It's as easy as E.C.H.L.

By Moody
Hockey Hounds Universe senior correspondent

This season, I have changed my hounding focus to show my "Hockey Purist" side. I am a fan of the NHL, but will always be a fan of the lower ranks first. I would take a solid day hounding the East Coast Hockey League or juniors over an NHL team without batting an eye. However, here in Florida, those opportunities are far and few between.

Last week, I was lucky enough to hound the reigning ECHL champs, the Cincinnati Cyclones.

The team sheet (shown above) is my way of cheating a bit. I use these to find out who the player is and then rifle through my photos to get their individual signatures:

Marc Cheverie, Denver University standout and Florida Panthers draft pick


Barry Eghoetz, captain of the Cyclones, receiving the Kelly Cup

Kevin Roeder, a former Miami (Ohio) standout, on a pretty sweet celebration photo.

Kevin liked the photo so much, he asked me to send him a copy and gave me his e-mail address. Before he signed it, he took it around to several of the other guys to show it off.

Because I have hounded the Florida Everblades a few times this year, I just kind of snagged a few as they passed. I wasn't really looking to pile up:

Ross Carlson signed this Everblades shot


Jared Staal (yes, another Staal brother) signed this Everblades shot as well as one showing him with the American Hockey League's Charlotte Checkers.

It is entirely too easy to hound these guys. Typically, there are no other hounds around and you will never find a dealer. But you will see some great draft picks, international stars and college/junior standouts.

Newfound Enjoyment (Part 1)

By Moody
Hockey Hounds Universe senior correspondent

I have found that over the past season as well as during the current season that hounding has become a bit of a chore. It is becoming more difficult to come up with fresh items for today's NHL stars. Sure, I could use the "Go To" items like trading cards and team sheets, but it still is the same players over and over.

Yes, I've mixed it up a bit with my quest to get photos of players in non-NHL jerseys and that has sparked a bit of attention as a standout.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the friends who I've met during my hounding and always look forward to that, it's the repetition of the same players filtering through town that make it seem like I am just going through the motions.

This was laid to rest last week when I went to East Coast Hockey League game between the Florida Everblades and Toledo Walleye and decided to take a shot at getting autographs from them. Not only are there fresh faces that I haven't hounded in the past, but for the hockey purist (there are still a few around), there are some great college and junior players there.

Ross Carlson is a former NCAA champion with the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

Mike Egener is a second-round pick for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mitch Fadden was a great scorer in the Western Hockey League and a fourth-round pick for the Lightning.

David Fischer is a former first-rounder for the Montreal Canadiens.

Bobby Goepfert was a NCAA standout and sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Stars have aligned

By Moody
Hockey Hounds Universe senior correspondent

Prior to the undefeated Dallas Stars suffering their first loss of the season, I ventured out for my first hounding adventure of the season. In what has become typical West Coast form, the Stars were a pretty good signing team.

Signing cards were:

Top row: Charlie Huddy, Trevor Daley, Stu Barnes, Karlis Skrastins, Brandon Segal; and
Middle row: Kari Lehtonen, Staphane Robidas, Matt Niskanen, Steve Ott, Mike Ribeiro; and
Bottom row: Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson, Mark Fistric, Brian Sutherby, Brandon Morrow.

Once again, taking advantage of the freebies provided by fan packs, I was also able to add a Trevor Daley and Stu Barnes postcard.

Loui Eriksson was also kind enough to sign a Team Sweden photo.

Recent Stanley Cup winner Adam Burish signed a Cup celebration photo.

Crazy Cup Shot!

By Moody
Hockey Hounds Universe senior correspondent

Ok, first of all get your mind out of the gutter. This is a family show and not some silly Johnny Knoxville show. I found this photo in 2005 and have carried it around ever since. I think it is a great shot and would look great on my wall.

Former NHL player Nolan Pratt was kind enough to put paint pen to photo while training last month at the Tampa Bay Lightning's practice facility. He and his brother, Harlan, were kind enough to talk with us for a bit and tell us about hockey in Europe.

Looks like neither of them have landed on a team as of yet. From what they say they are looking for a package deal.