• Athleticism runs in the Hamilton family: his father, Doug, was an Olympic rower for Canada, winning a bronze medal in 1988 and also competing in 1984; his mother, Lynn, competed on Canada’s basketball team at the 1984 Olympics and won both gold and bronze at the World Championships; and his younger brother, Dougie, plays defence and is his teammate on the Niagara Ice Dogs.

• His very first hockey team was the North York Knights and he played seven years with the Toronto Marlboros before making his debut in the Ontario Hockey League -- during his minor midget year, he scored 59 goals and 65 assists in 70 games.

• In 2008-09, Hamilton maintained an academic average of 99%, making him the top Grade 11 student in the entire District School Board of Niagara and the winner of the Ivan Tennant Memorial Award winner as the OHL’s Top Academic Player Attending High School – his brother, Dougie, won the award in 2009-10.

FAVORITES

NHL team: Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL player: Mats Sundin
Shootout move: “Whatever I think will work”
Goal celebration: “Raise my hands in the air or fist pump”
Video game: NHL ‘10
Movie: Remember the Titans
TV show: Two and a Half Men
Actor: Will Smith
Activity away from the rink: Working out
Breakfast food: Scrambled Eggs