Wolves Player Wants Nothing Less than the Calder Cup

Jeff Hamilton has made the rounds on the hockey circuit. After stints playing for the Blackhawks, Hurricanes, Islanders and a team in Russia, he signed with the Chicago Wolves to help the team repeat as Calder Cup champions. During a road trip where he helped the Wolves beat Milwaukee in overtime, Hamilton answered some questions for NBC Chicago.

You went to Yale, the alma mater of many presidents and senators. Any hopes for higher office?
Definitely no. I'm quite comfortable just being a couch politician.

What is your favorite part of playing in Chicago?
The city itself. It has everything you could want in a big city, with a laid back midwestern feel.

What's the weirdest injury you've gotten as a hockey player? Do you still have all of your own teeth? 
I was high sticked in the eyeball a few years back, and learned a lot of very interesting things. The eyeball never grows, its the same size your whole life. Yes (knock on wood), my road roommate Alex Brooks has lost enough teeth for the both of us.

Chicago Wolves games are known for being family friendly. What's it like playing for a crowd packed with kids?
Very energetic.  We always have a great crowd for games. It says a lot for the Wolves organization that they pack the rink year after year.  Its a model franchise.

What are your hopes for the Wolves this season?
To win the Calder Cup, Period. The Wolves organization expects a lot from this team every year.  They go out of their way to provide us with whatever we need to help us win.

What is the best part of being a hockey player? 
Getting to know the different people throughout the sport.  Hockey players are a unique bunch of athletes.

Catch Jeff and the rest of the Wolves take on Iowa on Wednesday at 7 p.m., and Milwaukee on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Allstate Arena.

 Maggie Hendricks is a lifelong Chicagoan who has, thankfully, never been high sticked in the eye. She also writes for Cage Writer, Yahoo! Sports' MMA blog, and Fourth-Place Medal, Yahoo! Sports' Olympic blog.