Hamilton brothers Dougie, Freddie together again on Saddledome ice

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This article was published 16/03/2016 (3805 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY – Four years after wearing the red Maple Leaf together at the Saddledome, the brothers Hamilton have been reunited by the flaming ‘C’.

The Calgary Flames called up Dougie Hamilton’s older brother, Freddie, on Wednesday from their American Hockey League affiliate in Stockton, Calif.

The siblings reunited in the morning skate before Freddie was inserted into the Flames lineup in place of Kenny Agostino for a home game against the Winnipeg Jets. They had been teammates before, but it marked the brothers’ first NHL game together.

“We’ve known of the possibility since we both got to the same organization,” Dougie said following the morning skate. “It’s something we’ve thought about for a long time and kind of pictured happening and dreamed of.

“It’s pretty cool to be in the same room right now and on the ice together again.”

The Flames acquired Dougie Hamilton in a major trade with Boston Bruins in June, 2015, and promptly signed the 22-year-old defenceman to a six-year deal.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving dealt a conditional draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Freddie Hamilton’s rights in October and assigned the 24-year-old forward to Stockton.

The last season the Hamiltons were teammates was in 2012, both with the Ontario Hockey League’s Niagara IceDogs and Canada’s team at the world junior men’s championship in Edmonton and Calgary.

With the Flames’ dressing room as their digs, Canada lost a wild semifinal 6-5 to Russia despite scoring three goals in the third period. The host team settled for the bronze medal with a 4-0 shutout of Finland.

“We were very fortunate to play junior together and that world juniors here was the best experience for us so far in hockey,” Freddie said.

The brothers were born in Toronto and spent their teens in St. Catharines, Ont., where the IceDogs are based.

Parents Doug and Lynn, former Olympic athletes in rowing and basketball respectively, were en route to Calgary on Wednesday.

“It’s great for us too, but we really want to make this moment for them too because of all they’ve done for us,” Freddie said.

The ninth overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Bruins, Dougie Hamilton jumped directly from major junior to the NHL. Treliving gave up three draft picks, including a first-rounder, to land the six-foot-five, 212-pound defender.

Freddie Hamilton, at six foot one and 190 pounds, has spent most of his pro career in the AHL trying to gain a foothold in the NHL.

“I think I’m definitely ready to come up and contribute,” Freddie said. “It’s up to me to try to prove that.”

A 2010 fifth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks, Freddie Hamilton played 12 games with the Sharks before he was dealt to the Avalanche. He had a goal in 17 games for Colorado last season.

Freddie has 16 goals and 19 assists in 53 games for Stockton this season.

“Just to be so young and have this opportunity this early in our careers, it’s a pretty special opportunity and a special feeling,” Dougie said.

The Regehr brothers — Robyn and Richie — played in a game together with the Flames during the 2005-06 season.