He played junior hockey for the Drummondville Rangers of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969–72, The St. Louis Blues picked him 41st overall in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, They traded him to the Detroit Red Wings in 1974. Hamel played as a regular for the Wings until 1981 when he signed as a free agent with the Quebec Nordiques. He spent two seasons with the Nordiques and one with the Montreal Canadiens. An eye injury in a pre-season game before the 1984-85 season forced his retirement.