A huge mail day

By Al
Hockey Hounds Universe senior Toronto correspondent

As a kid and I'm sure most of you fall in this catagory, we all had our childhood idoles. For me, growing up in Toronto, it was my Maple Leafs captain, Mr. Dave Keon. Throughout my hockey career, I had to have jersey number 14 and was very upset if a fellow teammate wanted the same number and it came down to a coin toss ... and I lost.

Some 20-plus years ago, my girlfriend, now wife, knew about my childhood idol and bought me a replica Leafs jersey with the number 14 and the name KEON on the back. At $100-plus at the time, that was a big purchase for a girlfriend.

The jersey has been proudly put on display in different locations in the two houses where we've lived.

Recently I came across an 8 x 10 of Mr. Keon and I also purchased his Hockey Hall of Fame Card (about the size of a postcard). I also was lucky enough to find out his home address in Florida.

Now living some 1,500 miles away from him, I came to the realization that meeting him in person for the auto would be out of the question. On a wish, I mailed it to him, including a short note explaining just how much of a role he played in my younger years and my hockey career.

Well can you guess what came in the mail? Yep!

Brag Book: Toronto Maple Leafs II

Hound: Al, Hockey Hounds Universe's senior Toronto correspondent
Hounding opportunity: Toronto Maple Leafs practices
Where: MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, Toronto
When: 2010-11 NHL season

Let the bragging begin:

Colby Armstrong;

Francois Beauchemin, since dealt to the Anaheim Ducks;

Tyler Bozak;

Jean-Sebastien Giguere;

Jonas Gustavsson;

Dion Phaneuf, signing in silver;

Kris Versteeg, since traded to Philadelphia; and

a Maple Leafs Gardens puck and card signed by Ron Ellis.

Brag Book: Ontario Hockey League

Hound: Mike, Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent Hounding opportunities: Ontario Hockey League games Where: Ontario, Canada When: 2010-11 season Let the bragging begin: An 8x10 signed by Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Keith Aulie; an 8x10 signed by Sarnia's Alex Galchenyuk; an 8x10 signed by Florida Panthers prospect Erik Gudbranson; an 8x10 signed by Sarnia's Nail Yakupov; Sarnia Sting pucks signed by Nail Yakupov, left, and Alex Galchenyuk; Mississauga St. Michael's Majors puck signed by Devante Pelley-Smith; Niagara Ice Dogs puck signed by Doug and Fred Hamilton; Kingston Frontenacs pucked signed by Alex and Erik Gudbranson; Niagara Ice Dogs puck signed by Ryan Stromme; London Knights puck signed by Vladislav Namestnikov; Saginaw Spirit puck signed by Brandon Saad; and cards signed by Ethan Werek and Philip Grubauer.

Whale of a time

By Commonkid
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent

For those who don't know this, the Whale Bowl was a series of games lasting over a week, played outdoors at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. It started with college and high school games, but the two big games were both on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The first game featured the Boston Bruins Alumni vs. Hartford Whalers Alumni. Joining them were the Hanson Brothers from the hockey cult classic Slap Shot. The alumni game was followed by the Connecticut Whale meeting the Providence Bruins in an American Hockey League game.

The hounding started Friday afternoon at the hotel where many of the players were staying for the weekend. First one I saw was Derek Sanderson, who asked for directions to the parking garage. We ran down to the walk-in entrance, getting him to sign before he got on the elevator. This worked for Brad Park and Reggie Lemelin as well.

The hotel, however, wouldn't let us wait inside. It was good luck that the weather was not all that bad, about 40 degrees out during the day.

On Saturday, we got to the hotel around 9 a.m. and some players were there already. The weather turned nasty, however, and it didn't get over 15 degrees with wind gusts up to 40 knots. For three of the dealers, this was too much. They paid for a room so they could wait inside. This turned into waste of money as security relented and let us all in about 30 minutes later.

Even at the game, it was good luck to get autos, as you could go out between the games and get the alumni as they left. Only four people were out there.

For the two-day total, I scored 117 cards, 28 8x10s and 16 pucks. I'm hoping they do this next year as well.

Besides Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, shown above, others signers included:

Whalers legend Ray Neufeld; and

Bruins legend Derek Sanderson.

Sweet dessert

By Mike
Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent

After having a bite to eat recently at a Don Cherry's Sports Grill, I had Don Cherry, Hockey Night in Canada's opinionated commentator, sign this photo. Nice jacket, eh?

Brag Book: Anaheim Ducks

Hound: Al, Hockey Hounds Universe's senior Toronto correspondent
Hounding opportunity: Anaheim Ducks practice
Where: MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, Toronto
When: January 2011

Let the bragging begin:

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.

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.

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.

My Lightning buddies

By Colin
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent

On Monday, my Dad (Puckhound) and I went hounding the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning. After getting Hurricanes players to sign before the morning skate, we went over to catch the Lightning.

During my Thanksgiving break from school, I got my picture taken with nine Lightning players. On Monday, I got four of those pictures signed. I could have gotten five signed, but my Dad forget that we had a picture of me with Pavel Kubina.

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.

Besides Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis (shown above), here are the three other Lightning players who signed their pictures with me:

goalie Dan Ellis;

defenseman Mike Lundin; and

forward Dana Tyrell.

With two more hounding trips during my Christmas break, for the Boston Bruins (my favorite Eastern Conference team) and the Montreal Canadiens, maybe I get more of my Lightning pictures signed. Maybe this time my Dad won't forget about Pavel Kubina.

Brag Book: Team Canada WJC camp

Hound: Mike, Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent
Hounding opportunity: Team Canada's 2011 World Junior Championships selection camp
Where: MasterCard Centre of Hockey Excellence in Toronto
When: December 2010

Let the bragging begin:

Team Canada selection camp team sheet (shown above): JP Anderson, Mark Visentin, Jesse Blacker, Jared Cowen, Simon Desprès, Erik Gudbranson, Brayden McNabb, Ryan Murphy, Mark Pysyk, Calvin de Haan, Carter Ashton, Michaël Bournival, Casey Cizikas, Brett Connolly, Sean Couturier, Cody Eakin, Curtis Hamilton, Quinton Howden, Ryan Howse, Ryan Johansen, Zack Kassian, Louis Leblanc, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Brad Ross, Brayden Schenn and Linden Vey.

Other items:

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.