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Club 1974:
Edmonton Oilers
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Al Hamilton
# 24, Team CANADA 1974
Club: Edmonton Oilers
Position: D Shoots:
Right
Height: 6-02 Weight: 195
Born: 8/20/1946 in Flin Flon, Manitoba
Al Hamilton was another member of Team Canada who came from the rugged western Canadian hockey environment starring for the junior Edmonton Oil King powerhouses of the early 1960's. He had to really battle to become a major league player. He made his first NHL appearance in 1965-66 with the New York Rangers but it wasn't until 1969-70 that he made it to stay.
Al was claimed by the expansion Buffalo Sabres in the 1970 expansion draft. In 2 seasons with the Sabres Al rounded into a very solid defensive defenseman. It looked like he had a bright future with Buffalo when Al received a generous offer from the new Alberta Oilers of the WHA. Al excited at the chance to return to Edmonton where he had been a junior star wasted little time taking the Oilers offer. Over the next 7 seasons he would be a key member of the Oiler defense and was the first player in team history to have his number retired. He retired at the end of the 1979-80 season.
There were many who questioned Al's selection to Team Canada in 1974. And Al didn't do much to change their minds at the beginning. He had what was at best an ordinary training camp and failed to make the opening night's lineup. He made his first appearance in game 3 and played what would charitably be called a poor game. The Soviets roared around Hamilton and his defensive partner Marty Howe like they were totem poles, imbedded in the ground. He didn't return to the Team Canada lineup until game 7, at which point head coach Billy Harris was desperate to turn things around. Al responded with a very strong performance that night, and earned the right to play in game 8. He played solidly in that game as well proving he was more than simply a mediocre defenseman.
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Career Statistics
| Competitions |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
PIM |
| NHL Reg. Season |
257 |
10 |
78 |
88 |
258 |
| NHL Playoffs |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| WHA Reg. Season |
455 |
53 |
258 |
311 |
492 |
| WHA Playoffs |
27 |
5 |
11 |
16 |
31 |
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CAREER HIGHLIGTS:
- Played in the professional hockey leagues: 1965-80
- Pro hockey clubs:
NHL: NYR, Buffalo, Edmonton; WHA: Alberta, Edmonton
- WHA awards:
WHA All Star (2nd Team) 1974
PERFORMANCE IN THE 1974 SUMMIT
Statistics
| GP |
Goals |
Assists |
Points |
PIM |
| 3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
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Scoring History| Game | Period | Time | Scoring | Notes | | Game 3 | 3 | 04:01 | Assist | |
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Penalties History| Game | Period | Time | Description | | Game 3 | 2 | 03:26 | crosschecking | | Game 8 | 1 | 06:21 | elbowing |
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