Getting closer

Now that we're in the final week of the 2008-09 hockey-hounding season down here in Hockey Bay, we're turning our attention to certain work-in-progress projects. In this case, it's the Lightning team jersey.

Given the team's imperfect season, one might reason the need for such an item. Beyond the new Big Three -- Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos -- there are few household names in the Lightning lineup. Maybe that's why the Lightning will miss the playoffs for the second straight year.

No, the reward here will be the depth of the project. Nearly 50 players, including 21 defenseman have donned a Lightning sweater this season. That, to me, makes it a project. To date, we've added 32 signatures, including these two Tuesday:

The jersey wouldn't be complete, no matter the number of signatures, without one from Stamkos. Don't have to worry about that anymore.

Defenseman Matt Lashoff, acquired from Boston with Martins Karsums for Mark Recchi in a trade-deadline deal.

Also signing Tuesday around the team's morning skate were Adam Hall and Cory Murphy (again, my mistake), call-ups Brandon Bochenski, Karsums, Zenon Konopka and Vladimir Mihalik.

A cure for cabin fever

After spending nearly 12 hours Wednesday glued to my computer and TV for the NHL trade deadline day coverage, I needed to get out of the house today, heading over to Brandon, where the Lightning were practicing.

Fresh air, bright sunshine and nearly a dozen autographs combined to make the trip well worth the time.

Besides adding these pucks from assistant coach Wes Walz, left, and newly acquired defenseman Noah Welch, I focused my attention on a few work-in-progress team jersey projects:

Center Vinny Lecavalier and winger Evgeny Artyukhin on the Lightning team jersey;

Winger Vinny Prospal on the Lightning team jersey;

Interim head coach Rick Tocchet on the Lightning team jersey;

Assistant coach Mike Sullivan on the Lightning team jersey;

Goalie Mike McKenna, who's living out his dream, on the Lightning team jersey;

Right winger Marty St. Louis on the Team Canada jersey;

Rookie forward Steven Stamkos on the Team Canada jersey; and

Center Jeff Halpern on the Team USA jersey.

Time to hustle

With the NHL trade deadline approaching, I'll be making a concerted effort to work the Lightning team jersey and helmet projects, just in case the team's lineup changes. On Thursday, I hounded the Lightning for the first time since before the holidays.

Helping to flesh out the team jersey were Steve Eminger, David Koci and Matt Pettinger. They join Ryan Craig, Chris Gratton, Olaf Kolzig, Shane O'Brien, Michel Oullet, Karri Ramo, Paul Ranger, Martin St. Louis, Mike Smith and Jason Ward.

As usual, Kolzig, still with the team despite a season-ending injury, was more than willing to sign for a small group of hounds and fans. He signed this Tri-City Americans puck, the 12th he's added to the collection. Kolzig, who played for the Western Hockey League team during his junior days, now co-owns the club.

Among the other noteworthy events:

~ Realizing that ink, rain don't mix and most likely wasting an autograph from Vinny Lecavalier;
~ Having Steven Stamkos sign one of my photos; and
~ Getting a former University of New Hampshire player to sign the American-born goalie stick.

Fast start

Rather than focus primarily on pucks this season, I've introduced a number of projects to keep myself busy. One of those projects is a Tampa bay Lightning team jersey.

At first, I was going to wait until mid-season, once I'd likely run out of items for Lightning players to sign, to begin this particular project. But, like most things, I couldn't wait.

Earlier today, three more players -- Paul Ranger (top), Ryan Craig (middle) and Michel Ouellet -- signed the jersey, bringing the total to 10 so far.

With this kind of start, there's no reason why I shouldn't expect to complete this project by the holidays.

Getting back at it

More than anything else, this morning's trip over to Brandon to watch Tampa Bay Lightning players -- present and past -- hold an informal practice was a reward for spending the better part of this week in front of my computer (like I am now), working on Hound Central 4.0's annual best young players features.

I needed to feel the chill of a rink. I needed to hear pucks ringing off posts. And, I needed, no, make that wanted, to score a few more autographs before training camp commences Sept. 16 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. Besides, it had been a week since I last visited.

As you can see, my mission was accomplished.

The Lightning team jersey gained six signatures and another five pucks, including this one from Vinny Prospal, went into The Vault.

In all, I logged the first double-digit haul (11) of the young season, something I'm hoping happens on a regular basis.

So, who signed the jersey? Here's who:

Top photo (from left): Marty St. Louis, Karri Ramo, Mike Smith and Chris Gratton.

Middle photo (from left): Shane O'Brien and Olaf Kolzig.

Taking part in the session were Chris Dingman, Kolzig, O'Brien, Michel Ouellet, Nolan Pratt, Prospal, Ramo, Paul Ranger, Mark Recchi, Smith, St. Louis and Jason Ward. Also, new Lightning co-owner Oren Koules skated in the early part of the session.

No Vinny? So what!

To be honest, I was hoping to see Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier taking part in an informal practice this morning in Brandon with other Lightning alums, past and present. And though he wasn't on the ice, I certainly wasn't disappointed by the eight skaters who participated.

Taking part were Chris Gratton, Olaf Kolzig, Nolan Pratt (decked out in Sabres gear), Mark Recchi, Brad Richards (wearing his Stars duds), Mike Smith and Jason Ward. Only Gratton (drive-by), Pratt (no one asked) and Recchi (drive-by) didn't sign.

Defenseman Paul Ranger, coming off of shoulder surgery, was even there, watching the fun and games, so to speak, from above the rink. Of course, he stopped after practice (photo above) for the three collectors waiting in the heat and humidity.

I must also admit that I was a bit perplexed by Ranger signing only one card. I suppose that sounds greedy, but he's usually signed multiples for me in the past. It's like I say, though, that one is better than none.

Another skater taking part was Brian Bradley, a member of the original Tampa Bay Lightning and its first All Star, who added this to The Vault.

Despite retiring in late 1999, Bradley looked right at home on the ice, even roofing one shot past Kolzig.

Finally, Ward, who looked quicker on his skates, was the first to sign the 2008-09 Tampa Bay Lightning team jersey.