Alex Galchenyuk TTM Success

Mailed:  12/01/2012
Received:  12/19/2012
Days:  18
c/o: Sarnia Sting

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Alex 3rd overall in last year's NHL draft.  Some people think this was the steal of the draft.  I tend to agree.  This kid is on an absolute tear in the OHL this year. 27 goals and 61 points in 33 games!  

Follow him on twitter @AGally94.  

I didn't expect to get this back this soon.  He is slated to play in the World Jr. Champhionships in Ufa, Russia for team USA.  Yes, Alex was born in Wisconsin, then moved around Europe, following his father's professional hockey career.  If and when the NHL ever gets back to playing, I am excited to see him in a Habs' uniform!

Dan Hamhuis TTM Success

Mailed:  01/31/2012
Received:  12/12/2012
Days:  316
c/o: Vancouver Canucks

I honestly had written this one off.  With the lockout, I figured that if I hadn't received it by now, I never would.  So, a pleasant surprise.  Dan had 37 points with the Canucks last season, which is great for a defenceman.  He was also a plus 29.

Mark Dekanich TTM Success

Mailed:  11/21/2012
Received:  12/12/2012
Days:  21
c/o: St. John's Ice Caps

What a cool response!  He included a hand written letter on Ice Caps' letter head, thanking me for writing him.  He has had a great minor league career thus far.  He holds the Milwuakee Admirals records for Save Percentage and GAA.  He signed a 2 way deal with the Jets over the summer, so if the NHL gets back, he may be up there.  So far, he has a 2.98 GAA this season.

NHL Alumni Game 2012

The NHL Alumni tour came through Napanee, Ontario at the Strathcona Paper Centre, last week.  It is a more low key tour than the Oldtimers Hockey Challenge Tour that comes to Kingston, Ontario every year.  We got a deal on the tickets through my daughters' school, which was cool.  If you want to check out the tour schedule, go to www.benefithockey.com for more information and to see if the tour is coming near you. Walter Gretzky was the ambassador for the event and he signed autographs for the entire 3 hours.  He really is a cool guy.  He was joking around with people and posing for photographs and signing tons of autographs.  I got him to sign a puck for me, and he also signed this notepad type of paper for me.

Marty McSorley was the last guy to come out.  I was there with 2 friends and ran into another guy I knew, so there was only 4 of us getting autographs.  He went over to a chair and sat down to sign.  He said he had both hips replaced and the plane ride from LA, left him really sore.  He always takes his time signing the autographs, but he was chatting with us about the lockout and also about the 1993 Stalney Cup Finals where he got targeted for having an illegal stick.  It was interesting to get his take on that as I am a huge Habs fan and I watched every minute of those cup playoffs.  It was just so cool of him to sit around and chat with us for about 30 minutes at the end of a long day.

Dave Reid also spent a bit of time with us.  He used to own a card shop in Whitby, Ontario, so I asked him if he collected his own cards.  He said they always got a bunch of the base cards by the company that produced them, but he didn't go after the memorabilia or autographed cards.

Gary Leeman.

Bill Derlago.

Brent Gretzky.  I watched him play junior with the Belleville Bulls.

Mike Krushelnyski.

Brad Marsh.

Paul Ranger TTM Success

Mailed:  11/16/2012
Received:  12/05/2012
Days:  19
c/o: Toronto Marlies

Paul was sort of retired.  He left the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009 after only 8 games for undisclosed reasons.  He surprisingly signed with the Marlies in the summer, in a bid for a comeback.  He has 8 points in 17 games so far this year with the Marlies.

Mike Gartner TTM Success

Mailed:  08/15/2012
Received:  12/05/2012
Days:  112
c/o: Arena in Ajax

This is another addition to the 01-02 Fleer Greats of the Game set that I have been working on.  I sent the one card, to be sure that I got that one back signed.

Aaron Ekblad IP

I went to the Toronto Sportscard and Memorabilia Fall Expo and Aaron Ekblad was doing a signing at the In The Game area.  It was free, or you could buy one of these oversized cards for $5.  He was the OHL rookie of the year last year, and is the only defenceman to ever received exceptional status with permission to play in the OHL and enter the draft at age 15.  He won't be draft eligible until 2014.  He has 18 points in 26 games this season with the Barrie Colts.  Look out for this kid to be a high draft pick in 2014.

Sven Baertschi TTM Success

Mailed:  11/02/2012
Received:  11/19/2012
Days:  17
c/o: Abbotsford Heat

Sven has 14 points in 15 games so far this year with the Heat.  After a stellar WHL season last year, he was brough up by the Flames at the end of the year.  He had 3 goals in 5 games.  The 2011 1st round pick is poised to do great things in the NHL, once play resumes.

Louis Leblanc TTM Success

Mailed:  10/30/2012
Received:  11/16/2012
Days:  17
c/o: Hamilton Bulldogs

Louis would be playing in Montreal this year if not for the lockout.  He had 10 points last year in 45 games in 2011-12 with the Habs.  He has only played in 3 games with the Bulldogs this year, but has 2 goals.  Its always nice to add an auto of a Habs prospect!

Matt Puempel FAIL

I sent to Ottawa Senators' prospect, Matt Puempel, care of the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL.  I received a form letter back from the Rangers, stating that they don't allow their players to respond to mail in autograph requests.  That is really sad that a junior team would do that.  So, to anyone who has thought about writing to the Rangers, don't waste the stamps.

Aaron Palushaj TTM Success

Mailed:  01/17/2012
Received:  10/05/2012
Days:  262
c/o: Hamilton Bulldogs

Aaron was the player the Canadiens received for Matt D'Agostini, from the St. Louis Blues, back in 2010.  He has put up pretty good numbers with the Bulldogs, but still hasn't gotten much playing time in Montreal.  He had 35 points in 35 games in Hamilton last year, and added another 5 points in Montreal.

Sam Hornish Jr. IP

I went to the Sylvania 300 this past weekend, in Loudon, NH.  The race itself was quite boring, but the experience is still cool.  We had pre-race pit passes for the second year in a row.  This year was even more disappointing than last year.  They are really restrictive, and not worth the money spent.  I doubt we will be back to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  I tried to hound near the drivers' meeting, but none of them stopped to sign where I was.  A few drivers/crew members did walk over and signed for a few fans on their way in.  I ended up getting Sam Hornish Jr. as he was leaving the washroom, of all places.  He was cordial at least.  He has been filling in at Penske Racing, for the released A.J. Allmendinger.  He has done a great job, but he is not getting that ride full time after the season ends.  Hopefully, he can get a full time ride with another team for next year, rather than be relegated back to Nationwide for another year.

Danny Taylor Autographed Game Used Stick

A friend of mine that I play hockey with, knows Danny Taylor's wife's family really well.  He also knows that I have Danny's old pads that I use to play with currently.  He was at their house for a party leading up to their wedding this summer and asked Danny if he had any sticks laying around that he didn't want anymore.  Danny went back into the garage and pulled out this beauty.  Its a game used stick from this season with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL.  He signed it on the blade as well.  Man is this thing beat up.  I still gotta find a spot for it up on my wall, but I am sure I will find some room.

Wendel Clark TTM Success

Mailed:  05/28/2012
Received:  09/07/2012
Days:  102
c/o: Restaurant in Vaughn, ON

Wendel is one of the most popular players to ever wear a Leafs' jersey.  He had many "Gordie Howe Hat Tricks" over his career and I remember watching every Detroit/Toronto game when I was growing up, just to see Wendel and Bob Probert go at it.  This is also an addition to my 01-02 Fleer Greats of the Game set.

Gregg Zaun IP at Blue Jays game

My wife and I headed up to the July 2nd Jays game vs the Royals.  We saw the Sportsnet broadcast setup out on the left field side so we headed down there to see it.  Gregg and Jamie Campbell were preparing for the telecast but a security guard told us that if we come back between the 5th and 7th innings, we could get a picture and an autograph for a minimum $2 donation to the Jays Care foundation.  What a great deal.  Gregg is one of the only catchers in history to hit homeruns from both sides of the plate in the same game!  We got a picture with him and I had him sign a baseball that I brought with me.

Kenny Hodge TTM Success

Mailed:  06/12/2012
Received:  07/03/2012
Days:  21
c/o:  Home


Ken included a note with this one.  I didn't realize that the Classic Ultimate Original 6 card had an error.  On the front, is Ed Westfall, but is labelled Ken Hodge.  On the back, it has a current head shot of Ken and all of his stats and info.  So, he signed the back of the card for me anyway.  I wish I would have known about that error.  Anyway, the main reason I wrote him was to get the 01-02 Fleer Greats of the Game card signed.

Ryan Smyth TTM Success

Mailed:  10/24/2011
Received:  05/29/2012
Days:  218
c/o: Edmonton Oilers


I mailed Ryan a few years ago in Edmonton as well, and got a nice return then.  I had these 2 jumbo cards sitting around and thought they would be neat to get signed.  Edmonton players all typically send out their mail after the season is over, so I may see a few more of these roll in.  Ryan has had a great career and I really hope he stays on in Edmonton.  I think the Oilers will be a playoff team this year for sure with all of that young talent.

Alexander Burmistrov TTM Success

Mailed:  03/09/2012
Received:  05/14/2012
Days:  66
c/o: Winnipeg Jets


I got to watch Alex play when he was with the Barrie Colts of the OHL.  He was a good skater back then with great skills.  Fans in Winnipeg got to see some flashes of what could be with him this year.  He had 28 points with 13 goals.

Sergei Gonchar TTM Success

Mailed:  03/16/2012
Received:  05/03/2012
Days:  48
c/o:  Ottawa Senators


Sergei is signed with Ottawa for another season.  He had a decent season this year with 37 points.  He also won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009.

Hugh Jessiman TTM Success

Mailed:  04/02/2012
Received:  05/02/2012
Days:  30
c/o: Abbotsford Heat


Hugh played 2 games for the Panthers in the 2010-11 season and spent this season between the Lake Erie Monsters and his current team, the Abbotsford Heat.  He racked up 19 points in 24 games in the regular season and 5 in 7 playoff games so far.

Patrice Cormier TTM Success

Mailed:  03/14/2012
Received:  04/27/2012
Days:  44
c/o:  St. John's Ice Caps


Patrice was awesome for 2 years with Team Canada in the WJHC.  He was originally drafted by the Devils, but was part of the huge trade that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey.  He played 9 games this season with the Jets and 56 games with the Ice Caps.  

Bobby Baun TTM Success

Mailed:  07/13/2010
Received:  04/26/2012
Days:  653
c/o: Home

Almost 2 full years for this one.  I only sent him 2 cards, so he threw in an extra one for me.  Bobby was a member of the last Stanley Cup winning Leafs' team(1967).  I had to throw that in there.  He was one of the best defensive defencemen to play for the Leafs.

 

Shane McColgan TTM Success

Mailed:  03/22/2012
Received:  04/24/2012
Days:  33
c/o: Kelowna Rockets


Shane was a 5th round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2011 draft.  He had 64 points in 70 games this season with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL.  They got beat out in 4 games by the Portland Winterhawks.

Nathan Lawson TTM Success

Mailed:  12/02/2011
Received:  04/19/2012
Days:  139
c/o: Hamilton Bulldogs


Nathan spent this season splitting duties with Robert Mayer in Hamilton.  He put up decent numbers on a very depleted Bulldogs roster, where most of their good players, were pulled up to Montreal for alot of the season.  He was in the Islanders' system for a few years and played 10 games for them in the 2010-11 season.

Travis Snider TTM Success

Mailed:  07/05/2011
Received:  04/13/2012
Days:  283
c/o: Toronto Blue Jays


Travis has had a bit of a rough go with the Jays.  They never seem to want to give this kid a long look in the majors.  He hit 14 homeruns in only 82 games in 2010.  So, if you double those numbers, he would have had 28 on a full season.  In 2011, he only got in 49 games, and never was a regular and bounced between Las Vegas and Toronto through the season.  Again, this year, they sent him back to Las Vegas after spring training.  Maybe he will get a shot later on in the season, but I think the Jays owe it to him to trade him somewhere that he might get a chance to play.

Jeff Finger TTM Success

Mailed:  01/17/2012
Received:  03/29/2012
Days:  72
c/o: Toronto Marlies


Jeff has had 10 points in 31 games this season with the Marlies.  Jeff signed a massive contract with the Leafs in 2008, and they didn't feel they were getting the value, so they waived him and sent him to the AHL.  His contract expires at the end of this season, so I imagine he will be able to jump on with another NHL or AHL team and hopefully get a shot to get back in the bigs.

Chris Butler TTM Success

Mailed:  03/02/2012
Received:  03/21/2012
Days:  19
c/o: Calgary Flames

WOW!  Its been over a month since I received something back from a player.  Chris signed both cards in the perfect spots in black sharpie.  And back in only 19 days!  The Flames are on the outside looking in on a playoff spot right now, but its within striking distance.  He has had a decent season with the Flames, with 13 points in 60 games thus far.  

 

Arturs Kulda TTM Success

Mailed:  01/23/2012
Received:  02/15/2012
Days:  23
c/o: St. John's Ice Caps


Arturs has been up with the Winnipeg Jets for 9 games this year, scoring 0 points but is a +3.  He has 12 points for the Ice Caps so far.  The Latvian was a 7th round pick of the Thrashers in 2007.

Oldtimers Hockey Challenge IP

The K-ROCK Centre in Kingston, Ontario was home to the Oldtimers Hockey Challenge.  This year, in celebration of the Boston Bruins winning the Stanley Cup, they had an all Bruins alumni team.  The headliner was Ray Bourque!!  Other players in attendance were, Ken Linseman, Rick Middleton, Mike Krushelnyski, Bob Sweeney, Daniel Marios, Terry O'Reilly, Rick Smith, Bruce Shoebottom and a few others that I can't remember of hand.  The list wasn't published ahead of time at all this year.  The radio broadcast that Bourque was going to be there and other Bruins alumni.  I got completely screwed out of getting Bourque's autograph by a buddy that thought he could get a picture taken with Ray while there was 50 people swarming him.  So in his mad rush to get his damn camera to another buddy to take a picture, he butted me out of the way and all I could do was watch Ray get on the bus without signing my puck.  Not impressed.
Anyway, here is what I did get:

When we got there, Kerry Fraser was out at the souvenir table signing copies of his book and anything else people had for him.  I had a card from 90-91 Pro Set for him to sign.  He is very friendly and if you get a chance, look up his blog on www.tsn.ca or follow him on twitter @kfraserthecall

Terry O'Reilly was one of the toughest guys to ever play the game.  I got him to sign a card from 09-10 UD Champs.

Bob Sweeney was a monster of a power forward playing for the rival Bruins and Sabres through the late 80s and early 90s.  All I had to get him on was a puck.

Mike Krushelnyski was part of the Wayne Gretzky trade to LA in 1988.  He played his first 3 season in the NHL for the Bruins.

2012 NHL All Star Game in Ottawa, Ontario (part 2)

Evgeni Malkin signed McFarlane.  Geno was awesome and signed this with his usual signature.  It has definitely gotten smaller over the years, but he seemed pleasant to me.

Daniel Alfredsson was definitely front and centre through the whole weekend.  I have been waiting to get this McFarlane signed for years, so it was awesome to get it finally done.  Alfie was awesome in the game and came as close as a goal post from having a hat-trick and stealing the All Star Game MVP from Marian Gaborik.

Colin Greening, Brian Campbell and John Tavares signed cards.  I gave the only photo I had of Tavares, to a buddy to get signed, so I only had a card left.

P.J. Stock was doing an interview for CBC's broadcast, so I had him sign a puck when he was done.

Erik Karlsson was doing a free signing at the Scotiabank booth, so I got him on the free photo, and a puck.

Anson Carter was outside the hotel for a bit.  So I got him to sign a puck.

John Tortorella came out and signed autographs, so I thought, what the heck, and got him on a puck.

Brendan Shanahan was around all weekend.  I managed to spot him leaving the hotel and got him to sign a puck.

I spotted Luc Robitaille walking up the street.  I got "Lucky Luc" to sign a puck.

Rangers' rookie Carl Hagelin was walking back to the hotel, so I got him to sign a puck.