Sunday morning homily XXIX

For a week devoid of hockey, I'm having a hard time remembering a better one in our time down here in Hockey Bay. From chasing trains to wearing 3-D glasses for a movie to watching race cars top 200 mph, we haven't missed hockey hounding one bit.

Yes, it was Colin's spring break last week. And though we didn't stray too far to home -- our work schedules had something to do with that -- we did the best we could to make it a memorable "stay-cation." Mostly, though, it was about spending time together and, hopefully, creating some memories:

~ Watching Colin's eyes light up as he heard the rumble of an approaching CSX freight train during our visit to the Train Depot Museum (shown above) in Dade City. It had been far too long since he'd seen a train;

~ Squirting some fruit-punch Powerade into his mouth during a break in our back patio hockey practices. Earlier in the day, we stumbled upon the final pieces of his rag-tag collection of goalie equipment. And you know we just had to try it out; and

~ Becoming more jacked-up about open-wheel racing by taking in the opening days of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Among the highlights was having a brief "He's so shy" conversation about Colin with Indy Racing League star Danica Patrick during a nighttime parade down St. Petersburg's Central Avenue.

As much as I try to make this blog about hockey hounding, it's just as much about spending time with one's family. Hockey and hounding play a big role in our lives, but it doesn't consume us. Comes close at times, I'll admit, but there's much more to life than that.

Believin' in Steven

Hound Central 4.0 offers a tip of its roughed-up Cooper SK600 to Lightning rookie Steven Stamkos for tying Tampa Bay's rookie goals record of 21 in his initial NHL season. With a few games remaining, perhaps Stamkos will catapult past Brad Richards for his own team mark.

It's hard to believe, isn't it, that a few people didn't believe that Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, wasn't ready for the rigors of a full season in the NHL. To be honest, his early play did nothing to dispel that notion.

Once he got into a training program, though, Stamkos has shown that he has the abilities to be a top-flight NHL player. I'm thinking, too, that he's only going to get better.

In a season full of disappointment, watching Stamkos make progress has been something to hold on to.

5 Big Sigs

It's the final week of the 2008-09 hockey-hounding season and two of the league's tougher teams -- the star-studded Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals -- are coming to town:

~ As always, getting Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby to sign Colin's Crosby #87 replica Penguins jersey;
~ Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin on Penguins and WJC-Russia pucks;
~ Washington's Alex Ovechkin on Colin's Ovechkin #8 replica Capitals jersey;
~ Washington's Nicklas Backstrom on a Capitals puck; and
~ Knocking out a Lightning team helmet during Thursday's red carpet festivities before the home closer.

They delivered

Despite the best-laid plans, there are hounding adventures that simply don't work out. Yesterday's planned morning trip for the Ottawa Senators, in town to play the Lightning, was just one of the instances.

Between morning thunderstorms and an afternoon shift at the newspaper, I was unable to hound Ottawa. Instead, two highly capable replacements -- Colin and Momma -- were dispatched to the scene.

They came through in flying colors, adding a couple of sweet signatures, including Dany Heatley (top left) on the work-in-progress Team Canada jersey, to the collection.

In all, they scored 17, including 11 on Colin's team sheet.

Beyond Heatley, Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson was the other big name who stopped to sign. In doing my prep work, I was surprised that I've yet to get Alfredsson on any type of Senators puck.

This puck, commemorating the 2004 NHL All Star Game, is a welcome addition, nonetheless. It's relevant, too, as Alfredsson scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the midseason classic.

Given that Ottawa will travel twice to Hockey Bay next season, I'll have to remember, though, to try to get Alfredsson on some Senators pucks.

Colin also had pretty decent luck adding to his late-season project, a goalie-only mini stick.

Ottawa's Alex Auld, who's bounced around a bit over the past few seasons, became the fourth netminder to sign the stick.

Sorry, but you'll have to wait until next season for a Senators photo gallery. It's hard to take good pictures when you're sitting at a desk about 18 miles away from the action.

Sunday morning homily XXVIII

Spring break is one of my favorite times of the year. Especially when it's Colin's. And though I didn't request the week off, letting another Newsroom Dad enjoy a week off, it's still going to be a fun-filled week. In a way, it'll be a working stay-cation.

Beginning this afternoon (the morning trip was postponed due to thunderstorms) with a trip to Tampa with Momma to hound and watch the Ottawa Senators (I'll be at work), we'll spend the rest of the week knee-deep in other adventures down here in increasingly warm and muggy Florida.

Our only regret? The Lightning are on a road trip, rather than a homestand.

No worries, though. Also on the itinerary:

~ a road trip to look for trains, something we haven't done much since leaving New England;
~ go see Monsters vs. Aliens, our latest 3-D movie; and
~ look for Danica Patrick at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Chances are, too, we'll get in a little fishing and skating. Bottom line, though, it'll be about hanging out. Between work and school schedules, our time together is usually somewhat limited. That changes this week.

It's one of the perks of being a parent. And that, my friends, is my favorite job.

The other March Madness

It was a wonderful afternoon yesterday -- house all to myself -- kicking back for a few hours and watching some college hockey. Even better, the game was University of New Hampshire's overtime upset of University of North Dakota in the first round of the NCAA men's championships.

It's nothing against the Fighting Sioux; they're one of Hound Central 4.0's favorites. Our primary loyalties, however, are with UNH.

Having lived in nearby Portsmouth, N.H., we attended games in the early 1990s at the old Snively Arena. They were a fun and feisty team, players like Dominic Amodeo, Savo Mitrovic and Jeff Levy. Only Kevin Dean, a defenseman, made it to the NHL.

Here's hoping the Wildcats make it into the Frozen Four. If not, I'm saving a Flyers puck for left winger James vanRiemsdyk, Philadelphia's second overall pick in 2007 who's expected to turn pro soon.

5 Big Sigs

It'll be a one-and-done kind of trip this week, with only the Ottawa Senators coming to Hockey Bay. In fact, they're in town now. Here's what we're hoping to add:

~ Right winger Daniel Alfredsson on a 2004 NHL All Star Game puck;
~ Center Jason Spezza on the Team Canada jersey, a 2007 NHL All Star Game puck and a Senators mini pennant;
~ Left winger Dany Heatley on the Team Canada jersey, a Team Canada puck and a 2006-07 Bee Hive jumbo card;
~ Forward Ryan Shannon on the Portland Pirates practice jersey and a few cards; and
~ Tampa Bay defenseman Richard Petiot on an 8x10 of Colin and the blueliner.

Top Shelf: Rick Nash

Excuse me for my pomposity, but any time you add four pucks from Columbus' Rick Nash, one of the NHL's brightest stars, it certainly qualifies for Top Shelf status. Granted, it may taken me two days to get all four, but it just goes to show the rewards of making an effort.

Bring more than one

It should come as no surprise, I suppose, that Columbus goalie Steve Mason, the leading contender for top rookie honors, would draw a crowd during the Blue Jackets' visit to Hockey Bay earlier this week.

Thankfully, he hasn't let his successful season go to his head, showing a willingness to sign multiple items. In fact, a handful of lucky hounds walked away from Columbus' visit with eight items signed by Mason.

Though we didn't snag as many, Mason added two pucks and the right-handed goalie glove to our collection, signing right before Tuesday's game against the Lightning.

Given his age and apparent skill level, I'm sure we'll have plenty of time in the years ahead to add a few more items. Or, at least, I hope so.

It never hurts to ask

This week's 5 Big Sigs, a feature within each Sunday morning homily where I name the top autographs I hope to get within the next seven days, included a trio of pucks from Columbus' Mike Peca.

A Hound Central 4.0 reader cautioned me, though, that I might have difficulties getting the veteran center to sign even puck for me. Still, I had to ask when the opportunity arose.

I mean, it's not like I've haven't heard "no" before.

Well, not only did Peca sign two of the three pucks listed, but this Maple Leafs puck is the 300th of the 2008-09 campaign.

Catching up, so to speak

Having grown up in Western New York, the Buffalo Sabres are my favorite NHL team. And, of all the players to toil for the Sabres, Danny Gare is my all-time favorite.

Though I loved his pugnacious style and goal-scoring abilities during his days with the Sabres, he became my favorite player after befriending my cousin Suzanne, who, at the time, was fighting an ultimately losing battle with leukemia.

Up until Wednesday, our paths crossed just once -- in Boston, of all places, when he worked Sabres' TV broadcasts -- where we had a nice conversation about Suzanne, the Sabres and our fondness for Buffalo. At the time, I had nothing for him to sign.

As you can see, I didn't make the same mistake twice. Gare, a TV analyst covering the Columbus Blue Jackets for FSN Ohio, signed this trio of pucks after Tuesday's morning skate.

Sunday morning homily XXVII

It doesn't happen too often, but when it does, it validates the time and effort that goes into producing these annual hockey-hounding blogs. As Colin and I arrived at the Thrashers team hotel yesterday afternoon, two fellow hounds greeted Colin by one of my nicknames for him.

"Hey, Goofy Dude," one said.

I wasn't too sure I believed what I had heard, but once Colin came over and told me about it, I figured it was someone who knew us. In a way, I was correct.

Dave and Brad, two hounds visiting the Hockey Bay area from Michigan, are regular readers of Hound Central 4.0, they told me. The fact they recognized Colin, even asking about his hockey career, confirmed their statement. Any suspicions I may have had quickly evaporated.

Though I approach this blog as a hobby -- it keeps me out of bars and all kinds of trouble -- it's rewarding to hear from someone who takes the time to read your writing. Meeting two readers, especially those from as far away as Michigan, makes it even nicer.

And it's rewards like that, my friends, that provide the motivation to put in the hours it takes to chronicle a season of hounding.

Thanks, guys. Have a safe trip home.

Time's flying by

It seems like only last week that I was sitting in the parking lot of the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, Fla., waiting for players leaving pre-training camp skating sessions.

But here we are, near the end of March, with only four home games left before the curtain falls on the 2008-09 hockey hounding season down here in Hockey Bay.

I suppose that fast pace means that it's been an enjoyable season, full of great hounding stories from seven-plus months of hounding adventures. I'm thankful, too, that my health allowed me to catch every team I wanted to hound.

But more than anything else, it's been a hoot sharing these adventures with you. As always, folks, thanks for reading.

5 Big Sigs

With just the Columbus Blue Jackets coming to town this week, the pressure will be on to fulfill this wish list:

~ Left winger Rick Nash on Blue Jackets, Team Canada and London Knights pucks;
~ Rookie goalie Steve Mason on Blue Jackets and London Knights pucks;
~ Center Michael Peca on a Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs and Islanders pucks (this, I've been told, may be impossible);
~ Tough guy Jared Boll on a Blue Jackets puck; and
~ TV analyst Danny Gare on Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings pucks.

Sunday morning homily XXVI

The question, as innocent as it was, came out of the blue. "Don't you ever get tired of hounding?"

You know, I had to think about it. After 12 years of hounding, it was a fair question. It was surprising a clear-cut answer didn't leap to mind.

On the plus side, hounding has reinforced a bond between a father and son. Not only do we get to spend time together, but we're also creating memories. We've also been lucky enough to make connections with a handful of players, too. And, yes, we've built a fairly nice collection along the way.

Don't get me wrong. Hounding has its drawbacks. As much as I hated the cold of New England, the heat and humidity of Hockey Bay can be draining. Most times, too, you'll wait around two hours for 10 minutes of activity. Then, there are grumpy players, and our local mooches and meatballs. Pucks don't come cheap, either.

This blog plays a big role. It's more than a brag book. It's a journal of adventures, some better than others, and a sharing of stories. I know not everyone has access to NHL teams, even if it is on public property near a team's hotel. Most posts, I hope, bring a team's fans closer to its players.

I'd like to believe, too, that a book or two nestled are within the 1,500-plus posts over the past three seasons. I'll spend the better part of my offseason looking for an agent, as well as a publisher, who agree with me. It may be a pipe dream, but there's only one way to find out.

So, to answer the question. No, I'm not tired of hounding. Not yet. A couple years from now? Well, maybe. Things change. But, for today and for those ahead, there's still plenty of gas in the tank. I'm a hound.

A law I could live with

Somewhere in the Florida Constitution, inserted as an amendment during the fledgling days of the Grapefruit League, there must a little-known bylaw that "requires" every Florida resident or seasonal visitor to attend at least one spring training baseball game.

It once was easy to honor this legal obligation. It was simple enough to drive downtown, park in the paper's lot and stroll over to Al Lang Stadium and watch the Tampa Bay Rays.

Not this year, though. The defending American League champions have set up their spring training shop about 90 minutes south in even sleepier Port Charlotte.

Let the record show, just in case state baseball officials are monitoring a hockey-hounding blog, that we've fulfilled our obligation, taking in Wednesday's Pirates-Blue Jays game in Dunedin. Let me tell you, it's a far shorter drive than any to watch the Rays.

Even better, it was a great day. Warm, but not hot, with a light breeze. Saw Toronto's Roy Halladay pitch four strong innings. The Cracker Jacks were fresh, too.

Besides, we'll see the Rays soon enough at the Trop.

5 Big Sigs

We're entering our last major homestand here in Hockey Bay, with three teams -- the Loafs, Capitals and Thrashers -- coming to town this week. Here's what we're hoping to add:

~ Toronto's Jason Blake on the Team USA jersey;
~ Toronto's Luke Schenn on a Kewlowna Rockets puck;
~ Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos on 2009 NHL All Star Game pucks;
~ Washington's Nicklas Backstrom on a Capitals puck; and
~ Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk on a 2008-09 Victory jumbo card so it becomes the prize in April's Win this Autograph contest.

Sunday morning homily XXV

I don't know what's happened over the past few years, but there seems to be a growing sense of entitlement among today's younger hounds. They want to know where visiting NHL teams stay. They want to know the best times to hound. They want you to identify the players.

The only problem, though, is that they want to make the least possible effort to get the most number of autographs.

In a word, I'm afraid, they're lazy. Harsh? Yes. Honest? That, too.

Sorry, newbies, but life doesn't work that way. Bosses demand we show up, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and know what we're doing. Mortgage and credit card companies want to be paid -- on-time. If your spouse or child wants something special, you work extra to make sure they get it.

Most of the Hockey Bay hounds I know work fulltime jobs or operate their own businesses. Some are husbands. Some, like me, are fathers. We all find the time to do the homework of our hobby, even if it means long strings of 18-hour days. It's called reality and, sometimes, it's brutally honest.

Twice over the past few days, I've answered requests for team information, namely where a team was staying, by asking two young hounds, who have received more than fair share of information from me, to find out for themselves and report back to me. My philosphy is simple: Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

Well, one thought I was kidding, until I reinforced my original response with the message that stated otherwise. Want to know something? I've yet to hear back from him. The other, who showed up for the Blues without a Sharpie (a cardinal sin if there ever was one), at least made an attempt to find out, or so he told me. Funny thing, though. I found the team by asking for the same player he did.

Now, this is not an indictment of an entire generation. And, perhaps, these are isolated incidents. But, in my old-school world of collecting, the exchange of information or assistance needs to be a two-way street. I don't mind helping people who help me. Sounds fair, doesn't it?

Bottom line, kids, it's all about the effort.

The end is in sight

With the Tampa Bay Lightning's season headed down the tubes, the realization that the 2008-09 hounding campaign will end in about a month is becoming crystal clear. It's hard to imagine that the time has passed so quickly. It seems like only yesterday that I was sweating my tail off at pretraining camp hounding in Brandon.

Since then, it's been a blur -- loading up on such Western Conference luminaries as San Jose's Joey Thornton and pals, Colorado's Paul Stastny, Dallas' Mike Modano and Chicago's Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, as well as such Eastern Conference counterparts as Boston's Patrice Bergeron and Cam Neely, New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and Brendan Shanahan, and Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos.

No complaints, though. We've still got another month, or so, left in the season and seven teams, including Rick Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets, headed our way. It's time to finish strong.

Effort, I like to believe, won't be an issue. Not for me, at least.

5 Big Sigs

I didn't have the best week of fulfilling these weekly goals, so I'm going to bench myself for a good week or so. Really, the Lightning are away on a road trip.

But, if I had the opportunity to travel, this is what I'd hope to add:

~ Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson on the Senators team helmet;
~ Ottawa's Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley on the Team Canada jersey;
~ Ottawa's Pascal Leclaire on Senators and Blue Jackets pucks;
~ Toronto's Tomas Kaberle on a Toronto St. Pat's card;
~ Florida's Steve Eminger on a Panthers puck and the team helmet.

Sunday morning homily XXIV

Maybe I'm getting more conservative with each passing year, but I can certainly do without the highly suggestive Go Daddy commercials shown on the NHL Network. While watching the Loafs-Senators game last night, I had to tell Colin to quickly cover his ears as one aired.

Perhaps you've seen it. It's the one where one co-worker buys his buddy Dougie's domain name. Then Dougie's wife's. Then Dougie's dog's. Mercifully, Dougie, the offended party, so to speak, secures his mother's domain name. In celebration, Dougie tells his buddy that he already "did" his mother. See what I mean?

The commercial ends with a fetching young woman, who overheard Dougie's comment, disgustingly calling him a pervert. Unfortunately, Colin heard that part.

"Daddy, what's a pervert?"

Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted to do on a Saturday night.

My point goes beyond Colin's question, too. Look at the names and euphemisms being used. The poor guy's name last name is Humpas, hence the co-worker's registration of Mother Humpas. His dog's name is Mr. Winky. See what I mean? Again?

Trust me, I'm not being a prude. As I write this, the 15-year-old in me smiles at the sophomoric genius of the double entendre. I just wish the NHL Network would realize that kids watch these games. I'd rather have Colin watch a commercial for Bakugan or McDonald's than that nonsense.

It's one thing to run these commercials after 9 p.m., when most good little boys and girls are tucked in their beds. Running these spots before then, and putting parents across North America in one as well, shows a lack of awareness of the entire viewing market.

Can't wait. Can you?

If I didn't already have the day off, I'd use a vacation day or personal time this Wednesday to follow along with the wheelings and dealings of the NHL trade deadline. To hockey fans, it's like a national holiday, no matter where they live.

So, who will be the biggest name on the move? Ilya Kovalchuk? Marian Gaborik? Mark Recchi? Chris Pronger? Jay Bouwmeester? Tomas Kaberle?

Tell you what. Any NHL team needs a veteran defenseman, drop me a line. The pro-rated minimum works just fine.

5 Big Sigs

It's going to be a busy week here in Hockey Bay, as the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Carolina Hurricanes all pull into town:

~ Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby on Colin's Crosby replica jersey;
~ Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin on Penguins and WJC-Russia pucks;
~ St. Louis' Keith Tkachuk on Blues, Winnipeg Jets and Boston University pucks
~ St. Louis' Patrik Berglund on a Blues puck and a 2008-09 Victory update rookie card; and
~ Carolina's Eric Staal on a 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee jumbo card.

Sunday morning homily XXIII

Two buddies will renew acquaintances later today when Colin sees Boston's Patrice Bergeron before this afternoon's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. I'll have to tell you something, though. I wouldn't mind if it were their last.

After watching Patrice sustain his second concussion in as many seasons, our concern is not about autographs, but for Patrice's health and well-being. Another concussion, no matter how serious, could come easily. And each one will only have more complicated consequences.

Concussions, I'm afraid, have a cumulative effect. Just ask former NHLers Jeff Buekeboom, Pat LaFontaine and Eric Lindros.

To us, Patrice has nothing more to prove. He made the NHL as a rookie out of training camp. He's won championships. He's shown tremendous athletic ability. He made an inspirational comeback from a fairly serious injury. Most importantly, though, is he's served as a perfect role model for one of his younger fans.

Colin, however, was greatly concerned when Patrice was hurt this season against Carolina. With his own hockey career in its fledgling stages, he was worried about getting hurt like Patrice.

As a father, more than a hockey dad, I told Colin that it could happen to him, too. I also told him that it's okay to walk away as a result, that his health is more important than any goal, assist or blocked shot.

If asked, I'd offer that same fatherly advice to Patrice.

Whirlwind tour

Today's trip for the Bruins caps a very busy 16 days down here in Hockey Bay. Seven teams have traveled here, and we've hounded five of them (not counting the Bruins), making it the busiest homestand of the 2008-09 campaign.

Who were the biggest names we added so far? How about these teams and players:

~ New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, Zach Parise and Brendan Shanahan;
~ Chicago's Brian Campbell, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews;
~ Toronto's Jason Blake and Luke Schenn;
~ Atlanta's Zach Bogosian, Ilya Kovalchuk and Kari Lehtonen; and
~ the Islanders' Josh Bailey, Bill Guerin, Kyle Okposo and Doug Weight.

That also doesn't include a quick trip for the Lightning, that yielded autographs from Vinny Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos.

Going fishing

It seems that there's a standing joke among Chicago Blackhawks players any time Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews get swarmed by hounds before the team's morning skate last Tuesday.

Teammate Adam Burish spoke a bit too loudly last Tuesday with this observation when Kane and Toews stepped outside the team's hotel: "It's time to feed the fish."

Burish chuckled as he said it three times. Oddly, the smile vanished, though, as I asked him to sign at gametime: "Hey, Adam, it's time to feed the fish." Know what? He didn't sign. No great loss, I'd say.

5 Big Sigs

With only the Boston Bruins in town today and the Lightning hitting the road tomorrow, we'll be one-and-done with these items:

~ the Bruins' Patrice Bergeron on a Reebok Bergeron model stick;
~ Zdeno Chara, Phil Kessel and Blake Wheeler on the Bruins jersey;
~ Bergeron, Milan Lucic and Marc Savard on the Team Canada jersey;
~ Goalie Manny Fernandez on Wild and Stars pucks; and
~ General manager Peter Chiarelli on a Harvard University puck.

Sunday morning homily XXII

In an ideal world, every player -- from Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby to Washington's Alex Ovechkin to even Tampa Bay's Marek Malik -- would not only honor every request for an autograph, but they'd also ask if there's anything else they could sign for you.

We all know, though, that isn't the case. Especially with the game's top stars. As much as I would like to have top-shelf players fill The Vault with each and every item I'd ever want signed, it's unrealistic to expect even the sloppiest of scribbles.

It doesn't matter if you're a hound or a dealer, no one likes hearing "No" to their request for an autograph. But, it does happen. Quite a bit, too.

That doesn't mean, though, that the player or a team member should be continually badgered to the point of having to contact hotel security. It makes no difference to a player if you share the same birthday. Or if you bought that player's jersey to celebrate the occasion. As hard as it is to hear, no means no.

To push back to a point that one's actions, brought about by selfish desires, ruin it for others is not a very smart strategy.

Yes, it stinks hearing "No." But when you do, and, trust me, this comes from experience, it's always best to walk away. A hard lesson? Perhaps. But it's one that needs to be learned.

Shooting blanks

I couldn't help but get a chuckle out of Toronto's Brad May and his refusal Thursday to sign blank 8x10 pieces of photo paper.

"I don't want my autograph appearing on a picture of boobs," said May, who had no problems signing a puck for me. "You just don't know how it's going to be used. That's why I don't sign those."

Given his refusal, as well as Atlanta's Eric Perrin wanting to know what the pieces of paper were for, I won't be surprised to see more players passing on requests.

Something tells me, too, that I'm not done writing about this. I'm curious as to what the NHL and the players association think about this. As a journalist, and not just a blogger, I'm obligated to find out.

5 Big Sigs

It'll be a pretty busy week down here in Hockey Bay with the Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils coming to town. Here's what we're hoping to add:

~ Chicago's Patrick Kane on Blackhawks and London Knights pucks;
~ Chicago's Jonathan Toews on Blackhawks and University of North Dakota pucks;
~ Chicago's Nikolai Khabibulin on Lightning Stanley Cup items (didn't make the trip);
~ New Jersey's Martin Brodeur on his replica jersey; and
~ New Jersey's Zach Parise on a University of North Dakota puck.

Sunday morning homily XX

For all of the right reasons, a short post about some hounding foolishness up in bitter-cold Chicago struck a chord with a Hound Central 4.0 reader from Canada.

It seems Mark has heard complaints about kids getting stuff signed for their dads. Because I've been accused of that, mainly by one particular person in New England, the subject matter hit close to home.

His point was that those complaining can sometimes forget that whatever images the kid is exposed to can create lasting memories. That's why Mark tries to help kids, say, under the age of 12, get up front whenever a player stops to sign.

"You know at the end of the day," Mark surmises, "they will be the ones talking about their experiences for many years to friends and family and drawing them in to this great sport as fans."

Mark's right. Kids, no matter their daddy's motivation, should go first. Always. Players come over because of them and, really, that's what it's all about.

Having said that, though, what about the autograph dealer/dads who have their kids/wives/girlfriends make two, sometimes three, trips per player, or hire other kids for hounding? Do they get to cut into line every trip? Thankfully, the ones down here are pretty well behaved, waiting for their seconds (or thirds) until everyone else gets their autographs.

Then, there's hounds/dads like me, who know full well that his kid/wife/girlfriend often helps draw players. Is that crossing a line? I don't think so, but it's hard for me to be objective. Besides, I can't remember the last time one of us pitched a fit over not going first, though I met a grandfather a few seasons ago who now likely regrets slipping his Sidney Crosby jersey in front of Colin's.

Our difference, I hope, is that we're building a collection, not adding to the gross national product or the sports memorabilia market. Sure, we might each approach a player, but we make just one trip. Colin, for the most part, collects on a team sheet, stick or the jersey he's wearing -- all items he'll have for life.

It's like I always say, and Mark's reasoning reinforces my point: Hounding and hockey are bonds I'm building with Colin. It's okay, too, if other daddies, no matter their motivation, follow suit.

My Super Bowl XLIII memory

Every person attending Super Bowl XLIII festivities here in Tampa Bay will likely go home with a favorite moment. Mine involved legendary announcer and former NFL kicker Pat Summerall.

Being the only person who recognized him as he ambled toward his hotel Friday, I thanked Mr. Summerall for providing voiceover work -- free of charge -- for the St. Petersburg Times' popular multimedia series on the 50 best moments in Super Bowl history.

And, yes, I also thanked him for signing this Super Bowl XLIII mini helmet.

For the record, I have to go with my head, rather than my heart, in picking the Pittsburgh Steelers to beat the underdog Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, to win Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will be the game's MVP.

5 Big Sigs

I'm going to have to wait until Saturday afternoon, just before the New York Islanders play the Lightning, before trying to add these to the collection:

~ Captain Bill Guerin on an Edmonton Oilers puck and the USA team jersey;
~ Center Doug Weight to redo a couple pucks and sign the USA team jersey;
~ Center Richard Park on the USA team jersey;
~ Wingers Blake Comeau, Trent Hunter, Richard Park and Jeff Tambellini on three cards; and
~ Rookie center Josh Bailey on an Islanders puck.

Sunday night homily XIX

On our way over to watch the Sabres-Lighting game this past Wednesday, Colin told me he hoped to get a puck during warm-ups. Instead of wanting the keepsake for himself, though, he said he wanted to give it to his great-great Aunt Pat.

It's become somewhat of a tradition to take Aunt Pat to a Sabres-Lightning game as she spends her winters away from Western New York down here in Hockey Bay.

Colin, I suppose, just wanted to make this year's excursion extra special.

Lo and behold, Buffalo's Toni Lydman helped Colin make his wish come true. Near the end of warm-ups, with Colin leaning against the boards, Lydman scoops up a puck, taps the glass and tosses it over. Colin had his puck.

After warm-ups, we found our seats, where Aunt Pat and Momma were waiting. Colin showed her the puck. This is for you, he told her.

Pretty nice gesture, don't you think? Aunt Pat sure did.

Classy Canadiens

Nice touch by the Montreal Canadiens to feature living Habs legends during breaks in tonight's 57th NHL All Star Game at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

So far, I've paid attention long enough to have seen Henri "The Pocket Rocket" Richard, Serge "The Senator" Savard and Yvon "The Road Runner" Cournoyer introduced to the crowd.

Many a chill ran down the spines of not just the Canadiens faithful, but old-school hockey fans as well, with every introduction spotlight.

5 Big Sigs

Even with Super Bowl XLIII in town, I'm hoping to get in a couple hockey hounding sessions this week when the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers make their second trips if the season to Hockey Bay. Here's who we're looking to add:

~ Montreal's Alex Kovalev and Robert Lang on the Canadiens team helmet;
~ Montreal's Carey Price on a THN Future Watch 08 cover;
~ Tampa Bay's Steve Downie on Lightning and Flyers pucks;
~ Philadelphia's Mike Richards on a 2005-06 UD Rookie Class set card; and
~ Philadelphia's Matt Carle on a 2006-07 Fleer Hot Prospects Hot Materials teal swatch jersey card.

Sunday morning homily XVIII

Over the past few years, I've heard about the Tampa Bay Lightning's so-called "gearage sales." It's billed as an opportunity for Johnny Lightning Fan to get his hands on some game-used gear. After visting my first sale yesterday, held before the Lighting's disappointing 4-3 loss to the Panthers, I was a bit overwhelmed.

There was a lot of equipment available. Tables and tables of gloves, many still in their bags. Shiny helmets stacked three deep across tables. Twenty feet of sticks, a colorful collection from players past and present. Racks of rookie camp and practice jerseys.

It was like being a kid in a candy store.

The only problem, though, was that the prices were way too high. Those gloves? How about $60? Same for the helmets. Those sticks, while tempting, were $100. A rookie camp jersey of some no-name? Only $250. Practice jerseys, with no names or numbers, commanded $80.

For the hard-core collector, a pair of Johan Holmqvist goalie pads, showing considerable wear, were available for $750. Nice? Yes, but too rich for most people.

Because of the prices, I did nothing but window-shop. Want to know why? I paid only $25 each for the two Lightning practice jerseys I've bought during Lightning games. And I still have a couple of Marty St. Louis model sticks, picked up at the Lightning Foundation fund-raising table during training camp, that cost only $12.50 each.

Funny thing, too. I didn't see too many people buying stuff in the 20 minutes I hung around. Maybe next time the Lightning will take more of a garage sale approach, where it's dimes on the dollar, not 50-cent pieces.

Shameless self-promotion


If you check out page 138 in the February issue of Beckett Sports Card Monthly, you might recognize some of the autographed items shown on the page shown above. Here's a couple of hints:

~ they were obtained around Thanksgiving when the New York Rangers played the Tampa Bay Lightning; and
~ I wrote the article, my first for a Beckett publication in a few years.

Unless plans change (theirs, not mine), I'll have another piece in the February issue of Beckett Hockey.

For a better view of the article, click on the top image.

Hockey tongue twister

There's a good reason I write for a living. I don't believe I could quickly say these names three times in a row:

Kimmo Timonen
Ville Peltonen
Jere Lehtinen
Matt Niskanen
Teppo Numminen

5 Big Sigs

It'll be a big week down here in Hockey Bay with the Dallas Stars and the Buffalo Sabres coming to town. I'm going to raise the bar a little this week, seeing whether we can add these to the collection:

~ Dallas' Mike Modano on the Team USA jersey and puck;
~ Dallas' Marty Turco on the Team Canada jersey and goalie mask;
~ Dallas' Brad Richards on a Notre Dame College Hounds puck;
~ Dallas' Brett Hull on Stars and Red Wings pucks (sorry Sabres fan, but I have to try); and
~ Buffalo's Ryan Miller on the Team USA jersey.

How about you?

I have to be honest with you, I wasn't happy that Philadelphia's Big Three -- Mike Richards (above, left), Jeff Carter (above, right) and Simon Gagne (below) -- signed the work-in-progress Team Canada jersey earlier tonight.

Nope, I'm not happy at all. Not in the least little bit.

I think ecstatic is the word I'm looking for. Yeah, that's it. Ecstatic. Wouldn't you be if you'd been able to get all three to sign your jersey?

Practicing what I preach

When you encounter NHL players who've only been with one team, such as Philadelphia's Simon Gagne, that's the perfect time to dip into your supply of speciality pucks to easily build depth to your collection.

Though he has signed Flyers and Team Canada pucks for us in the past, he added another pair earlier tonight, signing these 2004 World Cup of Hockey-Team Canada and Quebec Remparts pucks.

He didn't stop at those, either, signing the Team Canada jersey and Colin's team sheet.

Rock solid

When it comes to quality individuals within the NHL, there are few who match up with Philadelphia's Mike Knuble. Since his days with the Bruins, I've never seen him refuse a request for an autograph or shy away from a conversation with a fan. Earlier tonight, he signed the Team USA jersey for me.

Sunday morning homily XVII

Technically, this posting should be called a Sunday afternoon homily. As you can see, I didn't get started until after noon, spending the morning napping in my recliner and, whenever I awoke, trying to figure out how to put together pieces of Colin's Lego Castle Tower Raid toy.

Ah, the joys of being a daddy.

My work schedule has been all over the place lately, beginning shifts at either 7 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. or 6 p.m. Still, though, I'm happy to have a job in the newspaper industry. It's just that it makes it hard to keep a set sleeping routine.

I suppose, too, that the layoff in hounding down here in Hockey Bay has contributed to my general state of laziness. This weekend marked the first in many when we didn't have a team to hound or tickets to a game. And now that we've reached the midway point of the season -- the NHL All Star Game be damned -- it couldn't have come at a better time.

The Lightning's remaining schedule is chock full of home dates between now and the end of March -- 21 games and likely just as many hounding adventures. In other words, I'll soon be stepping and fetching with teams like Dallas, Buffalo Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh and Columbus all making winter trips to this corner of the Sunshine State.

It sounds like it's time, then, for another nap.

What's with all the mustaches?

Watching the Leafs-Flyers game last night, I wondered who was the Loafs' Mini-Me version of Anaheim's George Parros. It turned out to be thug-wannabe Ryan Hollweg, with his long hair and bushy mustache. Then, I noticed Loafs defenseman Ian White and his mustache.

All I can say is, what gives? Are these players channeling Lanny McDonald and his famous facial hair?

Are they supposed to make these guys look tougher? Really, all these mustaches look like to me are really bushy caterpillars that have taken up residence on a couple upper lips.

And given the Leafs sub-par play this season, don't you think the team's players should be focusing on something else? Then again, as a Sabres fan, I love nothing more than watching the Leafs stumble.

On second thought, let's have the Loafs keep working on the mustaches.

5 Big Sigs

With the Philadelphia Flyers and the Florida Panthers coming to town this week, we should have ample opportunity to add the following to the collection:

~ Philadelphia's Simon Gagne on a Quebec Remparts puck and the Team Canada jersey;
~ Philadelphia's Jeff Carter and Mike Richards on the Team Canada jersey;
~ Philadelphia's Mike Knuble on the Team USA jersey;
~ Philadelphia's rookie defenseman Lucas Sbisa on a Flyers puck; and
~ Florida's Jay Bouwmeester on the Team Canada jersey.