CALGARY — Four years after wearing the red Maple Leaf together at the Saddledome, the brothers Hamilton have been reunited by the flaming ‘C’.
The Calgary Flames called up Dougie Hamilton‘s older brother, Freddie, on Wednesday from their American Hockey League affiliate in Stockton, Calif.
The siblings were on the ice for a morning skate at Scotiabank Saddledome. Dougie awaited word on whether Freddie would join him in the Flames lineup for Wednesday night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.
"We’ve known of the possibility since we both got to the same organization," Dougie said. "It’s something we’ve thought about for a long time and kind of pictured happening and dreamed of.
"It’s pretty cool to be in the same room right now and on the ice together again."
The Flames acquired Dougie Hamilton in a major trade with Boston Bruins in June, 2015, and promptly signed the 22-year-old defenceman to a six-year deal.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving dealt a conditional draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Freddie Hamilton‘s rights in October and assigned the 24-year-old forward to Stockton.
The last season the Hamiltons were teammates was in 2012, both with the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs and Canada’s team at the world junior men’s championship in Edmonton and Calgary.
With the Flames’ dressing room as their digs, Canada lost a wild semifinal 6-5 to Russia despite scoring three goals in the third period. The host team settled for the bronze medal with a 4-0 shutout of Finland.
"We were very fortunate to play junior together and that world juniors here was the best experience for us so far in hockey," Freddie said.
The brothers were born in Toronto and spent their teens in St. Catharines, Ont., where the IceDogs are based.
Parents Doug and Lynn, former Olympic athletes in rowing and basketball respectively, were en route to Calgary on Wednesday.
"It’s great for us too, but we really want to make this moment for them too because of all they’ve done for us," Freddie said.
The ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Bruins, Dougie Hamilton jumped directly from major junior to the NHL. Treliving gave up three draft picks, including a first-rounder, to land the six-foot-five, 212-pound defender.
Freddie Hamilton, at six foot one and 190 pounds, has spent most of his pro career in the AHL trying to gain a foothold in the NHL.
"I think I’m definitely ready to come up and contribute," Freddie said. "It’s up to me to try to prove that."
A 2010 fifth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks, Freddie Hamilton played 12 NHL games with the Sharks before being dealt to the Avalanche. He had a goal in 17 games for Colorado last season.
He has 16 goals and 19 assists in 53 games for Stockton this season.
"I’m not going to pump him up too much but he’ll be fine.," Dougie said. "He’s played a lot of games in the NHL and it’s going to be fun to play together and be in these jerseys together."
