Well, which one is it?

Posting double release dates for 2008-09 NHL Upper Deck Series I does the card company no good. Will it be Nov. 11, as UD says in its Hockey page, or was it Monday (Oct. 27), as the product page says?

It wouldn't be so remarkable if this confusion was a rare occurence. Sadly, it's fairly common. And, then, there's no guarantee it'll be on store shelves by Nov. 11.

I also stumbled upon these upcoming releases. I apologize for the retail site, but sometimes they're the best source of information.

~ Feb. 4, 2009: Upper Deck 2008 09 NHL Series II

~ Feb. 25, 2009: Upper Deck 2008-09 Collectors Choice NHL

~ March 11, 2009: Upper Deck 2008-09 NHL Ice

Last chance

Just a quick reminder there's only two days left to enter October's Win this Autograph contest for this card signed by Boston goalie Tim Thomas.

So far, three people have entered. To me, that means the field is wide open. I even mail it to you.

In a comment, just share your favorite Bruins story. It's that easy.

Friendly Canadian visitors

In a way, we should feel a little sorry for the Ottawa Senators. Taking a break from the chilly Canadian capital in the Sunshine State before tonight's game against Florida, Wednesday's wind-chilled temperatures likely offered little relief.

After all, they've been the model hockey tourists.

Moody, Hound Central 4.0's Southeast correspondent, reports that the Senators lived up to their reputation as a hound-friendly team. He caught up with Ottawa players, and a couple of Panthers, at Florida's practice facility, incredibleICE.

If my math's correct, Moody went home with 31 autographs. Notable signers included Dany Heatley (1 card), Jason Spezza (2 cards), Chris Kelly (4 cards), Alex Auld (4 cards), Mike Fisher (4 cards), Nick Foligno (1 card) and Chris Neil (3 cards).

He also scored a funny story. It seems that Foligno and goalie Brian Elliott, a one-day call-up from AHL Binghamton, missed the post-practice team bus back to the hotel.


The biggest autograph, Moody tells me, came on this Stanley Cup poster of Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson. As you can see, the Senators captain has a fairly distinctive signature.

Alfy's become somewhat of a one-per lately, but it's understandable. He always draws a crowd. A huge crowd.

The autograph also shows a bit of perseverance by Moody. He says he's been carrying that poster for the past two years.

Florida Panthers

And for those of you who think that Florida's Nathan Horton is a toughie (I count myself among them), here's proof that he does indeed sign.

Here's Panthers center Stephen Weiss signing for a young fan.

Thank you Rays

I'd like to take a brief moment away from hockey to congratulate the Tampa Bay Rays on their truly remarkable run.

For a team that most Rays fans hoped would play .500 ball this season to become the American League champions, there should be little disappointment in watching the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate their World Series title.

Yes, it would've been nice if the roles were reversed. Still, though, what a season. Sweeps of the Red Sox and Cubs. Walk-off homers. A six-run ninth inning. Dan Johnson's pinch-hit homer. And, thankfully, David Price sending Boston back to Beantown.

It's been a great ride. Well done, gentlemen. Well done.

Don't go emptyhanded

With the Tampa Bay Lightning headed to Buffalo for the next stop on their road trip, hockey hounds are most likely scrambling for items, beyond pucks and pictures, to have signed by Steven Stamkos, the overall No. 1 pick.

Here in Humidity Bay, some hounds are getting resourceful, creating their own cards, like the one above, for the young star to sign.

The St. Petersburg Times, has even created a four-card set, available in a .pdf format, that can be used for autographs, too.

Big names deliver

In my opinion, it's always a good day whenever we add to our collection of pucks signed by San Jose's Joe Thornton. Starting with our time in New England, when Jumbo Joe was the heart and soul of the Boston Bruins, we've built a fairly nice collection of the talented player.

That's why we were pretty darn pumped when he signed a Sharks puck before Saturday's 3-0 whitewash of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Still, though, it wasn't the highlight of a day when we added another 38 autographs, including 15 pucks, to the collection.

Earlier this season, I named getting San Jose's Dan Boyle, a former Lightning, on a Sharks puck as one of Hound Central 4.0's 10 Big Sigs for the 2008-09 season. Though he was a willing signer in his time with Tampa Bay, I figured that he'd want to dodge much of the hoopla surrounding his return.

Boy, am I glad I was wrong. Not only did he sign for everyone who asked, but he also posed for pictures and joked with fans, reinforcing his popularity here in Humidity Bay, no matter what jersey he's wearing.

These items, too, only made the day that much better:

~ Four pucks and a reinforcement of manners from Jeremy Roenick;
~ Specialty pucks from Jonathan Cheechoo and Torrey Mitchell;
~ Colin's first puck of the season; and
~ another jam-packed hand-drawn team sheet.

Among the players signing pucks, shown above, were:

Top row: Brian Boucher, Dan Boyle and Mike Grier
Bottom row: Torrey Mitchell, Evgeni Nabokov and Joe Thornton

Among those signing cards were:

Top row: Christian Ehrhoff, Evgeni Nabokov and Joe Pavelski
Bottom row: Devin Setoguchi, Torey Mitchell and Ryan Clowe

Can't get everyone

One of the things about hounding a team like the San Jose Sharks is that there is no shortage of top-shelf stars -- Joe Thornton, Evgeni Nabokov and Jonathan Cheechoo, among them.

And while Patrick Marleau was the only big name to escape us on Saturday, we're more than happy to add these cards signed by, from left, Rob Blake, Dan Boyle and Jeremy Roenick.

For a moment, too, we thought that Marleau would come over and sign for us. After telling a group of about a dozen hockey fans/hounds that he'd be right over, Marleau boarded the team's bus and stayed inside.

Nice guy, eh?

Beyond the norm

Here's another friendly reminder that specialty pucks, such as these from the Ontario Hockey League and Hockey East, come in handy when building your collection.

San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo signed the Belleville Bulls pucks while teammate Torrey Mitchell signed the University of Vermont puck.

Granted, they cost a little more ($5 or more) than most of the pucks I use, but the diversity they bring, as well as the inherent scarcity (I often hear the phrase "I don't see too many of these."), makes them well worth the added cost.

Oops!

Though Colin has spent the better part of this season working his team sheets, every so often he asks whether he can get a puck signed by a player.

On Saturday, I relented, figuring that San Jose's Devin Setoguchi would look nice on Colin's first puck of the season.

I suppose, though, I should have been paying more attention, as Setoguchi signed the puck upside down.

It's no big deal, though. An autograph is an autograph.

Besides, it makes for a good story.

Top Shelf: Jeremy Roenick

Given his reputation as one of the best-signing players in the NHL, it should come as no surprise that San Jose's Jeremy Roenick didn't even bat an eyelash when I asked whether he would sign these four pucks.

Now that he's near the end of his playing career, and that it's unlikely we'd cross paths again, it was a conscious effort on my part to snag as many as I could get.

Greedy? Probably. Smart? Definitely.

And, yes, I thanked him for each and every puck he signed.

Sunday morning homily VII

I don't know whether to howl in laughter or shrink in embarrassment, but I've got to hand it to San Jose's Jeremy Roenick. It seems that a certain young hockey hound under the age of 8 forgot to say two magic words after Roenick signed four cards for him Saturday before the Sharks shut out the Lightning, 2-0.

"Hey, where did that kid go?" Roenick asked.

"Colin," we shouted. "J.R. would like to have a word with you."

Colin ran back up in front of Roenick.

"What do you say when someone signs an autograph for you?" he asked.

"Thank you," Colin replied.

"Well," Roenick said.

"Thank you, J.R.," Colin said.

"Now, that's better," Roenick said, smiling.

Trust me, folks, we've told him a thousand times to say "please" and "thank you" whenever anyone, not just NHL players, extends him a courtesy. Hopefully, Roenick drove home the point -- again.

She's a hockey mom

Sarah Palin, the ceremonial-puck-dropping hockey mom running as the Republican vice presidential nominee, may fancy herself -- for real or as a way to connect with mainstream America -- as someone who's sat in many a chilly hockey rink.

While that may be true, though, Palin, in Tampa today, pales in comparison to the hockey mom who I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday. Former Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle was back in Humidity Bay on Saturday, his first place in Humidity Bay since being dealt to San Jose. So, too, were his parents. But it was his mother, who gushed with pride as she spoke about her son, who gladly lived up to the billing.

Like any mom, she was quick to defend her son, saying that he has no ill will toward the Tampa Bay area, the team's fans and any Lightning player. In fact, she said, Boyle will retire here once he hangs 'em up.

It was easy to tell ("I'm getting goosebumps just talking about," she said) that she knew her son has many fans here in Humidity Bay, many of whom who gave him an ovation during the game.

As a rookie hockey parents, we can only hope that someday we'll be in the same position, talking with fans and enjoying a well-deserved spotlight. Until then, though, meeting Momma Boyle will tide us over.

5 Big Sigs

With only the Ottawa Senators coming to town this week, and plans to work a team helmet, I'm having a hard time coming up with five different items to get signed. Indulge me, then, as I hope to add these to the collection:

~ Jason Spezza on the Senators team helmet;
~ Dany Heatley on the Senators team helmet;
~ Daniel Alfredsson on the Senators team helmet;
~ Alexandre Picard on the Senators helmet as well as Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia Phantom pucks; and
~ Spezza and Heatley on the Team Canada jersey

Time well spent

It's been a busy day so far today, between hounding, a makeup Little League game, a boy's-only lunch (Momma had to work) at Wing House and getting ready for tonight's San Jose-Tampa Bay game.

As you can see, though, we put our time to good use this morning, as Colin scored 17 autographs from the Sharks before the team headed over for its morning skate. Among those signing were Joey Thornton, Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek.

Daddy didn't have too bad of a morning, but you'll have to wait to see how he did. He's not done yet.

Way to go, Patrice

If there was one bright spot in the Bruins' 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs last night, it was that Boston's Patrice Bergeron scored his first goal of the season and the first since being seriously injured by a cheap shot from behind by Philly's Randy Jones.

Boston's Milan Lucic's glass-shattering hit on Toronto's Mike Van Ryn comes in a close second. I bet he's still picking pieces out of his ears.

Quirky kind of day

One would think that whenever the Atlanta Thrashers come to Humidity Bay that there would be two constants -- more NHL than AHL pucks and I'd have something other than two cards for Ilya Kovalchuk. That wasn't the case on Tuesday, though.

Not only did more Chicago Wolves pucks (shown above) get signed Atlanta coach John Anderson (left) and Thrashers prospect Bryan Little, than Thrashers pucks, but I ended up, in an extremely rare instance of my hounding generosity (meaning don't e-mail me, asking for favors), getting Kovie on an 8x10 for the Swedish Hot, er, Big Dog.

Sure, I'd like to have added a couple Kovalchuk cards, but they seem unworthy of his autograph. To me, there are certain players who belong on bigger items -- jerseys, helmets, sticks, etc. Kovalchuk is one of those players. And I'll be better prepared in February.

Of course, defenseman Zach Bogosian, the Thrashers' top pick and third overall at June's NHL draft, drew a crowd, myself included. He signed, mostly one-per, but wasn't too talkative.

I could be mistaken, but I didn't believe he was enjoying himself. Anyone else notice this? It comes with the territory, I suppose.

Still, though, I can't complain, adding another 44 autographs, including 26 cards, to the collection. Other highlights:

~ getting four cards each from Johan Hedberg, Kari Lehtonen and Brett Sterling;
~ a new in-season hounding project;
~ gaining new respect for Mathieu Schneider;
~ realizing how Eric Perrin is a good role model for younger players; and
~ remembering something from my days as a Boy scout.

Among those signing cards:

Top row: Colby Armstrong, Garnet Exelby (wears a fedora) and Johan Hedberg
Bottom row: Kari Lehtonen, Jim Slater and Chris Thornburn

True to his word

Raise your hand if you've ever had an NHL player tell you "Not now, but I'll sign for you later," but then he ignores your requests the rest of the day? Wow! I'm surprised there's that many.

To be honest, I thought that was what Atlanta's Mathieu Schneider was going to do Tuesday, as he begged off from signing (a time-honored trick among NHLers with inflated egos) before the team's morning skate.

To his credit, though, he kept his word, signing after the workout. In fact, he even waited until I dug out these two pucks. Next trip, I'll have a couple more pucks for him.

Put to good use

I picked up this Atlanta Thrashers fifth anniversary stick, already signed by Ilya Kovalchuk, during the Lightning's IceFest a couple weeks ago. Seeing that there was plenty of room left on it, I figured it might as well become another in-season hounding project. Why not, right?

As you can see, six players helped to make a dent in it Tuesday before the Thrashers game against Tampa Bay. Though Kovaluchuk's signature dominates the blade, Atlanta's Slava Kozlov (from left), Niclas Havelid and Colby Armstrong all found enough space to sign.

Others who signed the stick Tuesday were:


defenseman Tobias Enstrom


goalie Johan Hedberg


goalie Kari Lehtonen




Thankfully, the Thrashers will be back twice, later in the season, offering opportunities to complete it. I like to think, though, I've got most of the team's bigger names.

Good guy

For a couple of reasons, and neither include the stick and puck he signed Tuesday, Atlanta's Eric Perrin should serve as a good role model for young hockey players.

One, he's living proof that hard work and hustle are just as important as skill in becoming an NHL player.

Two, he's one of the nicer players in the league.

Maybe he's nicer down here in Humidity Bay, where he won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning, but I doubt it. He seems pretty genuine.

Go 4 for 4

If you're having trouble finding cards for second- and third-year NHL players, you might want to peruse the card offerings at the American Hockey League's Web site.

Aside from the Upper Deck 2007-08 Rookie Class card, the rest of these cards Atlanta's Brett Sterling signed before Tuesday's morning skate are from the AHL's all-star or top prospects sets.

The prices might be a tad high, but you'll get a lot of hounding bang for your hard-earned bucks. I'd dare say that 75 percent, at least, of the players featured make it to the NHL.

As for the Rookie Class, it's the best $20 you'll ever spend on an Upper Deck product.

Bottom line, if you subscribe to quality and quantity, it's these kinds of cards that turn a good day into a great day.

Preparation pays off

Anyone who's ever been a part of the Boy Scouts knows that the organization's motto is "Be Prepared." Tuesday morning, as I waited for the Atlanta Thrashers to head out for a morning skate, that advice paid off.

Though my hounding bag was full of item for the Thrashers, I'd tucked away a couple of pucks and a team jumbo card just in case Tampa Bay Lightning players staying at the team's hotel passed by.

Sure enough, a couple did. Newly acquired defenseman Lukas Krajicek signed a couple pucks (shown above) as we talked about differences between Vancouver and Humidity Bay, namely mountains and trees.

Shortly thereafter, defensman Janne Niskala, another new face in the Lightning lineup, signed the card. With hindsight being 20/20, I should've used a silver Sharpie on it. The blue blends right in.

Excuse me

You're telling me that only two people are interested in winning this card signed by Boston goalie Tim Thomas card? Even better, one commented anonymously.

Every hockey fan/hound worth his/her salt must have a Bruins tale to tell. Good or bad. Old or new. Black or Gold.

Bonus points awarded for any University of Vermont tales, too.

While you're at it, feel free to test your hockey knowledge. And don't be afraid to exercise your right to vote in Hound Central 4.0's latest poll.

Thanks.

A truly Wild day

It took an all-day team effort Saturday, but Hound Central 4.0 posted its first 50-plus-autograph day of the 2008-09 NHL season when the Minnesota Wild traveled to Humidity Bay to play the Lightning. From pucks to cards to a jersey and a right-handed goalie catching glove, the 51 autographs we added that day set a benchmark for the rest of the season.

As usual, we had our best luck with the Wild's bigger names before and after the team's morning skate. Time after time, this represents the best opportunity to get your items signed. Expect crowds, too -- there were at least 20 people waiting on the Wild that morning.

Still, though, when you post numbers like we did, it's hard to complain about much. Here's a breakdown of our day-long hounding adventure:

~ 26 cards, including four each from Marc-Andre Bergeron, Andrew Brunette, Kim Johnsson and Nick Schultz, as well as a 2007-08 AHL Top Prospects card of Cal Clutterbuck (what a great name, eh?) , who had been called up the day before;
~ 20 pucks, including three each from Eric Belanger and Bergeron;
~ Colin's hand-drawn team sheet, which we count as a single item, though it has 20 signatures;
~ Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire and assistant Mario Tremblay on a Canadiens jersey;
~ an 8x10 from Schultz; and
~ a right-handed goalie catching glove from Josh Harding.

Signing pucks (above) were:

Top row: Nicklas Backstrom (not to be confused with Washington's Nicklas Backstrom), Derek Boogaard and Marian Gaborik
Middle row: Josh Harding, Mikko Koivu and James Sheppard
Bottom row: Kim Johnsson and Antti Miettenin

Among those signing cards (below) were:

Top row: Nicklas Backstrom, Kim Johnsson and Mikko Koivu
Bottom row: Mike Ramsey, Nick Schultz and Stephane Veilleux

It's all relative

Though some people may question my decision to get three signed pucks from Minnesota's Eric Belanger (top row) and Marc-Andre Bergeron (bottom row), I'm more than happy any time an NHL player is willing to sign a hat trick.

The only defense I can offer, I suppose, is to look at where these guys are -- making at least six figures as a part of the Wild's roster -- and then look at where we are -- sitting in front of a computer at a desk.

Get my point?

Short and sweet

Chances are, most autographs from professional athletes -- no matter the sport or league -- can be best described as scratches and squiggles. Sometimes, though, a player's signature, even if it is a bit abbreviated, does look pretty good.

Take Minnesota's Andrew Brunette, for example. Though it's far from letter-perfect -- a rarity within our hobby -- there's enough there on either puck to easily decipher the writing of his cool-looking autograph.

Two in one day

It's always a good hounding day any time you can add two Canadiens legends -- Minnesota coaches Jacques Lemaire (bottom left), a Hall of Famer, and Wild assistant coach Mario Tremblay (top right) -- to a working Montreal jersey. I hope to fill the Habs logo by season's end.

Sunday morning homily VI

In little less than 90 minutes, Colin begins his hockey career, taking part in his first game. Granted, it may be in a recreational league in Clearwater, but that doesn't mean a thing. It's his first game. And, to be honest, I don't know who's more jacked up about it: me or him.

After 10 months of skating and hockey lessons, bumps and bruises, and Herbies and crossovers, he'll get to experience the joy that anyone who has ever played the game will know. The breeze hitting your face as you skate. The sound of a puck clanging off of a goalpost. The camaraderie that comes with being on a team.

Where will today take us? I don't know. But I'd be lying if I didn't dream of hearing his name called some June day in 2019. In fact, I can look on the wall above our computer and see a mock Boston Herald newspaper commemorating his birth that carries a headline: "NHL teams will have to wait for 2019 draft."

Really, though, all I want is for Colin to enjoy the sport and to remember that hockey, no matter how long he plays and how far it takes him, is a game. A game to be loved. A game to be respected. A game, I hope, that will forever bond a father and son. Which, as Colin just told me, always will.

One more win

After spending the baseball season living and dying with the Tampa Bay Rays, it all comes down to today's Game 7 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

As someone who cried when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, it would be easy to suggest that I'm in a no-lose situation. That's not the case, though. Even with this team surpassing most preseason predictions (I would've settled for a .500 season), it'll be sad for this magical season to come to an end without the team making the World Series.

Besides, who really wants to be associated with the obnoxious group known as Red Sox Nation? Really, folks, there's a reason why a good number of Bay Staters, past and present, are known as M***holes.

5 Big Sigs

It'll be another two hounding trips this week, meaning we hope to add these to the collection:

~ Atlanta's Eric Perrin on a game-used stick from his Lightning days;
~ Atlanta's Tobias Enstrom, Slava Kozlov, Kari Lehtonen and Brian Little on a Thrashers team stick previously signed by Ilya Kovalchuk;
~ San Jose's Joey Thornton on a Sharks puck;
~ San Jose's Patrick Marleau on a Sharks puck; and
~ San Jose's Jeremy Roenick on Sharks, Kings and Coyotes pucks.

Room for 20

If I've said this once, I've said it a thousand times: If your child wants to be a hit with NHL players, have him draw or color a team sheet like Colin did this morning for the Minnesota Wild.

Most every player commented on Colin's artistic abilities. In the interest of full disclosure, though, I must admit I drew the outline of the logo, but Colin was the one who applied the colors.

Twenty members of the Minnesota Wild, including such big names as Marian Gaborik, Nicklas Backstrom, Nick Schultz and Jacques Lemaire took care of the rest.

Look past the record

For a team that's apparently in a rebuilding mode, the New York Islanders carry a lineup that offers a respectable collection of NHL veterans. From captain Bill Guerin to defenseman Brendan Witt to goalie Rick DiPietro, it's easy to look past the team's mediocrity when it comes to hounding.

Thursday morning, before the Islanders' game against the Lightning, the team proved once again that it's well worth the effort to snag a few autographs. Need proof? How about three dozen autographs, including 11 pucks, in less than two hours. Not too shabby, I'd say.

Among the biggest surprises to me was the accessibility and affability to players like Guerin and Doug Weight. Both signed before and after the morning skate. So did rookies Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen. well, to be honest, just about every player did.

One word of caution, though: Look for DiPietro and Trent Hunter to slide out back or side doors of the team's hotel. Both did before the morning skate, but signed after being spied on the way back to the hotel.

Pucks, shown above:
Top row: Freddy Meyer, Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit
Bottom row: Thomas Pock, Doug Weight and Brendan Witt

Cards, show below:
Top row: Rick DiPietro, Bruno Gervais and Bill Guerin
Botton row: Andy Hilbert, Richard Park and Jeff Tambellini

Puck No. 1,600

Of the 36 autographs I collected yesterday from the New York Islanders, only one of the 11 pucks signed carried true significance.

When forward Mike Comrie signed this Kootenay Ice puck, it became the 1,600th autographed puck of the Hound Central collection.

Next stop: 1,700 autographed pucks.

Building his fan base

You hear no complaints from me, especially whenever Islanders' captain Bill Guerin signs a couple of pucks, like he did Thursday before New York's morning skate at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Guerin, in my estimation, is one of the most approachable star players in the NHL, often thanking people after he signs items for them. It's too bad more players don't follow his example.

Beyond basics

It's always nice knocking out a couple of cards from some of specialty sets I've collected over the years. Usually, I'm happy to get two or three from each trip

On Thursday, though, I added eight of these cards from either Upper Deck's 2007-08 Rookie Class offering or AHL All Stars or Prospects sets.

Among those signing were Rick DiPietro, Bruno Gervais, Joey MacDonald, Frans Nielsen and Jeff Tambellini.

He's a Rays fan

You can add New York Islanders' general manager Garth Snow to the Tampa Bay Rays bandwagon. On Thursday, after signing a couple of cards for me, the former goalie noticed the Rays hat I was wearing.

"Good luck to you and the Rays tonight," he said.

Too bad, though, that a 7-0 lead wasn't enough for the Rays to win the American League pennant and make their first trip to the World Series. We'll have to wait until Saturday night for that.

Besides, it'll be much more enjoyable for the Rays to win at the Trop.

Clipped Wings

To me, the Detroit Red Wings are like the New York Yankees of hockey. You either love them or, if you're like me, don't care too much for them.

Sure, I respect their collective talent. I just wish they would show their human element (our innate ability to make mistakes, or in this case, have the Wings lose) a little more often.

It's no surprise, either, that a respectable majority of Hound Central 4.0 readers share similar sentiments toward the Red Wings. Twelve out of 17 votes cast in the most recent poll predicted that the Red Wings, the defending Stanley Cup champion, will become the Dead Wings this season.

Question: Detroit Red Wings?

Dead Wings: 12 votes out of 17 cast (70.6 percent)
They'll repeat: 5 out of 17 (29.4 percent)

Our favorite 1/1

Frequent visitors to the Hound Central blogs know that Boston's Patrice Bergeron enjoys favored status with the youngest member of our hockey-hounding family.

From their first meeting at a Bruins training camp, the Bruins star center has made a point of sharing a few moments, and creating lifelong memories, for Colin. Last year, unfortunately, a season-ending injury to Patrice meant a longer wait for their next visit.

Regular Hound Central reader Brett made sure that this season's visit, set for Dec. 4, will be extra special, sending this sweet card he created for Colin. We got a kick out of the card's name -- Colin's Good Guys -- and how Brett incorporated the pictures of the two on the back.

Thankfully, we don't have that long of a wait to get it signed. And because of Brett's generosity and creativity, it'll be another fond memory. Thanks again, Brett.

This won't be good

There's a story on NHL.com that teams might be doing away, or at least passing on, the morning skate routine. This could pose problems for hockey hounds, as morning skates are usually the best time to score autographs.

Last Friday, with the Florida Panthers in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes had an off-ice workout, rather than the traditional morning skate. At that time, NHL.com reports, Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said he go with the off-ice workouts over the morning skates.

One day later, though, the Hurricanes had a morning skate down here in Humidity Bay. Go figure, huh?

I suppose we'll see soon enough, with three teams visiting the St. Petet Times Forum within a week, if this approach is being adopted by other NHL teams. I sure as heck hope not. What about you?

Worth it

I've heard that pucks from the NHL Premiere game in Prague were fetching upwards of $17, including shipping. Imagine my delight, then, when I found these two items Saturday night inside the Lightning's pro shop at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Though they were $6.50 each, more than double what I pay for most of my pucks, I picked up two of each style. Now, I've got to decide who I'd like to sign them.

Chance encounter

Chances are, you've seen him on The Late Show with David Letterman or Good Morning America. Maybe even Larry King Live. Most often, too, he doesn't appear alone, bringing a variety of creatures to show.

Who is this person? It's well-known animal expert Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium.

We saw him Saturday, walking with his wife around Tampa's Harbour Island complex, before the Carolina-Tampa Bay game. Hanna tells me, too, that he's a big Blue Jackets fan.

One down, 27 to go

After a summer of waiting for the 2008-09 hockey hounding campaign to begin in earnest, let's just say I couldn't wait to see the Carolina Hurricanes come to town. Not only did they represent the first team in for the regular season, but they also lived up to their reputation as a fairly decent signing team.

Sure, goalie coach Tom Barrasso might be a little tough on most dealers and hounds. Forward Ray Whitney, too, has a new move -- ducking through a restaurant at the team's hotel -- to avoid signing. For the most part, though, and this is based on multiple reports from the morning-skate session, the 'Canes are capable signers.

Seeing that I had to work Saturday morning, our hounding adventure was limited to game time, when players walked to the St. Pete Times Forum. It was then that defenseman Joni Pitkanen signed this puck, the 50th of the 2008-09 hounding campaign.

Who else signed? A look at that Hurricanes mini helmet above shows that centers Rod Brind'Amour and Eric Staal stopped to sign. So did goalie Cam Ward and rookie center Brandon Sutter, among others.

All told, we added another 20 autographs, including five pucks, to the collection in little less than a hour.

Signing cards, shown above, on Saturday were Ryan Bayda, Matt Cullen, Chad LaRose, Pitkanen, Sergei Samsonov and Dennis Seidenberg.

No disappointment here

In the grand scheme of things, there's only one person who ranks higher than Carolina goalie Cam Ward in Colin's world of favorite NHL players.

That's why it's such a big deal every time the Hurricanes arrive in Humidity Bay to play the Lightning. This season's first trip, however, nearly brought a missed opportunity.

It seems that Colin had expended too much energy in his day with his Auntie Kathy, falling asleep about the time Ward and the Hurricanes made their way to the St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday afternoon.

Not wanting to disappoint Colin, Momma and I made sure that sincere pleasantries were exchanged and that Ward signed these items for him. The card, shown above, came in the Hurricanes fan pack we received last week. The puck, an official game model, came from Red Deer, Alberta, where Ward played his junior career.

Oh, yeah, who tops Colin's list? C'mon, you ought to know by now. It's Boston's Patrice Bergeron.