University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers All-American Keith Ballard Retires
12/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Dec. 10, 2015 
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – After more than 600 NHL games and two national championships with the University of Minnesota, former Gopher Hockey All-American Keith Ballard announced his retirement from hockey this week.
A native of Baudette, Minn., Ballard spent three seasons with the Gophers and helped the program win back-to-back NCAA titles in 2002 and 2003. The defenseman closed out his college career with a First Team All-America honor in 2004 and was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award that year. In 119 career games at Minnesota, Ballard recorded 100 points (12th all-time among Gopher defenseman) with 33 goals (seventh among Gopher defenseman). He also served as an alternate captain in his final year with the program.
Ballard was drafted 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play in 604 regular-season NHL games with the Arizona Coyotes, the Florida Panthers, the Vancouver Canucks and finally the Minnesota Wild. The defenseman totaled 175 regular-season points with 38 goals and 137 assists. He added an additional 17 NHL playoff games with one assist.
In international play, Ballard represented the United States at four IIHF World Championships (winning bronze in 2004) as well as the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2002 IIHF World Junior Championship. Prior to joining the Gophers, Ballard spent two seasons in the USHL with the U.S. National Development Team Program in 1999-2000 and then with the Omaha Lancers in 2000-01. He helped Omaha capture the 2001 Clark Cup as league champions while earning First Team All-Star honors.
Ballard is currently completing his degree at the University of Minnesota.
-Pride On Ice-
A native of Baudette, Minn., Ballard spent three seasons with the Gophers and helped the program win back-to-back NCAA titles in 2002 and 2003. The defenseman closed out his college career with a First Team All-America honor in 2004 and was also named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award that year. In 119 career games at Minnesota, Ballard recorded 100 points (12th all-time among Gopher defenseman) with 33 goals (seventh among Gopher defenseman). He also served as an alternate captain in his final year with the program.
Ballard was drafted 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play in 604 regular-season NHL games with the Arizona Coyotes, the Florida Panthers, the Vancouver Canucks and finally the Minnesota Wild. The defenseman totaled 175 regular-season points with 38 goals and 137 assists. He added an additional 17 NHL playoff games with one assist.
In international play, Ballard represented the United States at four IIHF World Championships (winning bronze in 2004) as well as the 2000 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2002 IIHF World Junior Championship. Prior to joining the Gophers, Ballard spent two seasons in the USHL with the U.S. National Development Team Program in 1999-2000 and then with the Omaha Lancers in 2000-01. He helped Omaha capture the 2001 Clark Cup as league champions while earning First Team All-Star honors.
Ballard is currently completing his degree at the University of Minnesota.
-Pride On Ice-
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