Keith Ballard
Keith Ballard (* November 26, 1982 in Baudette, Minnesota ) is an American professional ice hockey defender, who stands in July 2013 in the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League contract.
Career
Keith Ballard began his career as a hockey player in the United States Hockey League, where he respectively for the crew of the U.S. National Team Development Program and the Omaha Lancers got a game time 1999-2001 on the ice. Then the defender played for three years for the ice hockey team of the University of Minnesota. During this time he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft in 2002 in the first round as a whole eleventh player of the Buffalo Sabres, but the transferred him a year later to the Colorado Avalanche. Again, only a year later, after his final university year, Ballard was given again, this time to the Phoenix Coyotes. During the NHL lockout in 2004/ 05 Ballard made his debut in professional hockey when he. , The total playing time for the former farm team the Coyotes, who stood Utah Grizzlies of the American Hockey League on the ice
After three years in the NHL team the Coyotes Ballard was issued on June 20, 2008 by Phoenix along with Nick Boynton and a previously obtained by the Ottawa Senators second-round election in the NHL Entry Draft in 2008 in exchange for Olli Jokinen to the Florida Panthers.
In July 2013 his contract by the Vancouver Canucks was paid early (buy out). A few days later, he signed a two -year contract with the Minnesota Wild.
Internationally
For the U.S., Ballard participated in the U18 Junior World Championship 2000, the U20 Junior World Cup 2002, as well as the A- World Championships 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in part. In 2004, Ballard won with the U.S. national team the bronze medal at the World Cup.
Awards and achievements
- 2001 USHL First All -Star Team
- 2002 WCHA All- Rookie Team
- 2003 WCHA First All -Star Team
- 2004 WCHA First All -Star Team
- 2004 NCAA West First All-American Team
- 2004 bronze medal at the World Championships
- 2005 AHL All- Star Classic
NHL stats
(End of season 2012/ 13)