Keith Ballard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keith Ballard
Ballard with the Vancouver Canucks in March 2011
Born	(1982-11-26) November 26, 1982 (age 42) Baudette, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	Phoenix Coyotes Florida Panthers Vancouver Canucks Minnesota Wild
National team	United States
NHL Draft	11th overall, 2002 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2004–2015

Keith Galen Ballard (born November 26, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Keith played for teams like the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, and Minnesota Wild.

Before joining the NHL, he played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He played there for three seasons. After his first year, the Buffalo Sabres picked him 11th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Keith was traded twice before playing his first NHL game. First, he went to the Colorado Avalanche, then to the Phoenix Coyotes. He started his professional career in 2004–05 with the Coyotes' minor league team, the Utah Grizzlies. He then joined the Phoenix Coyotes for the next season.

After three years with the Coyotes, he was traded to the Florida Panthers. He played there for two seasons. Then, he moved to the Vancouver Canucks during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Keith also played for the United States national team. He played in four World Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2004. He also played in two junior tournaments. These were the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2002 World Junior Championships.

Playing Career

Junior and College Hockey (1999–2004)

Keith Ballard started his junior hockey career in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He played for the United States National Development Team in 1999–2000. The next season, he joined the Omaha Lancers. In 2000–01, he scored 51 points in 56 games. He led all defensemen in the league with 22 goals. This earned him a spot on the First Team All-Star list. He also played in the 2001 USHL All-Star Game. Keith helped the Lancers win the Clark Cup, which is the league championship. He scored seven points in ten playoff games.

In 2001–02, Keith began playing college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They are part of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). He joined a strong defense team that included future NHL players. Keith was expected to do well as a freshman. He was named the WCHA's pre-season rookie of the year. In his first college game on October 5, 2001, he had two assists. He started his first year with a six-game point streak. He scored two goals and four assists during this time. Overall, he had 10 goals and 23 points in 41 games. He was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.

In the WCHA playoffs, he scored the winning goal in overtime. This helped his team beat North Dakota. The Golden Gophers then went to the 2002 NCAA Championships. They won their first national title there. Keith scored the first goal in the NCAA final against the Maine Black Bears. Minnesota won 4–3 in overtime.

The next year, Keith had his best college season with 41 points in 45 games. This was the fourth-highest among NCAA defensemen. He was also third in scoring for his team. He was recognized for doing well in both hockey and his classes. He helped the Golden Gophers win the Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA playoff champions. He was also named to the WCHA Final Five All-Tournament Team. The Gophers then beat the New Hampshire Wildcats 5–1 in the 2003 NCAA Final. This made them national champions again. Keith was honored as an NCAA West Regional All-Star for his play.

In his third year, Keith was named an alternate captain. He scored 11 goals and 36 points in 37 games. His average of 0.97 points per game was second among NCAA defensemen. He also scored five game winning goals, which was high in the WCHA and NCAA. Keith even served as captain when the main captain was injured. He missed seven games himself due to a knee injury. His teammates voted him Minnesota's most valuable player. He also received several other honors, including being a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. This award goes to the best college hockey player. However, the Golden Gophers did not win the national championship that year.

Keith left the Golden Gophers as one of their top defensemen. He was seventh all-time among team defensemen with 33 goals. He was also the 74th player in team history to reach 100 points.

Phoenix Coyotes (2004–2008)

The Buffalo Sabres picked Keith Ballard 11th overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. This was a bit of a surprise, as many thought he would be picked later. Keith himself said he was ready to be drafted between the 20th and 40th spots. Scouts described him as a defenseman who liked to rush the puck forward.

Before he played in the NHL, he was traded twice. First, Buffalo traded him to the Colorado Avalanche in 2003. The next year, he was traded again to the Phoenix Coyotes. This trade involved several players and a draft pick.

Keith signed a three-year contract with Phoenix a year later. He decided to leave college early because of this NHL contract. He felt ready to play with NHL veterans after playing for Team USA in the 2004 World Championships.

Ballard in his first season with the Panthers in December 2008

Because of the NHL lockout, Keith started his professional career in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played for the Utah Grizzlies in 2004–05. He scored two goals and 20 points in 60 games. When the NHL started playing again in the next season, Keith played his first game for the Coyotes. This was on October 5, 2005, against the Vancouver Canucks. He scored his first NHL goal in that game. Keith finished his rookie year with 8 goals and 39 points, which are still his career highs. He led all NHL defensemen with three shorthanded goals.

In his second NHL season, 2006–07, Keith missed 13 games. He broke a bone in his hand while blocking a shot. He still managed to get 27 points in 69 games. In 2007, he signed a new two-year contract. In 2007–08, Keith scored a career-low 21 points.

Florida Panthers (2008–2010)

During the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Keith was traded to the Florida Panthers. This trade also involved other players and a draft pick. The Panthers' coach, Jacques Martin, said Keith would be a key defenseman for the team. Before the 2008–09 season, Keith signed a six-year contract extension with the Panthers.

Keith scored 34 points in his first season with Florida in 2008–09. The next season, on November 30, 2009, Keith was involved in an accident on the ice. He accidentally hit his own teammate, goalie Tomáš Vokoun, in the mask with his stick. Keith was frustrated after a goal was scored against his team. Vokoun had to leave the ice and needed stitches. He missed two games. Keith apologized to Vokoun, and he was not punished by the team or the NHL.

Keith matched his career high of eight goals that season. He also had 20 assists for 28 points. He was third in the league for blocked shots with 201. Keith played part of the season with a hip injury. After the season, he had surgery in May 2010 to fix a stress fracture and remove a cyst in his hip.

Vancouver Canucks (2010–2013)

Ballard (left) stands with Canucks teammates Alexander Edler and captain Henrik Sedin in November 2010.

On June 25, 2010, during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Keith was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. This trade also included Victor Oreskovich going to Vancouver. In return, the Panthers received Michael Grabner, Steve Bernier, and a first-round draft pick. Keith spent two months recovering from his hip surgery. He struggled during the pre-season games.

Four games into the regular season, he got a concussion. This happened on October 16, 2010, when he was hit into the boards. He missed five games because of this injury. When he returned, he continued to struggle. He was even taken out of the lineup for four games in November. This was the first time in his career he was a healthy scratch (meaning he wasn't injured but didn't play). He scored his first goal as a Canuck on November 26.

Later, on February 7, 2011, Keith sprained a ligament in his right knee. This happened during a game against the Ottawa Senators. He finished his first regular season with career lows in games played (65), goals (2), assists (5), and points (7). Despite his struggles, the Canucks had a great season. They won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time. They made it to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals but lost in Game 7. Keith played in 10 of the team's 25 playoff games.

Keith continued to be a third-pairing defenseman in his second season with Vancouver. He missed five games in late 2011 due to a back injury. Then, on February 5, 2012, he got a season-ending concussion. This injury was caused by two hits in a game against the Colorado Avalanche. He played one more game before the injury was diagnosed. His season ended with 1 goal and 7 points in 47 games.

His third season with the Canucks was shorter because of the 2012–13 NHL lockout. When the season started, Keith was again on the Canucks' third defensive pairing. At one point, he was even removed from the lineup. In late March, Keith played three games as a forward to help the team with injuries. He then broke his foot. He was healthy for the playoffs, but the Canucks chose to play other defensemen. He finished the year with two assists in 36 games.

Minnesota Wild (2013–2015)

The NHL salary cap was lowered in 2013. The Vancouver Canucks needed to reduce their player salaries. Keith had two years left on his contract. The Canucks tried to trade him, but it didn't work. So, they placed him on waivers and then bought out his contract.

Two days after becoming a free agent, Keith signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Wild. In his second season with the Wild, Keith suffered a serious injury. He was hit by a player from the New York Islanders. Keith's head hit a glass partition and then bounced off the ice. He lay on the ice for a few minutes before leaving on his own. He suffered a concussion and several broken bones in his face. He was taken to the hospital and released the next day. No penalty or suspension was given for the hit.

After the 2015 season, Keith was still dealing with post-concussion symptoms. He decided to end his professional hockey career. He chose to study sport science at the University of Minnesota instead.

International Play

Ballard during the 2008 IIHF World Championship
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
IIHF World Championship
Bronze	2004 Czech Republic

Keith first played for Team USA at the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships in Switzerland. He scored a goal and an assist in six games. The United States finished in eighth place. Two years later, Keith played for the under-20 team. This was at the 2002 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic. He played in seven games, scoring a goal and an assist. The United States finished in fifth place.

After his third year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Keith joined the United States men's team. He played in the 2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic. He was the only college player on the team. He helped the United States win a bronze medal. His first goal in men's international play came in a 7–1 win against Ukraine.

Three years later, Keith played in the World Championships for three years in a row. In the 2007 tournament in Russia, he had three assists. The United States lost in the quarter-final. The next year, Keith had two assists in five games. The United States finished in sixth place. Keith played in his second bronze medal game at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. However, the United States lost to Sweden. He had a goal and two assists in nine games.

Playing Style

Keith Ballard was known as a two-way defenseman. This means he was good at both offense and defense. He was known for his hard hits, especially hip checks. He led his team in hits during his first five years in the NHL. He was also good at blocking shots.

On offense, Keith was a fast and smooth skater. This helped him start plays from his own defensive zone. He was known for his intensity and competitive spirit.

Personal Life

Keith was born in Baudette, Minnesota. His parents are Steve and Joanne. He has a sister named Jessie. His family owns a fishing resort in Minnesota. Keith's grandparents started the resort in 1961.

Keith left home after his second year of high school. He moved to pursue his hockey career with the U.S. National Development Team. He graduated from Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Keith played multiple sports in high school. He was an All-Conference player in football. He also did well in golf.

Keith and his wife have three children.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000	United States	WJC18	8th		6	1	1	2	4
2002	United States	WJC	5th		7	1	1	2	4
2004	United States	WC			8	1	0	1	2
2007	United States	WC	5th		7	0	3	3	16
2008	United States	WC	6th		5	0	2	2	16
2009	United States	WC	4th		9	1	2	3	2
Junior totals					13	2	2	4	8
Senior totals					29	2	7	9	36

Awards and Honors