2013 Top Autos: No. 2

When creating this list of the top autographs from the 2013 hockey-hounding campaign, the original idea was to show off the top five. In reviewing the season's efforts, though, there was one item -- this puck that was signed by former NHL goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch -- that stuck out.

Yes, it's part of the collection. But, we didn't get it. It was our buddy Scott who got it for us.

I had been carrying the puck most every time the New Jersey Devils, for whom Resch serves as a color analyst, visited Tampa, but never had the opportunity to get it signed. So, after missing once again in late March, Scott offered to see what he could do.

And, as you can see, he delivered.

To me, the puck deserves this ranking for two reasons -- it was finally added to the collection and, more importantly, it was a friend who got it for us.

Up next: No. 1

Team report: New Jersey Devils

When Colin had his spring break last month, we did what any good hockey hounds would do -- we spent not one, but two days pursuing our favorite pastime. Our first adventure involved the Buffalo Sabres. The second, just three days later, saw us hounding the New Jersey Devils.

 

One of the hallmarks of the day's events was the diversity of items we received. Between pucks, a 17-signature team sheet (shown above), another magazine tear sheet and cards, including these two from Adam Henrique, left, and Adam Larsson, we added another 42 autographs to the collection.

Also signing during our day of hounding were sure-fire Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur and Scott Stevens, already in hockey's hallowed hall in Toronto. Besides a puck, Brodeur was among those signing Colin's team sheet.

And thanks to our good friend Scott, a Colorado Rockies puck that we have had for some time was put to use by former Devils goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch.

Rounding out the pucks were:

David Clarkson, from left, Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac.

All told, 19 cards were signed. Quite a few players signed four cards each for us:

Andy Greene,

Johan Hedberg,

Henrik Tallinder; and 

Anton Volchenkov.

 Here's another one of those magazine tearsheets that we used 

as a signing platform. Henrique signed this for Colin.

Up next: Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau

Two Hall of Famers

It's always a good day any time you can add a Hall of Famer to your autograph collection. What do you call it, though, when you add a pair to the collection? Great? Awesome? Spectacular? How about all three?

It doesn't matter what I call it. It happened recently when the New Jersey Devils traveled to Hockey Bay and we added Martin Brodeur, left, and Scott Stevens to the autographed pucks collection.

Yeah, I know. Brodeur isn't in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Yet. But, we all know that he will be in his first year of eligibility. And even if I got his road-trip "M-t. No. B. dot" autograph, it's still another Brodeur autograph.

For Stevens, however, it was a first. As in the first autographed puck, and likely first-ever autograph, from the rugged defenseman.

Up next: Devils team report

"Chico" and The Man

In a corner of our laundry room, nestled among a pile of boxes, are two small boxes that hold an assortment of pucks. One is devoted to the Tampa Bay Lightning, a collection of logos new and old as well as some for certain members of team management. The other, known as the working box, is rather eclectic, a full range of pucks, from prep school to the NHL.

That box, which can hold up to three dozen pucks at a time, is my go-to receptacle when I prepare for a hounding adventure. Mostly, it'll have two to three pucks for every team coming to Hockey Bay in the next month or so. The bottom layer, mostly holding pucks for defunct teams, hardly has any turnover.

This Colorado Rockies puck, signed by former NHL goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch, has been taking up space for a few years now. I bought it specifically for Resch, knowing that he spent his days proving color commentary for New Jersey Devils telecasts.

Lately, though, I had the misfortune of not having it any time I saw Resch or having it, but not seeing Resch. For two years, that's how it went.

When the Devils visited recently, I dug the puck out of the box. Maybe this time, I hoped, it would finally get put to use. Resch, you see, stays at a different hotel than the team. To get him, I've come to learn, takes more luck than skill. And, after a day of hounding, I felt this most recent adventure would end the same way -- the puck, still unsigned, would go back into the box.

As I get getting ready to head home for the day, Scott, one of my hounding buddies, offered to take it for the rest of the day. If he saw Resch, he'd get it signed. He knew what it felt like to carry an item many, many times before getting it signed. So, I took him up on the offer.

Later that night, when I was at work at the paper, I got a text from Scott. Resch, in fact, signed the puck after the game. To me, it doesn't matter that I didn't get the puck signed myself. What mattered most was that it was signed -- finally.

Thanks, Scott, for doing that.

Up next: Two Hall of Famers