Hounding report: Carolina Hurricanes

It's not that it has never happened before, but when it does, it's worth mentioning. Many times this season, when my sidekick, Colin, joined me for hounding, he would go out and hand my fanny to me. Really, I don't have a problem with it. I'm more than happy to pass along the baton.

However, he does have a habit, and I wonder where he got it from, of celebrating his hounding victories over his old man. So, that's why I feel little guilt in playing up this simple fact -- I scored more autographs from the Carolina Hurricanes than he did just four days before Christmas.

All told, we snagged 45 autographs that day, with Colin scoring 19 on the team sheet, shown above, complete with signatures from Cam Ward, Alexander Semin, Jeff Skinner and Jordan, but not Eric, Staal. Now, do the math.

So, let my bragging begin:

Two pucks from Anton Khudobin and Ward;

Nearly two-dozen cards, including:

Top row: Patrick Dwyer, Justin Faulk and Nathan Gerbe;

Bottom row: Tim Gleason, Jay Harrison and Justin Peters; 

Top row: Tuomo Ruutu and Jeff Skinner; and

Bottom row: Jordan Staal and Jiri Tlusty.

Mike Komisarek signed four cards ...

... as did Manny Malhotra, who, like Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, further

lends credibility to my theory of a bell curve in hockey hounding.

Early on, when Malhotra was a top prospect with the New York Rangers, he wouldn't get within 10 feet of a Sharpie and, honestly, wasn't very nice in shooting us down. Since then, Malhotra, who has faced considerable adversity in his career, is one of the nicest and most cordial players in the NHL. 

But, I digress. The day's haul also included these items:

Alexander Semin adding to the Threads collection; and

Brett Bellemore signing one of my cheapskates cards.

Hounding report: Tourney time

Just after the Christmas holidays, Colin and his Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning Pee Wee A White teammates played in a tournament down in Estero. Around the same time, there was a college hockey tournament taking place at the same rink, which is also home to the Florida Everblades, the East Coast Hockey League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Given that Colin's game schedule meshed with the teams' practice schedules, he was able to score 123 autographs from the five teams -- all within a 24-hour window -- on team sheets, making it one of this hockey-hounding campaign's highlights:

Florida Everblades - 17 autographs

University of Cornell - 25 autographs

University of Maine - 25 autographs

Princeton University - 28 autographs

University of New Hampshire (Colin's favorite team) -- 28 autographs

Hounding report: Winnipeg Jets

Though we didn't top our season-high hounding haul of the 2013-14 campaign, our tag-team effort for the Winnipeg Jets in early December came awfully darn close. All told, including Colin's 24-signature team sheet, we brought home another 56 autographs for the collection.

Want to know what's weird, too? Not a single one came on a puck. No, the rest came on cards. For me, it's hard to believe we'd have such a good day and not add another puck. I guess that's what happens some times, right?

So, who signed? Just about every one:

Top row: Dustin Byfuglein, Michael Frolik and Matthew Halischuk; 

Bottom row: Olli Jokinen, Al Montoya and Adam Pardy;

Top row: Ondrej Pavelec, Anthony Peluso and Devin Setoguchi; and

Bottom row: Eric Tangradi, Chris Thornburn and Blake Wheeler.

Two Winnipeg players signed four cards each for us:

Bryan Little and

Mark Stuart.

In the odd move of the day, to me at least, Mark Scheifele personalized these two cards. While I have no problem with that, having him sign one for Colin and me, I can only wonder whether he had a conversation recently with Ottawa's Erik Karlsson.

Frolik also added to the Threads collection:

And last, but not least, and only because the math didn't add up when scanning the cards, James Wright, a former No. 1 pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning and one of the nicest players we've ever met, signed this card for us.

Team report: Pittsburgh Penguins

Any time the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town, I have the hardest time getting ramped up for hounding the squad. Sure, the team is loaded with superstars. But, that's the problem. It's teams like the Penguins that bring people out of the woodwork.

I have no issues with the Hockey Bay regulars coming out in full force. It's teams like this that often create a reunion-like atmosphere, allowing us to catch up. But, when you get people who show up only for teams like this, decked out in their new hats and sweaters (tags still attached), that my mission goes from scoring autographs to simply getting in the way.

Thankfully, Colin was able to snag a handful of Pittsburgh players -- seven to be specific -- on his team sheet, so the morning-only session wasn't a complete loss. Among those who signed were Marc-Andre Fleury and Pascal Dupuis.

Hounding report: Philadelphia Flyers

Between our tag-team effort to double-dip the Philadelphia Flyers and the Tampa Bay Lightning in late November, dab smack in the middle of Colin's Thanksgiving break, we put together our most productive day of the 2013-14 hockey-hounding campaign.

With the 23 autographs Colin got from the Lightning, we added another 58 from the Flyers, giving us a total of 81 autographs, on a variety of platforms, on the day. The biggest haul, shown above, was Colin's complete team sheet, bearing 29 signatures from the likes of Claude Giroux, Vinny Lecavalier, Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek.

Signing pucks for me that day were:

Above: Ray Emery, from left, Lecavalier and Steve Mason. Apparently, I was focused on the team's goalies and Vinny, who was making his return to Tampa Bay that day.

At left: I used an old-school Flyers puck to snag three old-school Flyers: general manager Paul Holmgren (top), announcer Bill Clement (left) and coach Craig Berube.

Cards, however, made up the bulk of my efforts:

Top row: Braydon Coburn, Sean Couturier, Giroux and Nicklas Grossman;
Bottom row: Grossman (again, sorry), Erik Gustafsson, Scott Hartnell and Andrej Mezsaros; and

Top row: Zac Rinaldo, Brayden Schenn, Luke Schenn and Simmonds; and
Bottom row: Mark Streit, Chris Therien, Kimmo Timonen and Voracek.

Hounding report: New York Rangers

After taking a month off from hounding, for reasons I can't draw from memory, we used the first day of Colin's week-long Thanksgiving break to try our hand, as well as our luck, with the New York Rangers at that downtown Tampa hotel that requires a far-greater effort than others.

One of us had great luck, as evidenced by Colin's team sheet, shown above, bearing 16 signatures. Me? Well, not so much. When it came time for the final tabulation on the day's effort, I got my hockey-hounding fanny handed to me -- once again.

And, you know, I don't have a problem with that. These days, especially when Colin can join me, it's more about making memories and having fun, rather than simply adding stacks and stacks to the collection.

So, who signed Colin's team sheet on that late November morning? Here's who, listed in alphabetical order, as that is easier for me (maybe):  Brian Boyle, Derick Brassard, Ryan Callahan, Michael Del Zotto (since traded), Dan Girardi, Chris Kreider, Henrik Lundqvist, Dominic Moore, John Moore, Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Marc Staal, Derek Stepan, Anton Stralman, Cam Talbot and Mats Zuccarello.

Thankfully, I didn't get skunked. Three autographs, I suppose, is far better than not scoring a single one, right?

Richards signed this Rangers puck for me, starting what would be a one-time Tampa Bay Lightning Big Three project, my only hounding goal of the week. How'd that turn out? You'll have to wait and see over the next week or so.

Beyond that, I came home with two -- yes, go ahead and count them on one of your hands, two -- hockey cards. Like I said, it sure beats coming home empty-handed and having to listen to Colin give me a hard time about getting shut out.

So, who signed the cards? Kreider, who I'd like to get on a 2012 Frozen Four puck as he was part of Boston College's national championship squad that year in Tampa, and Zuccarello, only the seventh Norwegian to play in the NHL, did.

Hounding report: Boston Bruins

Aside from the potential "drama" of a snub from his favorite NHL player, Boston's Patrice Bergeron, the two-part hounding adventure for the Bruins, interrupted by one of Colin's games, went as well as could be expected.

Primarily, the team was staying at a downtown Tampa hotel, one that has become more favored by visiting NHL teams, that employs a more vigorous defense against hounds. That doesn't mean, though, that you can't get autographs, it just means it takes a little more work. As a result, the bar of having a good day lowers.

That's why, despite getting 15 autographs, we'll chalk up the Bruins' visit, way back in mid October, to be a good day, with greater emphasis on quality than quantity as well as the first appearance of the 2013-14 hockey-hounding campaign of Colin's team sheets.

Signing picks were, from left, Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Jarome Iginla.

In what was the biggest surprise of the day, Shawn Thornton signed multiples, including these three cards.

Among those signing the team sheet, shown above, were Bergeron, Gregory Campbell, Jordan Caron, Chara, Iginla and Thornton.

2013 Top Autos: No. 1

Say what you will about the Florida Panthers and their horrendous 2013 NHL season, but they'll go down as a highlight of our hockey-hounding campaign. To me, this team sheet, made with a wallpaper image, is about the coolest thing we've ever gotten signed.

From a strong, eye-catching image to the gold signatures, this will be front and center in Colin's team sheet binder.

Colin racked up nearly two dozen signatures when the Panthers visited Tampa for their last regular-season game of the season.

So, there you have it, this team sheet is the top autographed item of our 2013 hockey-hounding campaign.

In case you missed the others, here is a rundown:

No. 2: Glenn "Chico" Resch
No. 3: Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson
No. 4: Bobby Clarke
No. 5: Jarome Iginla
No. 6: Buffalo Sabres team sheet

2013 Top Autos: No. 6

When I look back on the abbreviated 2013 hockey-hounding campaign, I'm left with two impressions:  We didn't do all that bad, scoring 538 autographs in 14 trips (an updated accounting from earlier totals), and we added some quality items to the collection.

So, beginning today, we'll take a countdown-style look at the top six autographs:

Colin's team sheet from the Buffalo Sabres, in town March 26 to play the Lightning, sealed the deal, for me, on using NHL team wallpapers as autograph platforms. When you get the right image and a contrasting ink color, the finished product pops. That's exactly what we have here.

Looking ahead,these will serve as our go-to items for his team sheets.

Up next: No. 5

Natural progression

Over the course of his young life, Colin has relied upon team sheets as his go-to platform any time he had the opportunity to hound an NHL team. At first, he drew them by hand, doing the best he could to match the team's logo, or used ones I made on the computer. In time, his artistic talents improved, but then we discovered using printed team wallpaper sheets.

These days, though, he has been using more and more of the wallpaper images for his team sheets. They're quick. They're easy. And with a 40-percent discount at Walgreen's, they're pretty affordable. So, yes, he's given up some individuality, but the reward is when you seal the deal with an item as sharp as this.

Of the team wallpaper sheets he has done this year, I'm thinking this one, completed on the Florida Panthers final trip to Hockey Bay, is among the best, if not the best, he has even worked. To me, the image, as well as the gold ink, makes this one pop.

Among the 23 Panthers players signing it were Calder Trophy nominee Jonathan Huberdeau, Brian Campbell, Tomas Fleischmann, Peter Mueller, George Parros, Shawn Mathias, Jakob Markstrom and Tomas Kopecky.

Still, nothing tops this, a true one-of-one for his beloved Boston Bruins.

Next up: Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau

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

Team report: Buffalo Sabres II

Given the lockout shortened NHL season, our hounding adventures are limited to Eastern Conference teams. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, we won't be able to hound every team that travels to Hockey Bay. Fortunately, though, there are a couple of teams that we'll be able to hound twice. The first team is my hometown Buffalo Sabres.

While the first trip this season, which netted 24 autographs, was a solo effort by yours truly, our most recent adventure for the Blue and Gold, which took place during Colin's spring break, was a tag-team effort. Our numbers reflect that, as we added 66 autographs -- the most so far this season -- to the collection.

Colin, continuing a recent trend, worked one of his computer wallpaper team sheets (shown above), racking up an impressive 28 autographs, adding every player and coach who made the trip.

Still, it was a solid number of cards that made our day. Besides Ryan Miller and Jason Pominville (since traded away), these Buffalo players also signed cards for us:

Top row: Jonas Enroth, Nathan Gerbe and Cody Hodgson;

Middle row: Tyler Myers, Steve Ott and Robyn Regehr; and

Bottom row: John Scott, Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek.

Four Sabres players also signed four cards each:

Christian Ehrhoff, top, and Tyler Ennis; and

Ville Leino, top, and Jordan Leopold.

Next up: Community project

Team report: Carolina Hurricanes

With the injured Cam Ward staying back in Raleigh, Eric Staal playing peek-a-boo behind a hotel curtain and Alex Semin leading hounds on a short waterfront walk, our recent hounding adventure for the Carolina Hurricanes was, in a word, lackluster.

In fact, the biggest score, beyond Semin finally signing Colin's team sheet, was Jordan Staal signing a card.

For a moment, we all thought Eric Staal would make our day as he stepped outside the team's hotel. It didn't take long, though, for him to duck back inside. A few minutes later, we saw him through a second-floor window, snuggled up against a curtain, making a phone call.

Semin, continuing his hit-and-miss ways from his days with Washington, repeatedly refused requests as he walked slowly along the downtown waterfront before grabbing a seat on a bench. It was only after he was back at the hotel, inside the facility's garage, did he sign for a handful of fans.

Not that I'm complaining, but there were maybe 15 hounds out, far below the crowds that Original Six, bigger names or better teams draw. All told, we added 41 autographs to the collection, a decent amount given the day's events. Nearly half of the autographs came on cards. The players who signed:

Top row: Drayson Bowman, Patrick Dwyer, and Dan Ellis;

Middle row: Justin Faulk, Riley Nash and Justin Peters; and 

Bottom row: Joni Pitkanen, Tuomo Ruutu and Jiri Tlusty.

Two players, Jamie McBain, top, and Bobby Sanguinetti, each signed four cards; and 

first-year coach Kirk Muller, who had a long NHL career, signed these pucks.

Up next in hounding: Buffalo's Jason Pominville