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Thursday, May 23, 2019

First-year Devil Tariq Hammond getting a good read on Binghamton

(Photo credit: JustSports Photography/Binghamton Devils)
 
Tariq Hammond’s volunteer excursions typically follow the same pattern. He will read to school children, answer questions about life as a hockey player and repeat the same process over again.
 
 

That was the format at CR Weeks, Deposit Elementary and Olmstead Elementary, all located within 30 miles of Binghamton, where he spent the better part of his rookie season with the Devils’ AHL affiliate this past year.

Despite the routine feel of these volunteer experiences, one moment stands out for the defenseman. Just like a game schedule, some editions on his school-visit slate pack an inescapably greater magnitude.

“I once read to an entire school,” Hammond told Pucks and Recreation, “which was stunning that the school arranged for me to read to that large a gathering of school children.”

That school was Chenango Forks Elementary, a Binghamton institute with an estimated K-through-5 enrollment of 700 students. The student-teacher ratio there is 14:1, meaning Hammond had the average classroom size multiplied by 50 during his drop-in.

“Luckily, I didn’t stumble too hard over the words,” he laughed when reflecting on that unexpected task.

Stumbles or not, that community involvement was enough to garner the Calgary native his team’s nomination for the AHL’s Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, given annually to an AHL player for contributions to the local community and charititable organizations. (The 2019 award has since gone to Landon Ferraro of the Iowa Wild.)

Before his notable achievements this year, Hammond was extensively involved in his amateur and collegiate stops. By the time he turned pro last spring, it was almost second nature for him to devote his time in Upstate New York.

Moreover, he had established a niche in promoting reading. Hammond played for the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League from 2011 to 2014, and used that opportunity to volunteer in local literacy programs.
 
(Photo credit: JustSports Photography/Binghamton Devils)

 
“Volunteering is something I like doing,” he said. “I think it helps make the kids’ day, and it certainly brightens my day. It is easy to do, but it goes a long way and impacts everyone involved.”

As his hockey career progressed, Hammond continued to build a remarkable service resume. During his days at the University of Denver, where he won a national title and later captained the Pioneers, he built sustained relationships in the area that have continued post-graduation.

“In the offseason, I often spend much of my time in Denver,” he said. “I connect with alumni that used to play for Denver. We organize charity hockey tournaments. One of them is called the Dawg Bowl which is often used to benefit former hockey players with life-threatening illnesses. In fact, last year the tournament raised money for the Humboldt Broncos.”

Now in its ninth year, the Dawg Bowl will take place from June 20 through June 23, with 42 teams in seven divisions. The beneficiary, a member of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, experienced a tragic bus crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 others when a semi-trailer truck struck their northbound coach bus near Armley, Saskatchewan, in 2018.

To honor the survivors and commemorate those who have died, the highlight of the Dawg Bowl this year is the Survivor Game, where all the participants will wear Humboldt jerseys. Beyond the games, fans indulge in food, live music and a kid’s zone to raise money for a good cause.

Just as Hammond wasted no time constructing a strong rapport with his Mile High community, he jumped right into the Binghamton area this past year. He explained that the B-Devils form partnerships with individual schools and offer the chance to get involved in different schools.

Besides learning more about his own off-ice passions, Hammond has extended his teamwork with fellow New Jersey hopefuls.

“I often volunteer with a few teammates,” he said, “and it is cool to get away from the rink to see a different side of my teammates than what I normally see.”

Beyond these insights into his colleagues, Hammond also relishes the chance to interact with local schoolchildren.

(Photo credit: JustSports Photography/Binghamton Devils)

“All of the kids I read to are different, and I enjoy meeting each one,” he said Hammond. “They often ask funny questions about life as a hockey player, and it is enjoyable to see what they say.”

Beyond the Devils’ reading program, Hammond has also participated in the Toys for Tots Spaghetti Dinner and the Devils’ booster-club meetings. His involvement continues a strong tradition of the Devils’ commitment to delivering a memorable holiday season.

For 17 years, the local AHL franchise has partnered with the Binghamton, Endicott, Johnson City and Vestal Police Departments to offer this dinner to benefit the Broome County Toys for Tots program. The partnership dates back to when the league returned to the city in 2002 with the Senators, who arrived five years after the Rangers departed.

Since becoming New Jersey’s farm base in 2017-18, the Binghamton Devils have followed that precedent. The Toys for Tots program collects unwrapped toys to deliver to families in need during the holiday season. In his first shift, Hammond and other Devils players served an Italian dinner to generous donors and supporters.

Both the dinner and the Booster Club Meetings meaningfully impacted Hammond. “The team does a lot for the community and the Booster Club does a lot for the team,” he said. “Getting to know them has been influential for me to just simply say thank you for their support of the Devils.”

With 2018-19 behind him, Hammond has exhausted a one-year minor-league contract with the Devils. But whether he is back in Binghamton or taking root elsewhere this fall, one can expect him to continue devoting his time to community service and honing his skills on the ice.

“Hockey players and athletes make a huge impact in their community,” he said. “The fans show up for our games, which is why it is always better to play on home ice. The fans care about you. It is only right to get involved in your community for the fans who spend their time coming to watch you play. Your presence really grows around the town, and it goes a long way in making a difference.”

-          John Morton

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