The call that saved Hammond’s career

While the city — hell, while the entire NHL — can’t stop talking about the remarkable, calm, cool, collected success of Andrew Hammond, think for a moment about a guy named Aldo Bruno.

Nine years ago, it was all over for Hammond. Cut after one game with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Hockey League, Hammond returned home, hung up his pads and replaced them with books, enrolling full time in college.

Enter Bruno — coach/ GM/part-owner Greenview Steelers of the Pacific Junior (B) Hockey League. Hammond had played for Greenview the previous season and Bruno called to see if Hammond was willing to take a step back to keep playing.

“He was pretty down and out, but we follow our kids,” Bruno said by phone from his East Vancouver office Thursday. “I asked if he still wanted to play. He waited a few days, but then he came back rejuvenated.”

Bruno, who has seen hundreds of players pass through the team during his 20 years with the organization — including a 15-year-old phenom named Kyle Turris — could never have predicted the eventual stardom.

“I would be lying to you if I said I knew he was going to be a pro hockey player, but he worked so hard at it,” he said. “Andrew is very quiet, laid back, but he has a will to compete. He’s got that fire.”

Hammond was lights out that season and continued his hot play when he headed back to the BCHL with the Vernon Vipers, earning himself a scholarship to Bowling Green University.

As most of the hockey world now knows, Hammond went from there to Binghamton to the Senators net — a net the team can’t take away from him now.

Bruno has watched as Hammond swept through California, Minnesota and Winnipeg, lifting the Senators back into the playoff race by picking up nine of a possible 10 points.

“I like to follow everything, especially the kids I coached and the kids that have been though our league. This is just one of those things, one of those stories where everyone pulls for the guy. I’ve known Andrew since he was 15. I’m really, really happy for the guy.”