Remember Cujo?

By Mike
Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent

Former NHL goalie Curtis Joseph had a public signing recently where proceeds from the session were donated to a children's hospital. For $5, I had him sign this McFarlane base. He also signed the card they were handing out at the signing session

Well worth the price

By Al
Hockey Hounds Universe senior Toronto correspondent

I don't like to pay for autographs, however, some autographs I feel are unattainable. "Mr. Hockey" himself, Gordie Howe was a no-brainer. It was a public appearance earlier in the season at a local collectible store when Mr. Hockey for a sit-down signing.

The fee was fair, especially for someone of this Hall of Famer's stature and letter-perfect signature.

Another paid autograph -- a puck signed by Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller -- was acquired through a local charity auction. I don't mind paying for these items because the money goes to a good cause. This puck, however, was a bargain at $8. The puck alone, unsigned, is worth that much.

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.

Filling it up

Mike, one of Hockey Hounds Universe's two Toronto correspondents, might be running out of room soon on this McFarlane base for Maple Leaf alums.

This past weekend, Mike added signatures from Darryl Sittler and Rick Vaive.

In all, Mike's scored 17 autographs on the piece. Among the others who've signed are Dave Andreychuk, Johnny Bower, Wendel Clark, Mike Gartner, Doug Gilmore, Mike Palmateer and Darcy Tucker.

Brag Book: Toronto Maple Leafs II

Hound: Mike, Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent
Hounding opportunities: Ontario Hockey League games, personal appearances and the MasterCard Centre of Hockey Excellence
Where: Various locales in Ontario
When: September and October 2010

Let the bragging begin:

Leafs legend Doug Gilmour on a couple of Tall Boy cards;

Wendel Clark, another Leafs legend, on a handout card;

An 8x10 signed by Doug Gilmour, left, and Wendel Clark;

An 8x10 from Phil Kessel;

Pucks signed by Francois Beauchemin and Jean-Sebastien Giguere;

Wendel Clark on a McFarlane base; and

Goalies Jonas Gustavsson, top, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere on McFarlane bases.

Heard of these guys?

By Colin
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent

Last Sunday, it was a hockey day. We hounded the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins before going to the Tampa Bay Lightning game.

Finally, after three times, I got Sid the Kid to sign for me. Thanks the Lord. I got him on the McFarlane base (shown above) showing him in the 2008 Winter Classic.

Me and another kid were the only ones to get him when we saw him, though Daddy tells me that he signed for others earlier in the day. In total, we got 34 autographs from the Penguins.

I also got Evgeni Malkin on this Russian hockey card. Like Sidney, me and another kid were the only ones to get Geno as he headed out for lunch.

I didn't do a team sheet for the Penguins, just cards.

It was hectic with the Pens. Boy, am I glad it's over with.

Brag Book: Toronto Maple Leafs

Hound: Al, Hockey Hounds Universe's senior Toronto correspondent
Hounding opportunity: Informal skates before training camp
Where: MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, Toronto
When: Early September

Let the bragging begin:

Dion Phaneuf on a McFarlane base and a mini helmet;

Jonas Gustavsson on a McFarlane base;

Gustavsson on a jersey swatch card;

Luke Schenn on a stick blade and card;

Phaneuf, left, and Carl Gunnarsson on an 8x10;

Francois Beauchemin on an 8x10;

Tomas Kaberle on an 8x10;

Phil Kessel on an 8x10;

Mike Komisarek on an 8x10; and

Nikolai Kulemin on an 8x10

Ice hogs

It's not that Mike, a Toronto-based hound, is complaining after getting 21 Maple Leafs players to sign this gigantic McFarlane's base. No, he's thinking that he could scored more autographs had Toronto's Dion Phaneuf and Luke Schenn not engaged in a "my-signature-is-bigger" contest along the bottom of the base.

"Could of got more but it will look cramped," Mike wrote.

Still, it turned out to be a pretty nice piece.

Besides Phaneuf and Schenn, the others who signed are Mike Komisarek, Colton Orr, Tomas Kaberle, Fredrik Sjostrom, Tyler Bozak, Luca Caputi, Francois Beauchemin, John Mitchell, Colby Armstrong, Wayne Primeau, Kris Versteeg, Carl Gunnarsson, J.S. Giguere, Christian Hanson, Nikolai Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski, Brett Lebda, Clarke MacArthur and Jonas Gustavsson.