Keith Ballard was an outstanding defenseman for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2001 to 2004. During his junior and final season in 2003-2004, he was a key leader for his team, producing 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points in 37 games. His impressive performance earned him a Top 10 nomination for the Hobey Baker Award. That year, he was also named a First-Team All-American and the team’s most valuable player as voted by his teammates. He helped the Golden Gophers win back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2002 and 2003, and was a key part of the program’s success during his time there.

After his time in college, Ballard went on to play professionally, drafted 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played in 604 NHL games over a 10-year career with the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, and Minnesota Wild. He was a physically spirited player known for his hard-hitting style and solid defensive play. Ballard was also an offensive threat, particularly in his early career, where he had a career-high 39 points as a rookie. He retired from professional hockey in 2015.