From cards to a classic

By Commonkid
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent

Doing the American Hockey League here in Springfield, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., I get to see how different collectors go about getting things done. Most here go the card route, with some adding a few 8x10 pics and a few pucks thrown in.

With most collectors trying to get nine boards done, that can get pricey as even the lowest-priced rookies can add up. Sometimes, I think a 8x10 costs less.

Another difference is how they present them to get signed. The old standard here is a piece of cardboard and photo corners, though some will use tape as well. A second way is to cut out nine pocket pages, but this is rare. On trips to Boston, I see more photos then cards and a lot of them get sticks or other team stuff signed.

With the NHL's collective bargaining agreement the way it is, many new opportunities for us hounds of the AHL have opened up. Players like Wade Redden, shown above, in Hartford and Jay Pandolfo in Springfield, who recently retired, mean that a lot of us are now able to players that unless we traveled to a NHL city would never have gotten.

The Connecticut Whale, a recent name change from the Hartford Wolf Pack by new ownership, are having an outdoor game, called the Whale Bowl 2011, against the Providence Bruins in February. For the two weeks leading up to it, many high school games as well as some college games have been scheduled.

The highlight for me comes Feb. 19 with a Hartford Whalers-Boston Bruins alumni game. To help promote the it, the team is bringing in former Whalers players for signings. In the past, the team has brought in Pat Verbeek and Nick Fotiu, shown above. Coming up will be two former Bruins stars Rick Middleton and Rejean Lemelin.

Among the rosters for the alumni game are Brian Leetch, Brad Park, Ken Linseman, Ken Hodge and Don Marcotte for the Bruins and Nelson Emerson, Gordie Roberts, Darren Turcotte and Dave and Wayne Babych for the Whalers.