Useful items

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

If you're a regular reader of my blog, Hound Central 5.0, you're familiar with my so-called cheap skate cards. They're my homemade cards I often use for NHL rookies or call-ups.

Over the years, they've come in quite handy. Just look at this one for Sergei Bobrovsky, a rookie goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers. After having him sign a puck during the Flyers' first visit to Hockey Bay, I didn't want to use any of his rookie cards when the Flyers visited last week.

They may not be pretty or employ any cutting-edge design principles or programs. In fact, I use an old Microsoft Word program for them. But they work. And, really, that's all I ask.

Putting in the time

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Don't let long lines get in the way of adding to your hockey autograph collection. Scoring these two pucks from Tampa Bay's Steve Downie at a recent appearance at a Hockey Bay motorsports store was well worth the 45 minutes we stood in line.

We haven't mad much luck over the past few seasons getting to to stop after morning skates, so we took full advantage of this opportunity to add a few more pucks to the collection.

Only days earlier, we added some pucks from Lightning teammates Adam Hall and Nate Thompson at another public appearance.

Three-for-three

By Puckhound
Hockey Hound Universe editor

Every NHL team has what hockey hounds would consider, at the minimum, its Big Three. Not only are they a team's best players, but they all reside atop any hound's wish list.

In the case of the Philadelphia Flyers, in town to play the Tampa Bay Lightning, it would be Jeff Carter, Chris Pronger and Mike Richards. I was lucky enough to have them sign this trio of Canada-related pucks.

Blasts from the past

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

When culling cards for a visiting team, it's a good idea to remember all of the specialty sets you've likely accumulated over the years. From league-specific juniors sets to the Rookie Class offering that Upper Deck used to put out, they're an easy way to offer something beside the latest card releases.

These two, for goalie Steve Mason and forward R.J. Umberger, came in handy last week when the Columbus Blue Jackets visited Hockey Bay. They'd been sitting around for a few seasons, as we don't see the club on a regular basis.

The team's last trip, in March 2009, focused more on pucks, as I added two dozen to the collection.