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!

Useful, I'll tell you

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

I had this Lowell Devils pucks kicking around the stockpile, when I remembered that Florida Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen came up the the AHL team's parent club, the New Jersey Devils.

A little research showed that Clemmensen played a few games in the Massachusetts mill city during the 2206-07 and 2008-09 seasons. Not wanting to let this puck collect any more dust, I made it part of the late-season push to top 2,300 autographed pucks for the collection.

Brag Book: Calgary Flames

Hound: Michael, Hockey Hounds Universe's Calgary correspondent
Hounding opportunity: Last home non-game practice of the season
Where: Father Bauer Arena
When: April 8th, 2011

Let the bragging begin:

Shown above: Jay Bouwmeester, Alex Tanguay, Jarome Iginla, Jay Bouwmeester;

Mikael Backlund, David Moss, Curtis Glencross and Steve Staios;

Jarome Iginla x 3 and Tom Kostopolous;

Daymond Langkow x 2 and Craig Conroy x 2;

Olli Jokinen x 2 and Miikka Kiprusoff x 2; and

Rene Bourque x 2, Alex Tanguay and Mark Giordano.

Double duties

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Though I'm not in the running to win our fantasy hockey league, instead settling for the consolation round this week, I must thank Pittsburgh's Tyler Kennedy for his late-season efforts in cementing our solid finish.

A late-season pick-up off the waiver wire, I was lucky enough to add him to the Florida Kings roster about the time he went on his scoring run. Last week, with the Pittsburgh Penguins in town, he was nice enough to have him sign these four cards, too.

Farm hands

By Mike
Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent

The Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs AHL club, held an open practice recently at Burnhamthorpe Arena in Mississauga. Afterwards, the team had a free signing session. That's where I added these:

Signing the cards shown above are Joe Colborne (top) and Fabian Brunnstrom.

Signing these pucks were Colborne, left, and Jake Gardiner.

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.

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

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.

Newshound, too

By Mike
Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent

It pays to follow the news. During an announcement of Hockey Canada's braintrust for the upcoming 2011 IIHF World Championships, former NHL defenseman Rob Blake, who was named to the management staff, signed these items. The event was held at the MasterCard Center for Hockey Excellence, the practice facility for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Take a career approach

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Over the years, I've employed a tactic that often results in getting four cards signed at one time. If a player has had a long career in the NHL, chances are you can find him wearing uniforms from four different teams. It worked for Ottawa's Sergei Gonchar during the Senators' recent trip to Hockey Bay.

They were there, too

By Mike
Hockey Hounds Universe Toronto correspondent

You never know who you'll run into at any hockey-based event. Well, when its the renaming of a rink in your honor, it's a given that Angela James, one of Canada's most-decorated female hockey players, will be there. The other ones, such as Wendel Clark, Mike Gartner and Dick Duff, are simply a bonus.

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.

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?

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.

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: Phoenix Coyotes

Hound: Puckhound, Hockey Hounds Universe's editor
Hounding opportunity: Phoenix Coyotes trip to Hockey Bay
Where: Westin Harbour Island hotel, Tampa
When: February 2011

Let the bragging begin:

Sean Burke, top, and Andrew Ebbett;

Vernon Fiddler, top, and Lee Stempniak; and

Kyle Turris.

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.

International flavor

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

Want to know the quickest way to add depth and variety to your autographed puck collection? Well, that's easy. All you have to do is use these national souvenir pucks.

That's exactly what I did during the Detroit Red Wings recent visit to Hockey Bay. While I carried at least two pucks for most big-name player on the roster. I changed my approach when I saw that the players were only signing one item each.

Still, after getting, from left, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom, there's little room to complain.

Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot. The Holmstrom is puck No. 2,250 of the collection.

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.

Useful items

By Puckhound
Hockey Hounds Universe editor

If you're a regular reader of my blog, Hound Central 5.0, you're familiar with my so-called cheap skate cards. They're my homemade cards I often use for NHL rookies or call-ups.

Over the years, they've come in quite handy. Just look at this one for Sergei Bobrovsky, a rookie goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers. After having him sign a puck during the Flyers' first visit to Hockey Bay, I didn't want to use any of his rookie cards when the Flyers visited last week.

They may not be pretty or employ any cutting-edge design principles or programs. In fact, I use an old Microsoft Word program for them. But they work. And, really, that's all I ask.