Inge Hammarström
Encyclopedia
Hans Inge Hammarström is a Swedish former professional ice hockey
left winger
who played six seasons in the National Hockey League
(NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs
and St. Louis Blues
. He is currently a Europe
an scout with the Vancouver Canucks
.
, at the age of 15. The 1968–69 season he left for Brynäs IF
where he would win the Swedish Championship
4 times (1970, 1971, 1972 and later in 1980).
In 1973, Hammarström became the first player from Timrå IK
ever to play in the NHL. He went on to spend five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs
and two for the St. Louis Blues
.
His career ended in 1982, aged 35, after another three seasons with Brynäs IF
.
. From 1990 to 2008, he was the chief European scout for the Philadelphia Flyers
.
Most famously, Hammarström is credited with being the scout who pushed the hardest for Philadelphia to select Peter Forsberg
with the sixth overall pick of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
. At the time, the pick was considered a surprise — and a bit of a gamble. Forsberg had been ranked considerably lower by The Hockey News
in its 1991 Draft Preview, and most observers expected the player to be taken late in the first round or early in the second round of the draft.
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...
left winger
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...
who played 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...
(NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
. He is currently a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an scout with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
.
Playing career
Inge played his first hockey games at the top national league level in 1963 for Timrå IKTimrå IK
Timrå IK is a Swedish ice hockey team from Timrå, who currently plays in the top division, Elitserien. Seasons in the top division include 1956–57 to 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, and 2000–01 until present.-History:...
, at the age of 15. The 1968–69 season he left for Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF is a professional Swedish ice hockey team from Gävle. The club plays in the highest Swedish league , and has done so since 1960.-History:...
where he would win the Swedish Championship
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
4 times (1970, 1971, 1972 and later in 1980).
In 1973, Hammarström became the first player from Timrå IK
Timrå IK
Timrå IK is a Swedish ice hockey team from Timrå, who currently plays in the top division, Elitserien. Seasons in the top division include 1956–57 to 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, and 2000–01 until present.-History:...
ever to play in the NHL. He went on to spend five seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and two for the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
.
His career ended in 1982, aged 35, after another three seasons with Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF
Brynäs IF is a professional Swedish ice hockey team from Gävle. The club plays in the highest Swedish league , and has done so since 1960.-History:...
.
After retirement
After his playing career ended, Hammarström began working as a European-based hockey scout, including a stint with Central ScoutingNHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
. From 1990 to 2008, he was the chief European scout for the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Most famously, Hammarström is credited with being the scout who pushed the hardest for Philadelphia to select Peter Forsberg
Peter Forsberg
Peter Mattias "Foppa" Forsberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently an assistant general manager of Modo Sports. Known for his on-ice vision and physical play, Forsberg is considered one of the most complete players of his generation...
with the sixth overall pick of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
. At the time, the pick was considered a surprise — and a bit of a gamble. Forsberg had been ranked considerably lower by The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
in its 1991 Draft Preview, and most observers expected the player to be taken late in the first round or early in the second round of the draft.