Outreach efforts

By Puckhound
Hockey Hound Universe editor

Like most NHL teams, there's always an effort to reach out to the community. It's not just about getting fannies in seats. It's about showing that the team cares.

Last week, members of the Tampa Bay Lightning alumni and staff members took part in a charity game benefiting the families of three St. Petersburg police officers. Before the game, they had a signing session.

Though we volunteered our time, raising nearly $200 selling raffle tickets, we made sure we took a few minutes to add to the collection. Signing the team card, shown above, were former players Dave Andreychuk, Brian Bradley, Chris Dingman and Stan Neckar.

We also got these cards signed:

Dave Andreychuk, captain of the 2004 team that won the Stanley Cup; and

Brian Bradley, the Lightning's first All-Star.

Brag book: Vancouver Canucks

Hound: Michael, Hockey Hounds Universe's Calgary correspondent
Hounding opportunity: Vancouver Canucks leaving the hotel to head to the Saddledome
Where: Sheraton, downtown Calgary
When: March 12, 2011

Roberto Luongo x 2, Keith Ballard

Top row: Mason Raymond x 2, Sami Salo and Cory Schneider; and
Bottom row: Christian Ehrhoff, Jannik Hansen, Dan Hamhuis, Keith Ballard

Top row: Alain Vigneault, Mikael Samuelsson, Maxim Lapierre and Manny Malhotra; and
Bottom row: Mikael Samuelsson x 2, Jeff Tambellini

Editor's note: Hockey Hounds Universe welcomes Michael to the fold. He'll provide reports out of Calgary.

Rounding 'em up

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Unless this is your first rodeo, cowboy, it's fairly common knowledge among established hockey hounds across North America, maybe even Sweden, that New Jersey goalie Johan Hedberg is a more-than-willing signer.

If you didn't know this, though, consider yourself duly informed.

These three pucks, obtained during the Devils' recent visit to Hockey Bay, are proof that Hedberg will sign more than one item.

Brag Book: OHL team sheets

Hound: Mike, Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent
Hounding opportunities: Ontario Hockey League games
Where: Ontario, Canada
When: 2010-11 season

Let the bragging begin:

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.

Target-rich environment

When Upper Deck gathered likely members of the 2010-11 NHL Rookie Class at the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence in Toronto earlier this month, it made perfect sense for Al and Mike, two of Hockey Hounds Universe's Toronto-based correspondents, to attend and get in a little preseason hounding.

Really, is there any reason, other than living in Florida, that any hockey hound wouldn't attend an event like this? When you have top prospects like Edmonton's Taylor Hall, shown above, taken first overall in June's NHL draft, in your vicinity, it could be viewed as a crime not to make a play.

Also attending the event were Boston's Tyler Seguin, taken No. 2 overall in June; Edmonton's Jordan Eberle; and Los Angeles' Brayden Schenn.

Al, our senior Toronto correspondent, got Hall to sign this Oilers puck and an 8x10.

Mike, our other Toronto-based hound and resident Ontario Hockey League expert, added these pucks to his collection.

Top row: Edmonton's Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi, Columbus' Ryan Johansen and Carolina's Jeff Skinner; and
Bottom row: Vancouver's Jordan Schroeder, Dallas' Scott Glennie and Seguin.