Born	November 26, 1982 (1982-11-26) (age 27), Baudette, MN, USA
Height Weight	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Left
NHL team F. teams	Florida Panthers Phoenix Coyotes
NHL Draft	11th overall, 2002 Buffalo Sabres
Pro career	2004 – present

Keith Galen Ballard (born November 26, 1982, in Baudette, Minnesota) is a professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

[edit] College career

Ballard, wearing #13, played three seasons at University of Minnesota. He helped lead the Golden Gophers to back to back National Championships in 2002 and 2003.

[edit] Playing career

Ballard was drafted in the 1st round, 11th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Ballard was traded by Buffalo to the Colorado Avalanche in 2003 for Steven Reinprecht. One year later, he and fellow defenseman Derek Morris were dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes for Chris Gratton, Ossi Vaananen and a second-round draft pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

In 2005–06, he led all NHL defensemen in shorthanded goals with 3.

On March 17, 2008, he was caught on television to have had a heated altercation with a Canucks fan behind the visitors bench at GM Place.

During the 2008 NHL Entry Draft weekend, he was traded to the Florida Panthers, along with Nick Boynton and a second-round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (Jared Staal) for forward Olli Jokinen.

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] International play

Played for the United States in:

• 2004 World Championships
• 2007 World Championships
• 2008 World Championships

[edit] International statistics

[edit] External links

• Keith Ballard's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database