Gilles Hamel
Encyclopedia
Gilles Julien Hamel is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
right wing
. He was drafted in the fourth round, 74th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres
in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft
.
After playing three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
, Hamel made his professional debut with the Sabres' American Hockey League
affiliate, the Rochester Americans
, in the 1980 Calder Cup playoffs
. After six seasons in the National Hockey League
with Buffalo, during which he scored 92 goals, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Scott Arniel
after the 1985–86 season.
Hamel had the most prolific goal-scoring season of his NHL career in 1986–87 with Winnipeg, notching 27 goals. After a mediocre 1987–88, however, and spending much of the early 1988–89 season
in the AHL, Hamel was traded to the Los Angeles Kings
in exchange for Paul Fenton
. He played just eleven games with the Kings during that season, and spent the final year of his career playing in France
.
In his NHL career, Hamel appeared in 519 games. He scored 127 goals and added 147 assists. He also played in 27 NHL playoff games, scoring four goals and five assists.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
right wing
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He was drafted in the fourth round, 74th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft
1979 NHL Entry Draft
The 1979 NHL Entry Draft took place on August 9, 1979, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 126 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1978–79 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those...
.
After playing three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
, Hamel made his professional debut with the Sabres' American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
, in the 1980 Calder Cup playoffs
1979–80 AHL season
The 1979–80 AHL season was the 44th season of the American Hockey League. Ten teams were scheduled to play 80 games each. The New Haven Nighthawks finished first overall in the regular season...
. After six seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with Buffalo, during which he scored 92 goals, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Scott Arniel
Scott Arniel
Scott William Arniel , is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . Arniel was awarded the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as American Hockey League coach of the year in 2009, his third year as an AHL coach...
after the 1985–86 season.
Hamel had the most prolific goal-scoring season of his NHL career in 1986–87 with Winnipeg, notching 27 goals. After a mediocre 1987–88, however, and spending much of the early 1988–89 season
1988–89 AHL season
The 1988–89 AHL season was the 53rd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned awarding points for an overtime loss. The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season...
in the AHL, Hamel was traded to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in exchange for Paul Fenton
Paul Fenton (ice hockey)
Paul John Fenton is a retired American ice hockey forward.Fenton started his National Hockey League career with the Hartford Whalers in 1985. He would also play for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and San Jose Sharks...
. He played just eleven games with the Kings during that season, and spent the final year of his career playing in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In his NHL career, Hamel appeared in 519 games. He scored 127 goals and added 147 assists. He also played in 27 NHL playoff games, scoring four goals and five assists.