Sunday morning homily IV

If you're like me (and that can be good or bad, depending upon your perspective), this week has been a long time coming. Even if I did get a healthy start on hounding during training camp, this week marks the official start to the season.

So, what's in store this year? Plenty, I tell you, plenty:

~ First and foremost, this week marks the beginning of another journey of hounding adventures, adding to the quality and quantity of the collection. Besides the ubiquitous pucks, a number of project pieces -- team helmets, jerseys, team sheets and sticks -- will only diversify our collective efforts.

~ I'm especially excited about some Western Conference teams, such as the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues, coming to town. Bigger name teams, like crowd-drawing Colorado, Detroit and San Jose, are also bound for the bay area. It'll be nice, though, to hound teams we haven't seen in some time.

~ Rather than focus on hounding here in Humidity Bay, Hound Central 4.0 is looking to cast a wider net. Astute readers have noticed that the blog has had a few hounding reports out of South Florida. Over the course of the season, we're hoping to add correspondents throughout the league, who will not only share their successes, but also provide intel on hounding within their locales.

Will that be it? I don't think so. Every season holds surprises. There will be peaks. There will be valleys. April is a long ways off and there's no telling what will happen between now and then.

My advice? Sit back and enjoy the ride. I know we will.

Want an autograph?

Are you a big fan of the Boston Bruins? Do you collect autographs from goalies? How about goalies who once played at the University of Vermont?

If so, feel free to take part in Hound Central 4.0's latest Win this Autograph contest, featuring a card signed by Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, a former Catamounts player.

Share your favorite story about one of the NHL's Original Six teams and you just might win this card.

5 Big Sigs

With the Carolina Hurricanes coming to town on Saturday, kicking off the Lightning's home season, all hounding efforts will focus upon the Southeast Division rival:

~ goalie Cam Ward on a new Red Deer Rebels puck;
~ Carolina stars Rod Brind'Amour, Eric Staal and Cam Ward on a Hurricanes mini helmet;
~ forward Brandon Sutter on Carolina, Team Canada and Red Deer Rebels pucks;
~ defenseman Joni Pitkanen on a Hurricanes puck; and
~ goalie coach Tom Barrasso on the American-born goalie stick and a Buffalo Sabres original logo puck.