Oh, Cujo, grow up

Deep down inside, I should just be happy that Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph stopped to sign this Notre Dame Hounds prep school puck Tuesday morning as he made his way to Tuesday's morning skate.

But I can't. It's my duty as a hockey-hounding blogger to share this story:

After barking at us that he would sign -- "Just one, guys!" -- Lord Cujo, God's gift to hockey and self-appointed spokesman for his teammates, added this jewel:

"It ruins our days when we see you."

Oh, really? That's nice to know. I suggest hockey hounds all across North America put this information to good use.

Spreading the wealth

Though my work schedule limited us to just a gametime hounding session last Saturday, diversity dominated the day when the Carolina Hurricanes traveled to Hockey Bay to play the Tampa Bay Lightning. Still, we were able to add another 23 autographs, including 16 cards, in little more than an hour.

Our haul, which some may view as small in light of other trips earlier this season, also featured top-shelf signatures on pucks, such as Rod Brind'Amour signing this Notre Dame Hounds offering ("Where did you find this?" he asked. "Wilcox, Saskatchewan," I replied.), a Hurricanes mini helmet and a ongoing jersey project.

We wanted to get Carolina goalie coach Tom Barrasso on the right-handed goalie glove, but after signing before the team's morning skate, he wasn't as approachable later in the day.

Bottom line, and this will be a theme for most of our remaining hounding adventures this season, is that quality trumped quantity.

Other highlights from the abbreviated session:

~ Hall of Famer Ron Francis signing a Hartford Whalers puck;
~ Putting inserts to work for Eric Staal;
~ Being thankful that Cam Ward hasn't grown tired of signing;
~ Snagging four big names on the Team Canada jersey; and
~ Getting cards signed by Tim Gleason and Brandon Sutter.

Signing cards, shown at top from left, were Brind'Amour, Matt Cullen, Tuomo Ruutu and Sergei Samsonov.

Release the Hounds

A few weeks ago, Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier was nice enough to sign a replica Notre Dame Hounds jersey for one of his younger fans down here in Horrible Hockey Bay.

Last Thursday, before a 2-1 shootout loss to Colorado, Lecavalier signed this puck from his prep school hockey days.

In case you're interested, you can buy either item, as well as others suitable for signing, at the Wilcox, Sask., school's online store.

Food coma, notwithstanding . . .

. . . plan on a turkey gravy boat-load of postings later this evening. One of us loaded up on autographs from the Rangers and Lightning.

It wasn't me.

In the meantime, can you guess who Colin got on his appropriately named Notre Dame College prep school jersey?