The envelopes, please

After careful tabulations, double-blind accounting and pacts of secrecy authenticated by verification experts at the highest levels, the inaugural edition of the Hockey Bay Hounding Awards have finally arrived on the shores of Tampa Bay.

In the moments ahead, you'll find yourselves nodding in agreement, shrinking away in horror and, occasionally, shaking your head in disagreement. That's exactly what we're hoping for, at least.

Before we get to the winners, though, Hound Central 4.0 would like to thank everyone who has visited this chronicle of the 2008-09 hockey-hounding campaign. Using an incalculable payment of your free time, your presence and attention is the greatest reward we could ever receive. Again, thank you.

Now, let's see who's winning nothing more than a mention here at Hound Central 4.0:

Hound of the Year: Awarded to the hound who consistently racks up quality autographs on a diverse platform of memorabilia. Winner: Chris

Autograph of the Year: Awarded to the hound who scores an autograph from one of hockey's best players -- past or present -- during the course of a season. Winner: Ryan, for his team-signed picture, shown above, of Louie, the St. Louis Blues mascot.

Rookie of the Year: Awarded to a hound who excels in his/her first full Hockey Bay season. Winner: Ryan

Lifetime Achievement Award: Honors a veteran Hockey Bay hound for their dedication, knowledge and product of their efforts. Winner: Ron (Thanks, folks)

Best Supporting Hound: Awarded to the hound(s) who assists in the collection of autographs. Winner: Three-way tie -- Andy, Scott and Colin

Meatball of the Year: Awarded to a hound who displays a clear lack of thought and consideration toward his peers. Winner: Meatball

Best Original Score: Awarded to the hound obtaining an autograph(s) on a rare or peculiar piece of memorabilia. Winner: Jamie, for getting game-used sticks signed twice by each player. Don't ask me why, ask him.

NHL awards

Nicest NHL player: San Jose's Jeremy Roenick

Snottiest NHL player: Toronto's Curtis Joseph

Best-signing team: Dallas Stars

Worst-signing team: Washington Capitals

Best-dressed player: Atlanta's Garnet Exelby, for his fedora alone

Three things to do

Now, I know I'm not the only person who has to work on Memorial Day. So, if you're lucky enough to have the day off and family cookout is hours away, here is a hat trick of activities to keep you busy:

~ weigh in on the Hockey Bay Houndings Awards;
~ see who's made a play for a puck autographed by Colin; and
~ test your hockey knowledge on our latest hockey quiz.

You can thank me later.

Honoring efforts

Over the course of the past season, I took time to reflect upon the dedication required to pursue this hockey-hounding hobby of mine. The time. The money. The toll on your body.

Thankfully, though, I'm not alone.

Down here in Hockey Bay, there's a sizable group of hounds -- collectors, dealers and the usual clutch of fans -- that show up for most every NHL visiting team. Nearly all put in the time. Many do their homework. A helping hand is never far away. As a result, mutual respect grows as the season wears on.

Seeing that Hound Central 4.0 chronicles hockey-hounding activities here in Hockey Bay, it's my duty to honor those members of our fraternity. With that in mind, allow me to introduce to the Hockey Bay community this inaugural edition of the Hockey Bay Hounding Awards.

To make this work, though, I need your help. Please, feel free to submit, via comments at this post, your thought-out and well-reasoned votes (though none for yourself, please) for the following categories:

Hound of the Year: Awarded to the hound who consistently racks up quality autographs on a diverse platform of memorabilia. Please, don't vote for yourself.

Autograph of the Year: Awarded to the hound who scores an autograph from one of hockey's best players -- past or present -- during the course of a season.

Rookie of the Year: Awarded to a hound who excels in his/her first full Hockey Bay season.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Honors a veteran Hockey Bay hound for their dedication, knowledge and product of their efforts.

Best Supporting Hound: Awarded to the hound(s) who assists in the collection of autographs.

Meatball of the Year: Awarded to a hound who displays a clear lack of thought and consideration toward his peers.

Best Original Score: Awarded to the hound obtaining an autograph(s) on a rare or peculiar piece of memorabilia.

But, wait, there's more

Hound Central 4.0 readers and hounds outside Hockey Bay can also participate in this annual gesture of appreciation:

Nicest NHL player: Not only signs multiples, but is pleasant, too.

Snottiest NHL player: Is not just a toughie, but is downright rude.

Best-signing team: The team that bleeds Sharpies dry.

Worst-signing team: This is great intel, too.

Best-dressed player: Each team has one. Really, they do.

Nominations close June 1. Winners, who will receive nothing more than a mention here at Hound Central 4.0, will be announced in late June.

If no nominations are received from the Hockey Bay hounding community, Hound Central 4.0 will select an honoree in each Hockey Bay category.