Layne Ulmer was born September 14, 1980 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The seventh round, 209th overall selection of the Ottawa Senators in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Ulmer is a graduate of the WHLs Swift Current Broncos.
An offensively gifted forward, Ulmer played four seasons in Swift Current tallying 315 points (161-154-315). A WHL First Team Eastern Conference All-Star in 99-2000, upon graduating from the WHL in 2000-01, Ulmer signed as a free-agent with the New York Rangers in the summer of 2001.
In his first season as a professional, Ulmer split his time between the ECHLs Charlotte Checkers and the AHLs Hartford Wolf Pack before earning a regular roster spot with Hartford in 2002-03 and subsequently went on to make his NHL debut during the 2003-04 season.