By Dell
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent
On Nov. 8, 2010, I stayed at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. This is the main hotel used by people attending the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) induction ceremony.
The induction ceremony started at 7:30 p.m. Buses began leaving the hotel, taking people to the HHOF, around 5 p.m. From about 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. there were many ex-players, executives, Hall of Famers and guests in the hotel lobby.
Some people I saw were
Billy Smith,
Bryan Trottier (pic # 1131),
Dale Hawerchuk,
Rod Langway (pic 1196),
Scotty Bowman,
Luc Robitaille,
Red Kelly,
Marcel Dionne,
Vladislav Tretiak,
Chris Chelios, Peter Stastny (pic # 1200),
Michel Goulet,
Ted Lindsay,
Johnny Bower,
Ray Ferraro and
Pat Quinn to name a few. I recognized many other faces who I could not put names to. The 2010 inductees were also there:
Dino Ciccarelli,
Angela James,
Cammi Granato and
Jim Devellano.
Security presence in the hotel lobby varies from year to year. Some years, security is tight and other years it is loose. I think it just depends on the guards on duty that night.
This year's group were especially vigilant in enforcing the "no autographs/no photos" policy. If the guards saw a Sharpie or a camera or saw you approaching a player, they would follow you, tell you about the policy, threaten to make you leave the hotel and discourage the player from signing. There was also security staff on the steps leading from the lobby down to street level where the buses and about 10 hounds were.
The security staff basically followed induction attendees right to the bus and tried to discourage the hounds from getting anything signed. Note that the 2010 inductees did not take the street level buses. They took limos that came right up to the lobby doors.
I had a ticket (shown above) to the induction ceremony, so I boarded the bus around 7. At this point, I noticed security staff talking to the hounds on the street. They were telling the hounds that they should leave because there was nobody important left in the lobby. I had just left the lobby and knew that there were still several Hall of Famers in there.
Like I said, security was doing everything they could to prevent hounding. After a short drive, we were dropped off in front of the HHOF. The entire sidewalk had a red carpet, fencing and security staff. In the past, this area was open and hounds could stand on the sidewalk and try to get autographs as people walked into the building. Not this time. The only place to get autographs was if you happened to be standing on the sidewalk right where the bus door opened. About 15 hounds were present and I doubt if they got many sigs.
Upon entering the HHOF building, which is called Brookfield Place, there is a large foyer that leads to the downward escalators that take you to the HHOF entrance. Normally, this foyer is open and hounds can stand there and try to get sigs as people make their way to the escalators. This year, the entire foyer had fences, walls and many security staff. It was, essentially, inaccessible to hounds.
I made my way down to the HHOF entrance (shown above). It was packed with people, such as attendees like me, media, ex-players, family, friends and Hall of Famers) enjoying the free food and beverages prior to the start of the induction. There were dozens of silent auction items like autographed pictures, autographed jerseys, airline tickets and hockey tickets. Inside the HHOF, there was also a band playing. I think they were members of a 1980s Canadian band called Glass Tiger.
When the induction ceremony, started there were choices to be made. Some people went and sat in the auditorium that you see if you watch the TV telecast. People like
Gary Bettman,
Steve Yzerman and other VIPs had reserved seats up close to the stage. Others sat at the back of the auditorium in a general, unassigned seating area. Some people stayed in the HHOF exhibit area and watched the induction on one of the many TVs that were set up. I watched most of it on a TV that was set up in the Great Hall (shown above), the room that houses all the NHL trophies and the Stanley Cup.
After the ceremony, the new inductees and other Hall of Famers in attendance, such as Ciccarelli (above), came back into the HHOF exhibit area onto a small stage and gave short speeches for those who didn't sit in the auditorium. After the speeches, they left for private parties around town or stayed to mingle.
Some people left the HHOF right after the ceremony while others stayed and again took in the free food and drink. During this time, I had my picture taken with about 10 Hall of Famers (many of whom I named above). I left the HHOF around 11 p.m. picking up my gift bag on the way out to the bus. The gift bag contained a HHOF induction program, induction poster and a calendar. Some posters were autographed and some weren't. Mine wasn't.
Back at the hotel, there was essentially no security presence. I stayed in the lobby until about 1 a.m. seeing several Hall of Famers return from their nights out. Unfortunately, I already had their sigs in my collection so I did not get anything signed.
Though it was tough on the night of the event, it doesn't mean there aren't other opportunities. You can always try in the days before or after the induction. remember, too, that the HHOF induction ceremony is normally the second Monday in November.
In the days before the event, there are usually HHOF-related activities taking place around Toronto that Hall of Famers participate in, such as book signings, autograph appearances and the Legends of Hockey game. You may want to visit the hotel lobby on one of these days to see who is there. Don't forget to visit the hotel lobby the morning after the induction ceremony to try to catch some sigs as people grab breakfast or check out.
A Hockey Hounds Universe hat trick from right winger Teemu Selanne, a future Hall of Famer;
another Hockey Hounds Universe hat trick from center Saku Koivu, including a sweet player puck;
goalie Jonas Hiller;
defenseman Cam Fowler;
right winger Bobby Ryan; and
winger Jason Blake.
By Puckhound
BRAMPTON BATTALION, including Sam Carrick, taken 144th overall in 2010 by the Toronto Maple Leafs; Barclay Goodrow, a 2011 mid-round prospect; Zach Bell, a 2011 mid-round prospect; and Matej Machovsky, who appeared in two games for the Czech Republic at the 2010 World Under-17 championship;
KITCHENER RANGERS, including Ryan Murphy, who Don Cherry said last year would be the No. 1 pick in 2011; and Tobias Reider, a projected second-round pick in 2011;
LONDON KNIGHTS, including Vladislav Namestnikov, a projected mid to late first-round pick in 2011; Scott Harrington, a projected early second-round pick in 2011; Jared Knight, selected 32nd overall in 2010 by the Boston Bruins; Jarred Tinordi, taken 22nd overall in 2010 by the Montreal Canadiens; and Igor Bobkov, the Team Russia's gold-medal-game-winning goalie in the 2011 WJC U-20 tournament;
MISSISSAUGA ST. MICHAEL'S MAJORS, including Justin Shugg, played on the two-time defending Memorial Cup champs Windsor Spitfires and was taken 105th overall in 2010 by the Carolina Hurricanes; Casey Cizikas, taken 92nd overall in 2009 by the New York Islanders; Maxim Kitsyn, who played on Team Russia's gold-medal winning WJC U-20 team; Devante Smith Pelley, taken 42nd overall in 2010 by the Anaheim Ducks; Stuart Percy, a mid-round prospect in 2011; and J.P. Anderson, a San Jose Sharks prospect who was an emergency call-up this month;
NIAGARA ICE DOGS, including Alex Friesen, taken 172 overall in 2010 by the Vancouver Canucks; Mark Visetin, taken 27th overall in 2010 by the Phoenix Coyotes and goalie for Team Canada's silver-medal winning WJC U-20 team; Ryan Strome, a projected top seven pick in 2011; Freddie Hamilton, taken 129th overall in 2010 by the San Jose Sharks; Dougie Hamilton (Freddie's brother), a projected top five pick in 2011; and former NHL player Mike Van Ryn, an assistant coach on the team;
SAGINAW SPIRIT, including Jordan Schwartz, taken 97th overall in 2009 by the Phoenix Coyotes; Ivan Telegin, taken 101st overall in 2010 by the Atlanta Thrashers; and Brandon Saad, a top 10 prospect in 2011; and
SARNIA STING, including Nail Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk, both projected within the top five prospects for the 2012 NHL draft.
Back in front of the hotel, sneaking peeks at the enormous and glorious Ryan Miller photographs being handled by the dealers, I recognized Patrick Lalime walking toward me from the other end of the street. I politely asked him if he would mind signing a couple of cards (shown above with one from Rob Niedermayer) and he graciously obliged.
By Puckhound
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.
By Ron Saar
Introducing someone to hockey-hounding adventures here in Hockey Bay comes with its rewards. You get to watch hockey fans marvel at meeting NHL players. You see the excitement in their faces when a star player stops to sign. You know memories are created.
By Moody
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.
Ross Carlson signed this Everblades shot
By Puckhound
By Puckhound
Though I wasn't a witness to either incident, but am relying on Hockey Bay Hounds I trust, it seems that Boston's Tuukka Rask, above, and Shawn Thornton, at left, had a case of the potty-mouths Tuesday during their stay here in Hockey Bay.
By Puckhound
By Colin
Though I didn't have a picture with Victor Hedman, we did have cards for him to sign. I was going to ask him if he could come to my hockey practice while he signed my cards, but I remembered we didn't have one this week. Maybe next time, as that would be pretty cool.
goalie Dan Ellis;
defenseman Mike Lundin; and
forward Dana Tyrell.
It's easy to never get caught shorthanded, so to speak, anytime an NHL rookie comes to town. Using a puck from a player's NHL draft year and creating a card are two simple autograph platforms that hockey hounds can use.
an 8x10 signed by the Red Deer Rebels' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a top-rated prospect for the 2011 NHL Draft;
an 8x10 signed by the University of Notre Dame's Riley Sheahan, taken 21st overall in 2010 by the Detroit Red Wings;
2010 NHL Draft pucks signed by Prince George Cougars' Brett Connolly, taken sixth overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning;
Drummondville Voltigeurs pucks signed by Sean Couturier, a top-rated prospect for the 2011 NHL Draft;
Moose Jaw Warriors puck signed by Quinton Howden, drafted 25th overall in 2010 by the Florida Panthers; and
cards signed by Nugent-Hopkins, left, and Oshawa's Calvin de Haan, taken 12th overall in 2009 by the New York Islanders.
By Puckhound
On Nov. 8, 2010, I stayed at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. This is the main hotel used by people attending the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) induction ceremony.
I made my way down to the HHOF entrance (shown above). It was packed with people, such as attendees like me, media, ex-players, family, friends and Hall of Famers) enjoying the free food and beverages prior to the start of the induction. There were dozens of silent auction items like autographed pictures, autographed jerseys, airline tickets and hockey tickets. Inside the HHOF, there was also a band playing. I think they were members of a 1980s Canadian band called Glass Tiger.
When the induction ceremony, started there were choices to be made. Some people went and sat in the auditorium that you see if you watch the TV telecast. People like Gary Bettman, Steve Yzerman and other VIPs had reserved seats up close to the stage. Others sat at the back of the auditorium in a general, unassigned seating area. Some people stayed in the HHOF exhibit area and watched the induction on one of the many TVs that were set up. I watched most of it on a TV that was set up in the Great Hall (shown above), the room that houses all the NHL trophies and the Stanley Cup.
After the ceremony, the new inductees and other Hall of Famers in attendance, such as Ciccarelli (above), came back into the HHOF exhibit area onto a small stage and gave short speeches for those who didn't sit in the auditorium. After the speeches, they left for private parties around town or stayed to mingle.