Sweat equity

Well, it looks like the hockey hounding season in South Florida has taken off, as Hound Central 4.0 correspondent Mike reports that both the team and fans have forced him to pick up his game down in sticky Miami.

Finding himself nearly out of cards for the Florida Panthers, Mike turned his attention to other items, like the team-signed stick blade shown above. It didn't take too long, either. He said it was the fastest he's ever completed a project.

Every Panthers player stopped to sign, Mike reports, including some who went out of their way to step around security.

Another project that Mike started is this faceshield from the 2000-01 Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. The first three to sign are Panthers coach Peter DeBoer, a former Whalers coach who spoke about former Plymouth players, and Whalers alums Greg Campbell and Stephen Weiss.

The best story of the day involves a little hockey hijinks. Just as Mike went to leave, a guy parked next to him asked who had signed. Among them then, he says, were Bryan McCabe, Keith Ballard, Shawn Matthias and Radek Dvorak.

When the man asked who was left over, Mike called his bluff. Who was it? None other than Hall of Famer defenseman Denis Potvin, a TV analyst with the Panthers.

Potvin then tells Mike it was only right that he helps finish them off and signs three cards.

Looks like Mike won that "Do you know who I am?" game, doesn't it?