Gerry Cheevers In Person

Feb Fest is on in Kingston, Ontario.  They typically get a former NHLer to come and do an autograph signing to generate some extra traffic.  This year, it was Gerry Cheevers.  He won't answer TTM unless you include money, so this was a good one to get to add to my 01-02 Fleer Greats of the Game set that I have been trying to finish.

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.

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.

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.

Phil Esposito TTM Success

Mailed:  08/02/2011
Received:  10/03/2011
Days:  62
c/o: Boston Bruins Alumni

I mailed the 01-02 Fleer GOTG card to Phil c/o the Boston Bruins Alumni.  So, 62 days through there is actually really good.  It is awesome to add an autograph from one of the classiest guys to ever play the game.

Medigas Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament IP Part 2

Shawn Matthias is a former Belleville Bull and is now with the Florida Panthers.

Mike Murphy is another Kingston, Ontario product.  He played for the Bulls and was CHL goalie of the year.  He is now a Carolina Hurricanes prospect and is playing for their farm team, the Charlotte Checkers.
He also is big on twitter, so follow him @MichaelMurphy31

 Peter Mahovlich(the Little M) was there this  year as well.  He is now a scout for the Florida Panthers.

Ric Seiling, Brad Richardson, Shawn Antoski.

Danny Gare, Tony McKegney, Rick Meagher.

Gilles Gilbert, Butch Goring, Mike Murphy.

Johnny Bucyk TTM Success

Mailed:  05/13/2011
Received:  07/07/2011
Days:  54
c/o: Boston Bruins Alumni Association

I am still working on this set.  I read online that Johnny charges $5 for TTM requests.  The Canada Post strike/lockout delayed this I am sure.  He scored 1369 points, mostly with the Bruins.  He started his career with 2 seasons for the Detroit Red Wings.  He was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.

Rick Smith IP

Rick Smith was doing an appearance at the retirement home that is attached to the building I work at.  His mom was a resident there before she passed away a few years ago and Rick has been volunteering his time and donating money to the home for years.  This was more of a discussion based appearance and just something for the residents to come out and chat with a former NHL player from Kingston. 
Rick played for the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings in the NHL.  He also played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA.  He won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 1970.  He amassed 219 points in 687 NHL games as a rugged stay at home defenceman.

Oldtimer's Hockey Challenge In Person

The Oldtimer's Hockey Challenge came through Kingston, Ontario on Monday February 28th.  I try to take in this event every year.  Their lineup is usually really good and usually includes a few Hall of Famers.  This year, Theoren Fleury made the trip!  I went hoping I could get him on an 8x10.  After the game, we waited outside and got some of the players as they boarded their bus.  Theo was great and signed for everyone.  He was definitely the main draw. 

I also got Bryan Trottier on an 8x10.  He is a super nice guy.  He even came back off the bus because he realized that the puck he signed for my buddy, did not work right.  The gold paint pen I gave him was almost dead I think.  The second auto looked better on the puck I think.

Battle of the Blades star, Ron Duguay was there.  I loved watching this guy in the 80s.  It looks like he could still be out there.  We got word of him being there last minute, so all I had was a card.  I also got Dave Ellett on a card and purchased the Gaston Gingras autographed card at the souvenir table for $2!

I got Rick Middleton and Steve Shutt on hockey cards as well. 

Glenn Anderson may be the biggest asshole that ever played in the NHL.  There wasn't that many people out there seeking autographs, yet when I politely asked him to sign my photo, he completely ignored me and board the bus.  He also brushed right past 3 kids that were waiting for him too.  He puts on quite an act when he is in the arena in front of everyone, but when he is out back, he is a dick.  Beware of him and Jimmy Mann.  Jimmy is lucky to even be included in an NHL legends tour.  The guy only got 30 points in his entire NHL career which consisted of a meager 293 games.

Medigas Celebrity Classic IP

The Medigas Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament is in Belleville, Ontario every year.  It has to be one of the premier golf tournaments in Ontario.  The list of celebrities, is awesome every year.  Here are the cards I got signed.

Brad Park, Rick Middleton, Terry O'Reilly and Butch Goring.  This set is my favorite set of cards ever produced.  Anytime I have an opportunity to get some of them signed I do.  They are from the 01-02 Fleer Greats of the Game set.  I hope that UD will bring this set back in this configuration.  The mostly white background,  makes them amazing for getting autos.