.'"

Eli head coach Tim Taylor also remembers Hamilton's shot and scoring ability.

"He had a passion and knack to score goals and produce offense," Taylor said. "When I think of Jeff Hamilton, I think of his great release and his fantastic shot. Even at the pro level he has a release, one-time shot, and a knack for scoring that is enabling him to compete at that level."

The seniors on the hockey team this year played with Hamilton when they were freshmen, and they speak freely about his skills as a player.

"Bottom line, he just loved hockey," captain Vin Hellemeyer '04 said. "Any time when the ice was available, he was out there. He was a guy you could really bank on to get the job done. He's got one of the best shots I've ever seen. When he started playing last year at Bridgeport, we were all pretty confident that he would get called up."

Hamilton's impact on Yale hockey is readily apparent. In his sophomore year he led the Bulldogs to ECAC and Ivy League championships. In his junior year, the Bulldogs again captured the Ivy League title. In the 1999-2000 season, Hamilton sat out with an abdominal injury and his presence was sorely missed as Yale finished fifth in the Ivy League standings. After recovering from his injury Hamilton returned the following year to earn Ivy League MVP as the Elis won the Ivy crown yet again. In the end, Hamilton finished his collegiate career with 80 goals and 93 assists, making him Yale's all-time leading scorer with 173 total points. He was also Yale's only two-time Hobey Baker finalist. The list of accomplishments and records Hamilton achieved at Yale continues.

Hamilton was never a one-man show, and many Bulldogs had career years when playing on his line.

Off the ice, Hamilton brought comic relief to the team. Steve Conn remembered times when Hamilton would put black tape on his teeth for interviews and photo shoots so it looked like he was missing teeth. In the locker room he was always thinking up different pranks to pull on his teammates.

Now in the pros, Hamilton's humor can be seen in his often-changing hair color. Hamilton and his playful hair have found great success in the AHL, where he awaits another call from the Islanders.

"If he keeps lighting it up at the AHL level it will be hard not to give him another look," Taylor said. "He has enough hockey sense and enough offensive talent to earn a spot in the NHL."

Yale Alum Hamilton Named AHL Player of the Week, Called Up to NHL
Joins New York Islanders

Dec. 1, 2003

The American Hockey League announced today that Bridgeport Sound Tigers right wing Jeff Hamilton, a former Yale hockey star, has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending November 30, 2003. The second-year pro was also rewarded with his first NHL recall by the parent New York Islanders.

In three games, Hamilton tallied four goals and an assist as Bridgeport extended its unbeaten streak to a franchise-record 13 games.

Hamilton opened the week with a goal and an assist in the Sound Tigers' 5-4 win at Binghamton on Thursday night. He netted the game-winning goal in a 3-0 victory over Hartford on Friday, and scored twice more - including the deciding goal in overtime - as Bridgeport posted a 4-3 win over Lowell on Saturday.

In recognition of his achievement, Hamilton will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to an upcoming game. In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to several area youth hockey organizations in Hamilton's name.

A former All-American at Yale, the 26-year-old Hamilton is in his second AHL season. He currently leads the league with 17 goals, 11 power play scores and five game-winners, and has scored a goal in five straight contests, his second such streak of the season. The native of Englewood, Ohio, has recorded a team-best 23 points in 20 games this season, and has totaled 39 goals and 22 assists in 87 games with Bridgeport over the last two years.

Among the other nominees for Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week was Hamilton center Chris Higgins, who played two seasons for the Bulldogs before going in the first round of the last NHL draft to Montreal.

2002-03 Update: Jeff Hamilton provided some offense for the Sound Tigers with 22 goals in 67 games played. He also chipped in 3 goals and 6 points in 9 playoff games.

Hamilton returns to Connecticut to play hockey
Former Yale star hopes to improve defensive impact in professional play
BY Chelsea Kanyer, YDN Contributing Reporter, October 23, 2002

Jeff Hamilton '01 just cannot stay away from Connecticut ice rinks.

This summer, the former Yale men's ice hockey star returned from Europe to join the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Hamilton signed with the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, the parent team of the the Sound Tigers.

In 2001, Hamilton culminated his Yale experience by breaking Mark Kaufman's '93 Yale career scoring record of 160 points with 173 career points.

After graduating, Hamilton went to Finland to play in the Finnish Elite League. He returned to the United States this summer and signed with the Islanders.

Sound Tigers' head coach Steve Sterling said the Tigers were still figuring out exactly what role Hamilton will play on the team. Impressed by Hamilton's skill with the puck, Sterling is excited to see what Hamilton can do.

Hamilton's strength lies in his ability to score.

"Jeff [Hamilton] has a lot of offensive tools," said Dave Baseggio '89, assistant coach for the Sound Tigers and former captain of the Yale hockey team.

Sterling said that because Hamilton spent last year in Europe, he plays with more maturity than the average college graduate on the Bridgeport squad.

"You can see the way he carries himself well on the rink," Sterling said. "He's had success in the past, and he's learned some lessons."

But differences between European and American professional ice hockey could initially affect Hamilton's play.

"European hockey is much different than North American hockey," Sterling said. "We will see if [Hamilton] can make the mental and physical adjustments."

Teams in the American hockey league play 80-game seasons, while clubs in Finland played at most 40 games, Sterling said. European teams tend to focus more on skill and finesse than American players do.

"In Northern American Hockey, the guys are bigger, faster and stronger," Sterling said. "The biggest factor for Jeff [Hamilton] will be if he can survive the grind and rigor in pro hockey."

Hamilton always has played center before, but the Sound Tigers plan to place Hamilton on the wing where he can be in a better position to score.

And Hamilton must improve his defense to become a more complete player.

"[Hamilton] needs to improve his defensive game," Baseggio said. "He has done well so far as a rookie, but he needs to learn to be more consistent."

Sterling said a a player typically remains in the American Hockey League for one to three years, depending on his talent, health and maturity.

"It's very early to tell when [Hamilton] will move up to the NHL," Baseggio said. "Right now, he's learning how to play in the American league; you've got to learn to crawl before you walk."

Hamilton could not be reached for comment over the past week. In Sept. 2001, Hamilton told the Yale Daily News, "[Pro hockey] will be a big jump, but I think I am ready for it. I'll be fine offensively. I just have to work on my defense, and after a couple of months that should come around as well."

Hamilton's success is no surprise to Yale coach Tim Taylor or any of his former teammates.

"[Hamilton] always worked really hard. Everybody's excited about his opportunity," Yale captain Denis Nam '02 said.

Taylor said Hamilton needs to prove to everyone, including himself, that he can compete despite his undersized 5-foot-9-inch frame. Hamilton's skills and skating already have improved drastically since he graduated, Taylor said.

Hamilton had a tremendous Yale career. He helped lead the 1997-98 team to the Ivy League Championship. He reached the ECAC All-Rookie squad and scored 47 points in 33 games as a sophomore.

Hamilton was a three-time All-American and was named one of the country's top 10 collegiate hockey players in 1999. Twice, he was Ivy League Player of the Year -- in 1999 and 2001 -- and was Yale's first player to be a three-time All-ECAC first team selection.

Hamilton also was the first Eli to be recognized twice as a Hobey Baker Finalist, in the 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons. The Hobey Baker award goes annually to the nation's best collegiate hockey player.

Hamilton set other offensive records for Yale, including single-season game-winning goals and career game-winning goals.

In Finland, Hamilton proved he can compete at the professional level by leading his team in scoring.

Besides his athletic ability and hockey talent, Hamilton's dedication and leadership adds to his value as a player.

"He was hilarious; he always had a joke to tell," Nam said.

And while Taylor, the winningest coach in Yale's history, has coached other Elis who progressed to professional leagues, he said that few had Hamilton's desire.

"I've never coached a kid who loved the game as much as [Hamilton]," Taylor said.

islesinfo.com: Jeff Hamilton is an undrafted free agent center who was a three-time Division I All-American with Yale University. He spent last season with Karpat of the Finnish League, where he finished first in team goal scoring and third in points. Hamilton is the all-time leading scorer for Yale where he compiled 80 goals and 174 points in 127 games.

He was a three-time All-Ivy League selection in 1997-98, 1998-99 and 2000-01. During his senior year, the 24-year old notched a career-high 55 points in 31 contests as Yale won the Ivy League Conference. He was named a First Team East All-American in NCAA Division I. The center was selected to the ECAC All-Rookie squad after the 1996-97 season when he scored 23 points in 31 contests.

Hamilton was a member of the St. Nick's Hockey Club which captured the USA Hockey 2002 Men's Senior Elite National Championship in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He played his prep hockey at the prestigious Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut.

Hamilton will be looked upon to provide some offense in Bridgeport for 2002-03. Especially with the loss of Jason Krog as a free agent to Anaheim.

Hamilton '01 signs with Rangers affiliate
BY RON VACCARO - YDN Staff Reporter, September 14, 2001

Yale hockey's all-time scoring king has pulled off another last-second goal.

After six nerve-wracking months of waiting to find out if professional hockey was in his future, Jeff Hamilton '01 received the call of his dreams -- from the New York Rangers Sept. 9. The former Bulldog forward signed a minor league contract with the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on the eve of training camp.

"It was definitely nice to be signed finally," Hamilton said. "After the [International Hockey League] folded, a lot of hockey players don't have jobs."

And for a while, it seemed as if Hamilton would join those ranks. But recently, both the Rangers and the N.Y. Islanders showed interest in the man whose lightning fast and powerful shot obliterated the Yale record books. When the Islanders pulled out of contention last Sunday, the Rangers pulled the trigger and signed Hamilton.

"I think the reason it took so long [for a team to sign Hamilton] was because people have always doubted his size," Yale hockey head coach Tim Taylor said. "But throughout his career, he has proven the experts wrong about his size. Nobody ever expected him to have the college career he did."

The 5-foot-10-inch, 188-pound Hamilton said he is determined to reach the NHL, no matter how long it takes him to do so. But he is well aware of the adjustments he will have to make.

"It will be a big jump, but I think I am ready for it," Hamilton said. "I'll be fine offensively. I just have to work on my defense, and after a couple of months that should come around as well."

Nor does Taylor think the man he has described as "quite possibly the best offensive player in Yale history" will have trouble adjusting.

"Jeff [Hamilton] was one of the most skillful and talented college hockey players in the country," Taylor said. "He is special because he has always been able to adjust."

A three-time first-team All-America selection, Hamilton finished in the top five nationally last year in both points per game (1.72) and goals per game (0.76). He became the school's all-time leading scorer Feb. 23 at Ingalls Rink with a second period goal against Vermont. Taylor sees no reason for Hamilton to become less effective offensively in the AHL -- or the NHL for that matter.

"I have great confidence in his ability to score," Taylor said. "He can and will produce points at the professional level."

Taylor said that while many possess the same basic skills that Hamilton has, the Englewood, Ohio, native is a rare breed when it comes to intangibles.

"As coaches we talk about enigmatic qualities certain players have, such as a knack for scoring," Taylor said. "Jeff Hamilton has that knack. He is a goal scorer and a point producer. Many people have the same fundamentals, but very few have his scoring touch. He shoots the puck harder and more accurately than most others."

islesinfo.com note: It's interesting in this article that it states the Islanders were interested in Jeff back in 2001.

Hamilton overcomes injury and rewrites the Yale hockey record book
BY RON VACCARO - YDN Staff Reporter, May 17, 2001

Yale hockey forward Jeff Hamilton '01 had waited a long time for this moment -- 119 games, one period and 52 seconds, to be exact.

He waited an entire year longer than anyone expected, having made the painful decision to postpone his senior year due to a severe injury that kept him off the ice for months. And then he patiently fought through his "second" senior season, the marked man on a team destined to finish near the bottom of the ECAC pack.

But after almost five full years spent moving up the list of Yale hockey's all-time leading scorers, Hamilton finally got his record. In the penultimate home game of his career, the star forward picked up the puck in traffic and flipped a backhander over the right shoulder of Vermont goaltender Andrew Allen for his 15th goal of the season and the 161st point of his illustrious career.

The capacity crowd at Ingalls Rink rose to its feet for a rare in-game standing ovation, as Hamilton took the crown from Mark Kaufman '93 as Yale's all-time scoring king.

"[Breaking the record] was an incredible feeling," Hamilton said. "After the goal it felt as though I was floating on the ice -- then I realized that [defenseman] John Gauger '01 had me in a bear hug and was lifting me off the ice."

One night later, with the scoring record monkey off his back, Hamilton went on to notch his fifth career hat trick, including two jaw-dropping third period goals. For the second time in as many nights, the crowd rose to applaud Hamilton, as he skated off the ice at Ingalls Rink for the final time in a Bulldog uniform.

In that one weekend, Hamilton had cemented his place as arguably the greatest offensive player in Yale hockey history.

Four games later, the senior's career came to a disappointing end

when the Bulldogs dropped back-to-back games to Harvard in the ECAC playoffs. But by the time he left the ice at the Crimson's Bright Center, he held Yale records for career scoring (173 points), single-season game-winning goals (7), career game-winning goals (18) and games played (124).

Hamilton stands alone as Yale's first ever two-time Hobey Baker Finalist ('98-'99 and '00-'01), the Bulldogs' only three-time All-American ('97-'98, '98-'99 and '00-'01) and the sole Eli skater to be named Ivy League Player of the Year twice (1999 and 2001). He is also the school's only three-time first team All-ECAC selection, a three-time first team All-Ivy pick and a member of the New England Hockey Writers' Association All-Star team.

But while the Englewood, Ohio, native often made it look effortless on the ice, his path to the Yale record books was far from easy.

"My five years here were a roller coaster ride of events," Hamilton said. "Some goals were achieved and some were never reached."

After breaking the scoring record, a modest Hamilton said that as a freshman he was just worried about getting ice time and never imagined that he would become the player head coach Tim Taylor has called "arguably the best offensive player ever to don the Yale uniform."

Before Hamilton arrived at Yale, the Bulldogs had never won an ECAC title. But, thanks in large part to the Elis' star forward, that changed with the 1997-98 team. Hamilton scored quite probably the school's most important goal ever -- the game--winner on the road against Rensselaer in the team's final game to seal the Bulldogs' only ECAC crown in the 106 years of Yale hockey.

"Smoking a cigar in the locker room after the game while watching everyone enjoy the accomplishment was something that I will never forget, and I'm sure that no one else in the room that day will forget it," Hamilton said.

The hockey gods were not kind enough to allow Hamilton to enjoy the post-season that year, however, as he was injured in the ECAC playoffs and unable to play when the team made it to its first NCAA tournament since 1952.

After a disappointing loss to Colgate in the first round of the 1998-99 conference playoffs, Hamilton and the Bulldogs seemed poised to return to the NCAAs the next year, but fate dealt Hamilton another cruel blow.

After sitting out the team's first few games due to a suspension for an NCAA violation, Hamilton severely injured an abdominal muscle on his first shift of the season. He attempted a comeback against Princeton, but aggravated the injury and could not return. On Dec. 3, 2000, Hamilton announced he would elect to take a medical redshirt season and withdraw from Yale to save a year of eligibility.

In his "second" senior season, Hamilton and company made a run for home ice in the playoffs, but a disappointing final weekend of the regular season meant they would be on the road the following week to face Harvard in the opening round of the ECAC playoffs.

After losing the first game of the best-of-three series at the Bright Center March 9, Hamilton and six other seniors faced the possibility of playing their final game with a "Y" on their jerseys. The Bulldogs fell 7-4, and while a frustrated Hamilton was not able to put the puck in the net all night, he picked up four assists in his final game as a Bulldog, giving him 32 assists and 23 goals for the season, and 93 assists and 80 goals for his career.

Hamilton's scoring success throughout his final season is particularly impressive because opposing defenses were often geared solely to stop him.

"He was under an awful lot of pressure to perform every night," Taylor said. "He was closely watched and marked by every team we played. For him to come up with 50-plus points and 20-plus goals is a great tribute to him."

Overall, Hamilton brought a presence to Yale hockey that both energized the team on game nights and elevated the prestige of the program beyond the rink.

"Some people are just hockey players -- Jeff has got that look, and not just on Friday and Saturday nights," goaltender Dan Lombard '02 said. "He'll get on the ice whenever he can. He just brings an electricity to the game -- it's great to have someone like that on the team."

Hamilton said he will miss the experiences with his teammates the most.

"Sitting in the locker room just hanging out with these guys is something that will never happen again," he said. "People always joked about how much time I spent at the rink, but I just knew that I would regret not spending time with these guys when I had the chance."

Hamilton has been on the ice since he was three years old, and he credits his father with helping him stick with the game over the years.

"He was very knowledgeable about the game and was my coach before I went to high school," Hamilton said. "I owe a lot of what I have accomplished throughout my career to him,"

Even though he has already hung up his Yale skates, Hamilton plans to continue playing hockey next year and is currently talking to several representatives of National Hockey League teams.

"Hopefully I will be surrounded by hockey the rest of my life," Hamilton said. "Hockey has always been my passion in life, and when the time comes to stop playing seriously, I will find some way to give back to the game."

For now, though, Hamilton is proud of his time at Yale and grateful for all the opportunities he has been given over the last four years.

"Leaving here with the other six seniors [in the Class of 2001], we can be proud that Yale hockey has risen to a new level," Hamilton said. "This is something that is built over time with the help of many. We have an unwavering support system from the parents, fans and coaching staff. I'm sure I can speak for all the seniors when I say 'thank you' to everyone who has had a hand in this unforgettable ride."

As the crowd at the Ingalls Rink showed at Hamilton's final game, the feeling is mutual.

Honoring one of the best to skate at Yale
YaleDailyNews.com, April 6, 2001

The world of collegiate hockey has bestowed on All-American forward Jeff Hamilton '01 just about every honor an athlete in his position could hope for. The list of awards the Ohio-native holds is seemingly endless. He is a three-time first-team All-ECAC honoree, two-time Ivy League Player of the Year, twice a Hobey Baker Finalist and has earned All-American honors three times -- each a first-time acomplishment for a Yale hockey player.

Before Hamilton's arrival in 1997, Yale's program had never won an ECAC title and had only won three Ivy League banners. As he departs this year, he and his teammates leave behind three Ivy League championships and an ECAC regular season title.

And yet a laundry list of accolades cannot fully capture Hamilton's impact on the Yale hockey program. It seemed that every night he dressed for a game, he was the best player on the ice. From the first drop of the puck, fans at Ingalls Rink anticipated something magical when Hamilton skated. As a freshman in 1998, he scored perhaps Yale hockey's most important goal ever, netting the game-winner against Rensselaer to clinch the ECAC title, the first in Eli hockey history.

Dealt a cruel blow by fate, Hamilton was injured in the ECAC playoffs and was unable to take part in the NCAA tournament -- an opportunity he would not have again during his collegiate career. And so with his departure, Yale hockey, indeed the entire athletic program, will say farewell to an Eli great. A player of Hamilton's caliber is not easily replaced -- or forgotten.

For third time, Jeff Hamilton an All-American
Yale hockey's all-time scoring king is seventh Eli to be named first-team All-American
BY CHRIS MICHEL - YDN Staff Reporter, April 5, 2001

Already a Hobey Baker Finalist and a member of just about every postseason all-star team, Yale hockey forward Jeff Hamilton '01 added to his trophy cabinet Wednesday when he was named a first-team All-American.

Hamilton became the first Yale player ever to earn three All-America selections in his career. He is also Yale's sole first-team selection since defenseman Ray Giroux '98 three years ago. The senior center from Englewood, Ohio, becomes only the seventh Eli to earn first-team All-American honors since the awards began in 1956.

"It is a huge honor to be on the first team," Hamilton said. "It's just kind of bittersweet because of the way the season ended."

Harvard swept the Bulldogs out of the postseason in the ECAC quarterfinals three weeks ago.

The Eli center finished the season with a career-high 55 points and set Yale's all-time scoring record in his final home game. He ended his career with 173 points.

Hamilton ranked second in the ECAC with 55 points and 23 goals.

The postseason has already seen a plethora of awards go to Hamilton. The senior was named Ivy League Player of the Year for the second time in his career, Hobey Baker Finalist for the second time and first-team All-ECAC for the third time, all of which are Yale firsts. He was also unanimously selected to the New England Hockey Writers' Association All-Star team.

"He was under an awful lot of pressure to perform every night," Yale head coach Tim Taylor said. "He was closely watched and marked by every team we played. For him to come up with 50-plus points and 20-plus goals is a great tribute to him."

Despite his accolades this season, Hamilton said the team's first-round loss overshadowed his individual success.

"I think my performance was pretty inconsistent," Hamilton said. "My goal personally this year was to help the team get to the NCAAs and Lake Placid, and I didn't do that. Three weeks later it's still tough to stomach."

Hamilton started off his career at Yale with 23 points in his freshman campaign, then he exploded for 47 points on the 1997-98 ECAC Championship team and reeled off 48 points the following year. Last year, a serious abdominal injury kept Hamilton out of the entire season, forcing him to resign his captaincy and withdraw from Yale to preserve a final year of eligibility.

Aside from the prestigious scoring record, Hamilton will leave behind both single-season (7) and career records for game-winning goals (18). He is also tied for most games played with Ray Giroux '98 and Keith McCullough '99 with 124.

"What's amazing is his knack for scoring goals," said team captain-elect Luke Earl '02, who played the final seven games this season on the top line with Hamilton. "He's an unbelievable playmaker that knows how to use the little space that's given to him."

Hamilton's legacy as a prankster and quiet leader in the locker room will live on as well.

"Some people are just hockey players -- Jeff has got that look, and not just on Friday and Saturday nights," goaltender Dan Lombard '02 said. "He'll get on the ice whenever he can. He just brings an electricity to the game. It's great to have someone like that on the team."

Hamilton said he plans to continue his hockey career somewhere next season. He is currently talking to several NHL teams, and he expects to receive an offer sometime after the NCAA Frozen Four this weekend.

Regardless of where he ends up next year, the man that Taylor called "arguably the greatest offensive player ever to don the Yale uniform" has left an indelible mark on the Bulldog hockey program.

Hamilton's hockey heart and hustle
by Sangeetha Ramaswamy, Yale Herald, Mar. 23, 2001

Yale assistant coach C.J. Marottolo still laughs at a story relayed to him by Jeff Hamilton's, SM '01, prep school coach almost six years ago. "They'd lock up the rink at night," Marottolo recalled. "Every morning, the rink staff would discover someone had broken into the rink and left tracks on the ice."

The "intruder" carried on for some time before the coach warned that any player caught in the act would not get to play for the season. "Jeff would climb in through a window, find out where the lights were, and just start playing, shooting the puck around," Marottolo said.

At Yale, Hamilton still had a hard time pulling himself away from the ice. "He always sticks around after practice, taking extra shots and plays," defender Joe Dart, BR '01, explained. "He just doesn't leave." Such dedication is remarkable in any player, but it is especially impressive when one considers that Hamilton could have easily rested on his laurels.

At the end of the 2000-01 season, the official tally of awards during Hamilton's Yale career included ECAC scoring leader during his sophomore year, three-time member of the All-Ivy first team, and Yale's all-time scoring leader. Over spring break, Hamilton set another record, becoming the first Bulldog to receive the Ivy League Player of the Year award twice. He is also the first Bulldog to be a two-time Hobey Baker finalist (given to the 10 best players in college hockey) and three-time member of the All-ECAC first team.

"He's a special player, and not in terms of just the points that he scores," Captain Ben Stafford, BR '01, said. "He's not vocal in the locker room, but people definitely listen to him. Some people skate 100 miles per hour on the ice, but Jeff takes care with the puck, and that's also a form of hustling."

According to Marottolo, Hamilton's string of accomplishments has not taken away his team spirit. "He has a great ability to make the people around him better, and a great sense of where the puck and his teammates are," Marottolo said. "After his freshman year, he became our go-to guy. He's been a big part of Yale hockey since he stepped on campus." Defender David Sproule, SM '02, agreed. "He instills confidence in the players; he is someone to trust, to feel confident about giving the puck to," he said.

Dart added that whenever a freshman scores his first goal, Hamilton makes it a point to pick up the puck himself or to have the referee pick it up so that the team's equipment manager can commemorate the moment. As serious as he is on the ice, Hamilton will also be remembered for the good-natured humor he brought to those who worked closely with him. "He's a joker, a fun guy to hang around in the locker room," Sproule said.

On road trips, Hamilton has been known to hide a rookie's jersey, and after practice, he likes to fill up a Gatorade bucket with ice water to dump on an unsuspecting teammate in the shower. "It's all good fun," Sproule explained. "We all help him out and participate in it." His antics are not just confined to his teammates. Marottolo recounted numerous stories, including how Hamilton liked to fire shots at his skates during warm-up in practice, and finally hit his ankles when his timing was just right. "I told him I've got to wear ankle guards now," Marottolo said. John Gardner, Hamilton's high school coach at Avon Old Farms, added, "Jeff is a prankster and fun to be around. He could drive someone nuts if you take him too seriously."

In spite of his numerous accomplishments, Hamilton's NHL prospects are not guaranteed, given his small frame (5'10", 180 lbs.). Marottolo confirmed that Hamilton is working with an advisor to explore different options. He also felt confident that Hamilton would wind up playing professional hockey. "He has an unbelievable NHL-caliber shot," Marottolo said of Hamilton's vaunted rocket shot, which could be his key into the NHL. "He can shoot a puck like no one I've ever seen in college hockey—that sets him apart from everybody."

Stafford, who himself was selected by the United Hockey League to play for the New Haven Knights, is confident that Hamilton will be playing some form of hockey after graduation. "He's got hockey in his heart," Stafford said. "He's not going to be happy unless he's on the ice."

And Hamilton has had experience proving his doubters wrong. Even though he was an All-New England player with offers from such schools as Yale, Harvard, Rensselaer, and Vermont, his high school coach wasn't sure how far he would go.

"To be honest," Gardner admits now, "I never thought Jeff would be such a great player coming out of Avon. I thought his lack of size would hurt, and he was not extremely strong." Gardner even remembers a talk he had with Hamilton at the end of his junior year, when he counseled Hamilton "that he was a borderline Division I hockey player and had better get going if he wanted to play at that level."

His former coach added quickly, "I guess he showed that to be a false statement with his great career at Yale. Fortunately, [Head] Coach [Tim] Taylor and Coach Marottolo saw that ability and passion in his play and recruited him."

Jeff Hamilton named Ivy Player of the Year
Senior takes home award for second time in career
BY CHRIS MICHEL - YDN Staff Reporter, March 19, 2001

The men's hockey team's season ended last weekend in Boston, but that hasn't stopped a number of Bulldogs from carting home some postseason hardware.

Forward Jeff Hamilton '01 led the way, becoming the first Eli ever to be recognized as a Hobey Baker Finalist twice in his career. Hamilton also earned the prestigious designation -- reserved for the 10 best players in college hockey -- in 1999. Only three other Yale players have ever become finalists, and none has ever won the award.

Hamilton also became the first Bulldog ever to be chosen Ivy League Player of the Year twice, an honor he received last week as well as in 1999. He also became the first Yale player ever to be chosen to the All-ECAC first team three times when he was picked for the squad last week.

Hamilton, whom head coach Tim Taylor called "arguably the best offensive player ever to don the Yale uniform," became Yale's all-time scoring leader when he notched his 161st point on a goal against Vermont in February. By the final whistle last Saturday, Hamilton -- who was also named to the first-team All-Ivy squad for the third time -- had accumulated 80 goals and 93 assists in his remarkable career. Both totals are second on Yale's all-time lists, and Hamilton's total of 124 games played ties him with Ray Giroux '98 and Keith McCullough '99 atop the all-time list.

Hamilton earns first team All-ECAC for third time
March 15, 2001, Staff Report - YDN

Following their third Ivy League title in four seasons, post-season honors continue to roll in for the men's hockey team.

Yale center Jeff Hamilton '01 was named to his third All-ECAC first team Thursday -- the first Eli to earn the honor three times.

Hamilton also earned his second Ivy League Player of the Year award, becoming only the second player in league history to earn the honor twice. The senior center was also named a Hobey Baker Finalist for a second time -- the first Bulldog to earn such a distinction.

Elis need to focus in race for home ice
BY Dan Fleschner - YDN Staff Reporter, February 26, 2001

How did Jeff Hamilton '01 thank the fans at Ingalls Rink Saturday night for four years of unflagging support?

It was no problem, really. In his final regular season home game, he just went out and racked up three goals, two of which were of the spectacular variety, and scored the game-winning goal. If that wasn't enough, he helped the Bulldogs clinch an ECAC playoff berth, put them in position to win the Ivy League championship and gave them more than a reasonable shot at gaining home ice in the ECAC quarterfinals.

All this came the night after he became Yale's all-time leading scorer, passing Mark Kaufmann '93 for the top spot. The only thing that didn't seem to go his way last weekend was his attempt to break the record with a lacrosse-style goal popularized by Michigan's Mike Legg in the NCAA tournament in 1996 (you're 0-for-2 on that one, Jeff).

Yeah, there was also the shot that rang off the post at the end of the Vermont game with the Catamounts' goaltender on the bench. But we can give the guy a break.

"My mother could have put that in," he said after the game.

But this weekend was certainly more than a one-man show, which was a welcome sight for Yale fans. Luke Earl '02, who is making head coach Tim Taylor look like a genius for moving him to the top line, threatened to steal the show with three goals and six assists. Nick Deschenes '03 notched his first career hat trick Friday, Ben Stafford '01 picked up six assists, and a host of others, including Jeff Dwyer '04, John Gauger '01 and Evan Wax '03 had multi-point weekends.

Heck, nobody's going to remember this since he gave up six goals, but goaltender Dan Lombard '02 played a spectacular game in Friday's 7-6 win. Yale's defense was pathetic against Vermont, but Lombard came up with a series of brilliant saves to keep his team in the game.

So since Taylor moved Earl to left wing on the top line with Hamilton and Stafford and put Deschenes on either the second or third line, Yale has gone 3-0, scoring 19 goals (the most Yale has put up in a three-game span in six years). The Bulldogs have scored in all nine periods, Earl has 12 points, and the team is suddenly an offensive juggernaut.

Hey, do you remember a time when Yale players notched hat tricks in three straight games? Me neither, but Hamilton did it against Rensselaer, followed by Deschenes against Vermont and Hamilton again Saturday against Dartmouth.

Okay, so things were great at Ingalls Rink this weekend, but anyone who follows this team knows that it means absolutely nothing. Every time the Bulldogs start to get on a roll, the bottom drops out.

Remember the four-game winning streak in January? The sweep of Brown and Harvard, followed by lopsided wins over Holy Cross and Notre Dame? The Elis followed that streak by losing five of six games, scoring seven goals in the span and dropping like a ton of bricks toward the bottom of the ECAC standings.

They have rebounded, but can they sustain it, especially with so much riding on next weekend's final two regular season games at Harvard and Brown?

They have new life, sitting in a sixth place tie in the ECAC standings with RPI, two points behind Dartmouth for the last home playoff berth, one point ahead of eighth-place Princeton. With the standings as they are right now, Yale holds the tiebreaker with all three teams. The Bulldogs are assured of having the tiebreaker over Dartmouth (Yale swept the Big Green in the season series), but the tiebreakers with RPI and Princeton could change as the top five in the ECAC standings fluctuates -- the second tiebreaker used is the team's record against the top-five teams in the standings.

Yale and Princeton would appear to have the easiest road in the final weekend, traveling to Harvard -- which is tied with Cornell for third place -- and cellar-dweller Brown. Dartmouth hosts conference leaders St. Lawrence and Clarkson while RPI makes the trip to Cornell and Colgate, which is in 11th.

But this is the ECAC, and as trite as it sounds, you just can't foresee how anything is going to work out.

Dartmouth, which controls its own destiny for home ice, could get its act together and sweep the North Country leaders -- the Big Green hasn't lost at home since late December. There is also less riding on these last two games for Clarkson and St. Lawrence since the regular season ECAC championship no longer carries with it an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Rensselaer beat Colgate 3-2 and lost to Cornell by the same score way back in November, so anything can happen there. The Red Raiders and Big Red will be out for blood after both teams were swept at Clarkson and St. Lawrence.

And Yale, which has one win in 21 tries since Harvard's Bright Center opened in 1979, must go on the road to Cambridge, Mass., and Providence, R.I. The Bulldogs have not been a good road team -- 3-6 in ECAC play. Until the offense woke up in a 6-3 win over RPI Feb. 17, the Bulldogs had lost seven straight on the road overall, scoring six goals in that span.

As if their home ice hopes were not enough, the Bulldogs will also be playing for their third Ivy League title in the last four years. With two games remaining, Yale is tied atop the Skating Six with Cornell at 12 points. Dartmouth trails by two, Harvard by three. But the Elis have the inside track on the title because Cornell and Dartmouth have no Ivy games left. With one win this weekend, Yale clinches the outright championship.

But Yale fans cannot expect their team to get four points just by showing up at the Bright Center and even at Brown's Meehan Auditorium (Yale's 1998 ECAC Championship squad lost there -- what an ugly game that was). If the ECAC teaches us anything, it is to expect the unexpected.

What we can expect is to remember the skills of Hamilton, the finest offensive player in the history of Yale hockey, for a long time to come. He put on a show last weekend none in attendance at Ingalls Rink will soon forget. The only question is, will we get to see those skills again in New Haven two weekends from now?

Yale's scoring king has 164 points and counting
BY CHRIS MICHEL - YDN Staff Reporter, February 26, 2001

Jeff Hamilton '01 was kicking himself all night Friday. 

On a night when he passed Mark Kaufmann '93 atop Yale's all-time scoring list and helped his team to a pivotal 7-6 win over Vermont, Hamilton could only think about one play.

With the record in hand and the game ticking away, the senior Hobey Baker Candidate skated in undefended on the vacated Catamount net for what looked like be one of the easiest of his 164 career points. But the man who Yale head coach Tim Taylor said could hit the net from behind his own goal line missed from five feet out, clanging the puck off the near post.

"My mom could have put that in," Hamilton quipped after the game.

The moment typified Yale's new scoring king, both his uncompromising and opportunistic attitude on the ice and his loose style in the locker room.

Hamilton tied the eight-year-old record with point number 160 when Luke Earl '02 redirected a Hamilton blast from the point past Vermont goalie Andrew Allen in Friday's first period.

The record came 52 seconds into the second period when Hamilton's backhander from between the hash marks went over Allen's right shoulder.

"It was a big relief," Hamilton said after the game. "Now that it's over, it's time for us to make a run. I'm just glad it's over with."

Getting the record at home was particularly sweet, as Hamilton was treated to an extended standing ovation after the record was announced.

"It's good to see Jeff get the record," said Yale captain Ben Stafford '01, Hamilton's linemate all season. "He's been thinking about it the whole year, and it's great to see him get it at home. This is really a big deal, and I'm really proud of him."

In his four years with the Bulldogs, Hamilton has scored more points (164), netted more career game-winning goals (18) and posted more game-winning goals in a season (seven in 1997-98) than anyone else in 106 years of Yale hockey. Only Ding Palmer '30 has scored more goals, only two players have more assists -- Bob Brooke '83 and Kaufman -- and by the end of this season, no one will have played more games.

He is a two-time All-American, a Hobey Baker finalist, an ECAC scoring champ and a former Ivy League Player of the Year.

This year he is a candidate for all the major national awards. He has a good chance to become Yale's only three-time All-American, has a legitimate case to become its second ECAC Player of the Year (Ray Giroux '98 was the first), and should probably be Ivy League Player of the Year again. He is leading the ECAC in scoring (46) and ranks eighth in the nation.

"I think it's pretty safe to say that he's arguably the best offensive player ever to don the Yale uniform," Taylor said. "I'm very happy for him, and I'm proud of him."

The road to the top hasn't been smooth as ice for Hamilton, though. He said he was worried about getting ice time freshman year, and that setting a record like this never entered his mind. He became a star on Yale's greatest-ever team in 1997-98, but got hurt in the ECAC semifinal and missed the consolation game and Yale's first-round NCAA tournament game, both of which the Elis lost.

The biggest blow came last year when he suffered a severe abdominal injury during his very first shift of the season. He tried to come back two weeks later against Princeton but couldn't do it, so he decided to withdraw from Yale and apply for a medical redshirt.

All that just makes what Hamilton has done this year even more impressive.

"I think at the start of the year you couldn't say that [setting the record] was inevitable," Taylor said Friday. "He'd really have to have a great year to break it, and he's had a great year."

What's really scary is that Hamilton is just getting better as the year goes on. As the pressure has intensified, he has risen to the occasion time and time again. He has two hat-tricks in his three last games and three in his last 11 games.

Hamilton is hoping to help his team earn home ice in the playoffs, getting him one step closer to avenging Yale's two devastating losses to Colgate at home in the first round two years ago. Beyond that, a trip to Lake Placid would give Hamilton a chance to exorcise the demons of his injury there during the '97-'98 campaign.

After Hamilton's hat-trick lifted the Bulldogs to a 6-3 win over Dartmouth Saturday, teammate Spencer Rodgers '02 orchestrated a dousing of Hamilton with a Gatorade cooler full of ice water while Hamilton was headed for a postgame shower.

Given the way he's played lately, that might be the only way anyone is going to cool him off.

In win, Hamilton sets Yale's all-time scoring record
BY CHRIS MICHEL - YDN Staff Reporter, February 26, 2001

With the season on the line, senior Hobey Baker candidate Jeff Hamilton was the man of the hour.

Hamilton posted his third hat trick in 11 games with a trio of goals Saturday night, seizing the ECAC scoring lead and extending his school record for game-winning goals to 18.

Hamilton's two points against Vermont Friday gave him 161 for his career, passing Mark Kaufmann '93 to become Yale's all-time scoring king.

Hamilton kept building on his new scoring record, notching the first of his three goals on the night when he followed up an Earl shot 7:14 into the second to put the Elis up 3-0.

Defenseman P.J. Martin knotted the game 2:37 into the third period, but then Hamilton stole the show.

The former All-American stunned the crowd at 5:04 when he garnered an Earl rebound with his back to the net, maneuvered around two defenders, and flipped a seemingly impossible shot that found its way between Boucher's shoulder and the crossbar.

"I knew there was traffic in front," Hamilton said. "I just wanted to try to put the puck on net."

Hamilton dropped more jaws at 17:11 when he stole the puck outside the Dartmouth zone, skated up the right boards with two Big Green defensemen, and ripped a wrist shot that beat Boucher to put Yale up 5-3.

"We needed that," Hamilton said. "We're definitely in good shape, and we're planning on playing here again in the playoffs. Our goal is still home ice."

As exciting as Saturday's game was, it paled in comparison to the night before.

The second period featured seven goals, including Hamilton's record-breaking 161st point on a goal 52 seconds in, tying the game at three apiece. Deschenes added two-thirds of his hat trick in the period and John Gauger '01 lit the lamp for Yale as well, lifting the Bulldogs to a 6-5 lead after two periods.

Life after Hamilton: Yale hockey regroups
After an Ivy split and increased scoring, Eli hockey learns to live without its captain.
by James Fagan, Yale Herald, Jan. 14, 2000

Gone are the days of Jeff Hamilton, SM '00, when the men's hockey team could bank on a sure thing, when the standout center could promise the club a point or two every game. Fri., Dec. 3—four days short of the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7—proved a date that would go down in Yale hockey infamy. That day, the discovery of Hamilton's plans to withdraw from the club—and from Yale—for the remainder of his senior season due to an abdominal injury dropped a bomb on the college hockey world. By departing early, Hamilton retained his eligibility for an additional year, but he also forced his teammates, many of whom he had played with for his entire college career, to face life without their captain—a reality to which they had grown accustomed during the senior's injury-plagued season. "Guys were sitting around waiting, thinking Hammy would return," forward and new captain Cory Shea, BR '00, said. "When the news came down, there was no more uncertainty. The guys realized, `This is [our] team, now let's start playing hockey.'"

Yes, those days are gone, to return only when the dog days of summer have passed and a new season has opened next fall. For Hamilton, the decision was a difficult one, the culmination of his growing frustration and his inability to make a healthy return to the lineup. "It was obviously one of the toughest decisions I have been faced with," Hamilton said. "I think most of my team realized how depressed I had been and how it was taking away from my everyday life. It wasn't fair to the team to have a captain watching from the stands, and wondering when he was going to return."

Before Jeff, after Jeff

"Clearly, if we had Jeff Hamilton, we would be a potentially stronger team," Head Coach Tim Taylor said. "It was very difficult for Jeff to not spend his last year of college hockey with these guys. This wasn't the kind of senior year he envisioned for himself." Nor was it what the team had imagined, after the luxury of having the Hobey Baker finalist in the lineup for three years. In the 1998-99 season, Hamilton led the club in points, establishing himself as an important team leader on and off the ice. With question marks between the pipes and on the blue line before the season, the team believed that Hamilton's scoring touch was one of the few things upon which it could surely depend.

But Hamilton missed the first five games of the season due to suspension and succumbed to injury soon after he returned to the team. It would be wrong to say that the club lost Hamilton on Dec. 3, having never really had him all season long. Although the news of his withdrawal proved the worst possible, it merely extended his stay on the injured list from a few games to an entire season. And while the decision sent shock waves through the team, it simply made definite what had stood indefinite all season long—the date of the center's return. "It was the resolution to a nagging question, and the answer was ultimately never," Taylor said. "But it didn't shake us to our very core."

By ending the uncertainty, Hamilton's announcement defined new responsibilities for the team and called upon each player to work even harder. "It meant we had to suck it up," Taylor said. "We didn't have any one player to step up, so we needed to all collectively step up."

As the team absorbed the news, whispers that had made their way throughout college hockey circles turned into deafening cries, similar to those that could be heard when the team entered the season without all-time Eli great Alex Westlund, SM '99. Hamilton's decision forced the team to come together and pressured each player to shoulder a greater share of the load.

Much of that burden has fallen upon Shea since he was thrust into the role of captain. The hard-working and gritty Shea, one of the best defensive forwards in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), brings a style of leadership to the team that is much different than Hamilton's. "Cory has always been a leader in terms of his work ethic and the job he does, a leader by example who is able to provide inspiration in the locker room and on the ice," goalie Trevor Hanger, SY '00, said. Hamilton, on the other hand, led the team with his scoring and, as Taylor described, "his great desire to win." Like Hamilton, Shea holds the respect of his teammates. In fact, in the vote for captain last spring, Hamilton was chosen over his eventual successor by only the narrowest of margins. Shea downplays his importance to the team, however. "My role hasn't changed at all. Some people are misled by the role of captain," Shea said. "My job is to deliver hits and kill penalties. There are 11 guys in the senior class, bringing different leadership qualities."

One of those crucial seniors is forward Jeff Brow, SM '00, who has stepped up his game and is second on the team in points. He trails center Ben Stafford, BR '01, who is second in the ECAC in points and has proven the team's best player thus far. "We had high expectations of Benny, and now I'm glad he's enjoying the fruits of his labors," Taylor said of Stafford. But the center, like Brow, is only one piece of the puzzle; his increased production is part of Taylor's larger goal of redistributing the offensive contributions once made by Hamilton. So far, different players have emerged every night to assume the role of the hero. On Sat., Jan. 8, it was forward Paul Lawson, BK '00, who scored his second and third goals of the season in a 6-5 win over Brown. Against Colgate on Fri., Dec. 3, the day of Hamilton's decision, it was defenseman Stacey Bauman, BR '03, who notched the game-winning goal.

Problems and solutions

"To say you're a better team without Hamilton is ludicrous," defenseman Keith Fitzpatrick, TD '00, said. "Look at the power play. When they missed chances, there have been times where I've looked to the guy beside me on the bench and said, `If Hammy is on the ice, that's a goal.'" The team has struggled all year long on power plays, only recently showing flashes of life. Gradually, the Bulldogs have begun to capitalize on their chances, something the offense must do with more consistency. The team's obvious weakness is its inability to light the lamp. Despite scoring six goals against Brown, the Elis have posted two or fewer goals in nine games. Though different players have stepped up on different nights, the club's first three lines face the challenge of increasing goal production, which many experts believe is essential for Yale to be successful.

Paltry goal scoring has put added pressure on the defense, the backbone of the team. While other ECAC teams can afford to give up a few goals, Yale knows it will have to win many of its games in low scoring affairs. Fortunately, the blue line talent, strongest in Fitzpatrick and in James Chyz, BR '00, has helped hold down opposing teams. Similarly, the team's forwards have played great defense. In fact, Hanger argued that the biggest impact of Hamilton's absence all year was the fact that it forced the entire team to buy into a defensive system.

At the heart of the defense has been the team's goaltending. The two-man rotation has worked remarkably well, and Dan Lombard, SM '02, is third in the ECAC in goaltending. "We drive each other; we're good friends, and each other's biggest fan," Hanger said.

For all the positives, however, there remain areas for improvement. The team still has yet to show a knack for finishing, despite plenty of chances. More importantly, perhaps, the Elis still have not consistently shown the ability to play a full 60 minutes of hockey, as they often dig holes out of which they are forced to climb. In its Fri., Jan. 7 loss to Harvard, 3-2, the team came out flat, allowing the Crimson to jump ahead early 2-0. "If you play 40 minutes of hockey, you're not going to beat anyone," Fitzpatrick said.

It is in these areas that Hamilton's presence is so sorely missed. For all the words of players to the contrary, the absence of Hamilton casts a large shadow over the team. It is not a shadow that hamstrings them, but rather one that drives them and reminds them of what they have to prove: that they can win without him.

The future

Thus far, the team has been up to the challenge, standing second in the ECAC and bucking pre-season predictions of mediocrity. But the ECAC has seven