It's a wrap

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Now that the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign has ended down here in Hockey Bay, it's time to pull the plug on this experiment. Though I'd hoped for more participation from others, throughout the North America and more specifically here in Hockey Bay, we never reached the level of interest, including my own, needed to continue this endeavour.

I'm appreciative of all of the Hockey Hounds Universe correspondents who made significant contributions to this blog this past season. Speaking on behalf of them, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for those of you who stopped by. We hope you found this information helpful.

Going forward, we only wish you all the best in your hockey-hounding adventures.

As always, folks, thanks for all of your support.

That'll teach me

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

One of the quickest ways for Hockey Hounds Universe's visitors and page views to fall off a precipice is to not post any new content for a week. For a variety of reasons, from work to freelance efforts to a little thing called the Detroit Red Wings, kept me from doing that.

Well, I've learned my lesson.

Hopefully, I'll make amends this week, as we try to catch up with all the hockey-hounding that's taken place down here in Hockey Bay. Beyond that, you can expect a couple of posts from north of the border as well as other correspondents checking in from their outposts.

Who knows, maybe even Moody, fresh off of celebrating the one-year anniversary of Moody's TTM Blog, will file one. It's been a long time, hasn't it?

Want to join the team?

Now that Hockey Hounds Universe is on firm footing, meaning we have a good, solid month under our feet, it's time to see how many of you have what it takes to join the lineup.

Hockey Hounds Universe is looking to add correspondents in NHL and AHL locales. So far, we're covered in New England, Miami, Nashville, San Jose, Toronto and, of course, the hotbed of hockey hounding, Hockey Bay.

Here are some of our correspondents' efforts:

~ Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin;
~ catching up with former NHLer Theo Fleury;
~ former NHL defenseman Nolan Pratt's day with Lord Stanley's Cup;
~ a brag book of autographs from the Toronto Maple Leafs; and
~ hounding American Hockey League teams.

What we're looking for are people who can string words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs and paragraphs into quick-hit, must-read monthly reports of hockey-hounding exploits in your area. We're not looking for epics, either. Instead, we want 200 to 250 words that provide useful information for hockey hounds.

It helps, too, if you're handy with a camera or scanner and can provide images of players signing autographs or in-person autographed items.

If you think you have what it takes, tell Hockey Hounds Universe, in 100 words or less, why we should add you to the team. If you make the cut, we'll let you know. Please understand that this is an unpaid position. We're in it for the hobby, not as a business.

As always, Hockey Hounds Universe appreciates your time. Thanks for stopping by.

Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

What do you think?

Puckhound, Hockey Hound Universe's editor, weighs in with his theory on NHL players' signing habits on his main blog, Hound Central 5.0.

It joins some of his other tricks of the hockey-hounding trade:

~ How to find NHL teams
~ Recognizing players
~ Hockey-hounding etiquette

All or nothing, it seems

It sure looks like hockey hounds intend to keep themselves busy over the course of the 2010-11 campaign, as most taking part in Hockey Hound Universe's first-ever poll indicated they'll packing their hockey-hounding bags more than 20 times this season.

Somewhat surprising, perhaps, is that the middle ground, defined as hounding 11-20 times, received so little support. In fact, more hockey hounds said they'd hit the bricks 10 times or less.

Question: How many times will you go hockey hounding this season?

More than 20 times: 9 out of 17 votes cast (52.9 percent)
0-10: 5 votes (29.4 percent)
11-20: 3 votes (17.7 percent}

Keep them in mind

There are very few people whose lives haven't been touched by cancer. My grandfather, Roy, who sacrificed his retirement to raise a grandson, died of lung cancer. I'm sure you know someone, too.

That's why I'm asking you to do what you can for Goalies Against Cancer 2010. It's a certainly worthy venture. At the least, take a look at the cool masks that Leblanc Designs made for the Maestas brothers. Words of encouragement would be nice, too. Thanks.

Help, if you can

It's always nice to get fan mail or, in Hound Central 5.0's case, comments. Here's one I'd like to share with everyone:

"Hello, I've been an avid reader of your blog for a while and I thought you might like to check out a fundraiser me and my brother are doing involving hockey against breast cancer.

"I would email you, but I'm not exactly sure how I go about doing that on here (it's probably something really obvious...lol).

"Anyway, just thought you might want to give it a look and perhaps stick it at the end of one of your posts sometime? Either way, thanks and I hope you do 6.0 next season!"

Well, guys, I hope this is a little better than that.

At first, I was a bit skeptical. Now, after waiting a few weeks, I realize I'd made a mistake. This effort, called Goalies Against Cancer 2010, is the real deal. USA Hockey is involved. So is Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller, through his Steadfast Foundation. So, too, is the Susan G. Komen Passionately Pink for the Cure organization.

Two hockey-playing, Colorado-based brothers, Joey and Brandon Maestas, are the goalies behind the scenes, working hard to help bring hope to the fight against breast cancer. If you can, help them out with one of their fundraisers. I've elected to donate $25. Thanks.

Editor's note: This post originally appeared on Hound Central 5.0

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