Certainly worthy

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Earlier in the 2020-11 season, I found some American Hockey League pucks on clearance at the league's website. Seeing that the New York Islanders visit Hockey Bay twice a season, I figured it wouldn't hurt to snag a couple of Bridgeport Sound Tigers pucks.

I finally put them to good use earlier this week, when defenseman Travis Hamonic, left, and left winger Jesse Joensuu, a couple of second-rounders, made the trip to Hockey Bay. Perhaps I should've held out for Kyle Okposo and Andrew MacDonald, but I'll take these. A second-round pick is definitely worthy of adding to a puck.

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.

Crossed off the list

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

There comes a point in every veteran hockey hound's career when opportunities for big-number autograph days begin to dwindle. You've either hounded the team umpteen dozen times, have run out of items or simply don't want to add the 28th signed card from a second-line center.

That's why the Hockey Gods bless us every season with rookies and top-line second-year players. Even if you focus on just them, it's well worth the trip.

In the case of the New York Islanders, once you get past a few big-name veterans -- Doug Weight and Rick Dipietro come to mind -- the most sought-after autographs this season would likely come from John Tavares and Nino Niederreiter, the Isles' top pick and fifth overall in 2010.

After snagging these four pucks (the top three are from Niederreiter and the Team Canada pucks is from Tavares) during the Islanders' recent visit to Hockey Bay, I'm thinking a second trip for the team this season might have only one purpose -- getting a photo of a couple of kids from Quincy, Mass., signed.

Collector's item

Given that he got into quite a bit of trouble over the obscene gesture he made to the Rangers' Sean Avery, one might think that Islanders' defenseman James Wisniewski might want to put the incident behind him.

After watching him sign this puck for a Hockey Bay hound earlier this week, that may not be the case. In fact, it's nice to know that Wisniewski has a sense of humor about it. His inscription: "I love Sean Avery."