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.

Trading hat tricks

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Sometimes, within the hockey world, the stars align for an NHL player. Not too long ago, it happened for Tampa Bay's Teddy Purcell, when he logged his first-ever hat trick.

The following day, Purcell made a public appearance at a motorsports dealer in Brandon, Fla. To commemorate the occasion, we had Purcell, who broke into the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, sign this trio of pucks.

The puck on the far right, honoring the NHL's Hockey for Huggies campaign, carries special significance. It was a fundraising giveaway, so to speak, before the game when Purcell logged his hat trick. What better way, I thought, to remember Purcell's achievement?

Putting in the time

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Don't let long lines get in the way of adding to your hockey autograph collection. Scoring these two pucks from Tampa Bay's Steve Downie at a recent appearance at a Hockey Bay motorsports store was well worth the 45 minutes we stood in line.

We haven't mad much luck over the past few seasons getting to to stop after morning skates, so we took full advantage of this opportunity to add a few more pucks to the collection.

Only days earlier, we added some pucks from Lightning teammates Adam Hall and Nate Thompson at another public appearance.

Change in plans

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

One desirable trait among hockey hounds is flexibility. Though it's always good to have a plan, you also need to be willing to stray from it anytime opportunity presents itself.

Take last Tuesday, for instance. I had every intention of offering Buffalo Sabres captain Craig Rivet this Montreal Canadiens puck with the hopes of getting it signed. That plan, though, changed.

When I recognized former NHL defenseman Brian Engblom walking down the sidewalk, I called an audible and had him sign it instead.

Engblom was in town with the Versus hockey broadcast crew, which would later televise the Buffalo Sabres-Tampa Bay Lightning game. In a first for the network, Engblom, serving as an analyst, worked the game at ice level, standing between the team's benches.

Born in the U.S.A.

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Though NHL lineups are dominated by Canadian-born players, there's a growing presence of American-born players. Down here in Hockey Bay, the Lightning have quite a few, including Adam Hall and Nate Thompson.

Hall, from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Thompson, out of Anchorage, Alaska, signed these two U.S.A. souvenir pucks last Wednesday following a live radio show at a McDonald's in Tampa.

Mostly lucky seven

By Scott B.
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent

Down here in South Florida, the Panthers recently finished a long homestand. As usual, some teams were better signers than others, but there were some surprises also.

Carolina Hurricanes: They are typically a very good signing team. This trip was no exception. We were able to get Eric Cole (6), Joe Corvo (2), Zac Dalpe (Header, or 2005-06 Parkhurst checklist cards with the teams logo on the front), Ron "Mr. I Don't Sign" Francis (1 card and 1 jersey card), Tim Gleason (3), Paul Maurice (Header), Sergei Samsonov (2), Eric Staal, Brandon Sutter (3), Cam Ward (4) and Ian White. Other players who signed, but we missed, were Chad Larose and Justin Peters. Also, we got our first refusal ever for a header card by Jeff Skinner.

Washington Capitals: They are definitely the worst signing team in the NHL. The only one who would sign on the first team bus was coach Bruce Boudreau. Then a few players who rode the second bus who came over. We got Matthieu Perrault and missed Jay Beagle. But then two miracles happened. First, Mike Green signed for three out of four people. Then, Alex Ovechkin actually signed for three of five hounds. Of course, it would have nice for them to sign for everyone, but still a miracle that either of them signed at all.

Nashville Predators: We haven't seen them in two years, so we didn't know what to expect. They turned out to be very good signers. We got Francis Bouillon, J.P. Dumont (4), Cody Franson, Marcel Goc (5), Patric Hornqvist (2), Kevin Klein, Sergei Kostitsyn, Shane O'Brien (3), Pekka Rinne, Jerred Smithson, Alexander Sulzer (Header) and Joel Ward. Also signing was Wade Belak. Shea Weber signed for hounds in the morning only.

New Jersey Devils: They're usually right behind Washington for second-worst in the NHL. But another shock occurred. They actually signed. We were able to get Jason Arnott (2 cards and 1 jersey card), David Clarkson, Patrick Elias (2 cards and 1 jersey card), Mark Fayne (Header), Andy Greene (3), Ilya Kovalchuk (1 card and 1 jersey card), Lou Lamoriello (Header), Adam Oates (1 jersey card), Brian Rolston (2), Travis Zajac (4) and Dainius Zubrus (6). Johan Hedberg signed for those who needed him. Shocking, we usually get Martin Brodeur and Colin White only and then get kicked off hotel premises.

Atlanta Thrashers: They are also really good for hounds. We got Nik Antropov (12), Alexander Burmistrov (Header), Dustin Byfuglien (5), Ron Hainsey (3), Evander Kane, Andrew Ladd (3), Bryan Little, Spencer Machacek (Header), Johnny Oduya (2), Ondrej Pavelec (3), Rich Peverley, Craig Ramsay (Header), Brent Sopel (5), Anthony Stewart, Chris Thorburn, and John Torchetti (Header). Eric Boulton also signed for people who needed him.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Again, we hadn't seen them in two years, so we didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be decent. We got Scott Arniel (Header), Mathieu Garon (5), Rostislav Klesla (2 cards and 1 jersey card), Derek MacKenzie, Rick Nash (1 jersey card), Samuel Pahlsson (2), Anton Stralman, R.J. Umberger (4) and Jakub Voracek. Steve Mason also signed for a few and then bolted for the bus.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Usually one of the better teams for hounds, I guess winning has changed most of them. We got only Victor Hedman and Martin St. Louis. Steve Stamkos signed for everyone, but Vinny Lecavalier and Simon Gagne signed for only a couple of people each. Mattias Ohlund was the first to the bus, said he would sign, then ignored everyone when returning to the bus.

All in all, there was some pretty good hockey hounding down here in South Florida.

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.

Newfound Enjoyment (Part 1)

By Moody
Hockey Hounds Universe senior correspondent

I have found that over the past season as well as during the current season that hounding has become a bit of a chore. It is becoming more difficult to come up with fresh items for today's NHL stars. Sure, I could use the "Go To" items like trading cards and team sheets, but it still is the same players over and over.

Yes, I've mixed it up a bit with my quest to get photos of players in non-NHL jerseys and that has sparked a bit of attention as a standout.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the friends who I've met during my hounding and always look forward to that, it's the repetition of the same players filtering through town that make it seem like I am just going through the motions.

This was laid to rest last week when I went to East Coast Hockey League game between the Florida Everblades and Toledo Walleye and decided to take a shot at getting autographs from them. Not only are there fresh faces that I haven't hounded in the past, but for the hockey purist (there are still a few around), there are some great college and junior players there.

Ross Carlson is a former NCAA champion with the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

Mike Egener is a second-round pick for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mitch Fadden was a great scorer in the Western Hockey League and a fourth-round pick for the Lightning.

David Fischer is a former first-rounder for the Montreal Canadiens.

Bobby Goepfert was a NCAA standout and sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Praise for the Panthers

By Scott B.
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent

As usual, the Florida Panthers showed why they are the best-signing team in the NHL. At rookie and training camps, the only players who wouldn't do more than three cards were Cory Stillman and Bryan McCabe.

The Tampa Bay Lightning were the first team to visit down here in South Florida. They used to be great signers. But now only Steven Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Pavel Kubina, Mattias Ritola and Dominic Moore would sign.

More teams start rolling in in the next few weeks and I'll have updates. If anyone needs anything signed by the Panthers, please e-mail me and maybe you can help me with your local teams.

Crazy Cup Shot!

By Moody
Hockey Hounds Universe senior correspondent

Ok, first of all get your mind out of the gutter. This is a family show and not some silly Johnny Knoxville show. I found this photo in 2005 and have carried it around ever since. I think it is a great shot and would look great on my wall.

Former NHL player Nolan Pratt was kind enough to put paint pen to photo while training last month at the Tampa Bay Lightning's practice facility. He and his brother, Harlan, were kind enough to talk with us for a bit and tell us about hockey in Europe.

Looks like neither of them have landed on a team as of yet. From what they say they are looking for a package deal.

Off to camp

By Colin
Hockey Hounds Universe correspondent

On Sunday, we went out to Brandon for the Tampa Bay Lightning training camp. We got there about 8:15 a.m., but we had to wait 45 minutes before it started.

After getting 95 points on a score-on-a-goalie game, my Dad and I went to get some autographs. First, we watched the Black and White teams practice before their scrimmage. I got about 20 autographs then on my first team sheet.

Then, we got something to eat. My Dad had two hot dogs. Well, I had some popcorn. Then we went to watch the Black Team again. I only got about six autographs then because I already had some of the players.

Then we went outside. Besides filling up the one team sheet and starting another, I got 14 cards. Daddy got a picture and a puck signed. In total, we got 58 autographs (including 42 on the team sheets).

We had a heck of a day.

Editor's note: This is Colin's first-ever blog post.

Top: Far too many to identify in any orderly fashion. Please take our word that Steven Stamkos, Marty St. Louis, Victor Hedman, Steve Downie and Ryan Malone were among the signers.
Smaller image: Carter Ashton, from left, Dave Andreychuk, Mattias Ohlund, Steve Downie, James Wright, Dominic Moore (it's upside down) and Brett Connolly.

Perfectly good reason

When presented an opportunity to add depth to our autographed puck collection, I'll dip into our small inventory of minor league, junior, college or international pucks.

Take Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman, for example. After having the Bolts' top 2009 pick sign Lightning and Swedish souvenir pucks last season, I figured it would be years before adding more from the defenseman. Instead, we try to snag a few cards and perhaps an 8x10.

That all changed, though, when Moody, Hound Central 5.0's senior correspondent, recently showed me a picture of Hedman playing for the Norfolk Admirals, the Lightning's American Hockey League affiliate. After that, I wasted little time, getting Hedman to add this puck to the collection before the Lightning's training camp opened.

It seems that Hedman, as well as a few more Lightning players, swapped teams during a 2009-10 preseason exhibition between the Bolts and the Admirals. Even if the game didn't count, it was plenty enough of a reason.

Civic duty

Anyone who follows the Tampa Bay Lightning knows just how much the organization has changed over the past season. First, the team came under new, responsible ownership. Then, hockey god Steve Yzerman taking over as general manager. Shortly thereafter, Guy Boucher was named the coach.

The changes, however, didn't end there. The Lightning, in its process of retooling the team, added a number of new faces. On Thursday, during an informal skate and scrimmage at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, I made it a point to introduce myself, as any good hockey hound should so, by asking them to sign these pucks.

Top row: Sean Bergenheim and Brett Clark
Bottom row: Dan Ellis and Simon Gagne