Chris Hamilton has been a fixture with the Ottawa 67’s for the past 16 years, serving as the team’s Head Equipment Manager since the 2012-13 season.

His tenure with the Barber Poles began three seasons prior, as a youngster fresh out of university. Knowing little about what he wanted to do other than desperately wanting to be involved with hockey, he clicked his way through the websites of junior teams in the area.

As luck would have it, the Barber Poles had a job posting for an Assistant Trainer, and he sent in an application.

“It was probably the only time in my life up to that point I had ever gone on the 67’s website,” Hamilton said. “I applied, and I remember being asked in my interview if this is what I wanted to do with my life, and I said I had no idea, I just wanted to be involved with hockey.”

In those days, trainers were also responsible for handling the equipment. With previous experience working at a sports store, Hamilton knew how to sharpen skates and perform repairs, but still wasn’t entirely sure it was what he wanted to do long term.

His third season came with a title change, and he made inroads into the hockey operations side of the business. He did some scouting but focused largely on planning for road trips, including meal prep and equipment organization, but ahead of the 2012-13 season, the opportunity to be a full-time equipment manager opened up, and he jumped on it.

“I kind of fell backwards into this,” Hamilton said. “I was a goalie growing up, so I was an equipment junkie for sure. I never thought it would be a job.”

Hamilton takes great care in ensuring his players are well looked after, and have everything they need, exactly when they need it. “There’s a lot of pride in this job,” he said. “The root of the job is jocks and socks, we do a lot of laundry. You take pride in the little things that take it above and beyond, and obviously, the 67’s barber pole jersey is as signature as it gets in hockey. It definitely matters.”

In their tenure with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, the longstanding franchise has undergone a serious facelift, as have most other teams across Canada. In yesteryear, a team’s full-time hockey staff could be as small as one coach and a trainer, and Hamilton would receive 25 t-shirts and shorts to hand out all season, but that has changed drastically. Now, teams have three coaches, and a handful of other support staff.

The 67’s now have all kinds of different pieces of technology to help better themselves, a large lounge area, hoards of health and wellness resources, and a state-of-the-art weight room, which they share with the CFL’s Ottawa REDBLACKS, all things Hamilton never thought possible when he started.

What hasn’t changed, however, is the age group of the kids who call the facilities at TD Place home, the youngest of whom was born around the same time he came on board with the Barber Poles.

“This has kept me from growing up,” Hamilton said with a laugh. “In my head, I’m probably 24 years old still.”

With his father in the military, Hamilton has moved around quite frequently in his time, calling Ottawa home three separate times. He has been here since he was 14 years old, helping further connect him with the city.

His success with the 67’s has led to international recognition, having worked with Team Canada on a handful of occasions. He most recently worked the World Juniors in Edmonton, both the cancelled one and the make-up tournament, which was played in the summer.

In the Edmonton Oilers dressing room, Hamilton got a real taste of what it would be like to work in the NHL and cherishes the memories made with Hockey Canada to this day.

“It’s quite the honour, and you don’t want to take it for granted,” Hamilton said. “I’ve been lucky enough to [represent my country], and hopefully I can do another one soon.”

As for what’s next for Hamilton, he says he doesn’t quite know. He’s more than happy to continue to push his limits in Ottawa and be part of a historic franchise he loves.

“This is my hometown, and I think Ottawa is one of the first-class organizations in the league,” Hamilton said.