Kyle Clifford TTM Success

 

Mailed:  12/7/2023
Received:  5/16/2024
Days:  161
c/o:  Toronto Marlies

 

The Toronto Marlies seem to be a good team for TTM so far.  Kyle has played the last 2 seasons with the Marlies.  He is a hard worker that doesn't shy away from conflict.  He got into it with Imama in the first round of the AHL playoffs this year.  He had 4 points and 25 PIMS in the 3 playoff games before being bounced by Belleville.  Hopefully, he can come back with the Marlies/Leafs for next season and add some grit and defence to the lineup.  I did not have an autograph of his, so its nice to add a new one to my collection.

 

Brian Sutter In Person

 I attended the spring Sport Card and Memorabilia Expo in Toronto on the weekend.  They had all 6 of the Sutter brothers there.  I have various autographs of the other Sutters, but I needed to get my 01-02 Fleer Greats of the Game card of his, signed.  I am still working hard on this set.  He was super nice and in general, just seemed really genuine.

Logan Shaw TTM Success

 

Mailed:  1/30/2024
Received:  4/29/2024
Days:  90
c/o:  Toronto Marlies

I watched Logan Shaw play with the Belleville Senators and loved his hard play.  He has played 232 games in the NHL including 30 with the Canadiens.  He has been with the Toronto Marlies for the last 2 seasons.  Both of those were really good seasons points wise for him as well.  The Marlies were just bounced from the playoffs by his former AHL team, the Senators.  I would imagine the Maple Leafs will bring him in to at least practice with the team while they are still playing, in case they need a call up.

Jeffrey Viel TTM Success

 

Mailed:  1/2/2024
Received:  4/8/2024
Days:  97
c/o:  Manitoba Moose

Jeffrey Viel is a tough guy who can score.  He is in his first season with the Moose and has 34 points.  With the Moose out of the playoffs and the Jets looking really good to make a run, he will probably be a call up in case they need some added toughness in the lineup.  He autographed his 2 OPC rookie cards from 21-22.

Mike Matheson TTM Success

 

Mailed:  1/30/2024
Received:  3/21/2024
Days:  51
c/o:  Montreal Canadiens

Mike Matheson has been a beast since coming over in a trade with the Penguins for Petry and Poehling.  He has 47 points so far this year and is 3rd in scoring behind only Caufield and Suzuki.  I do not have an auto of his in my collection, so this is a great one to add for sure!

Kelly Buchberger TTM Success

Mailed:  12/20/2023
Received:  1/29/2024
Days:  40
c/o:  Laval Rocket

This is my first successful return since re-starting this hobby.  I go to quite a few Belleville Senators games when the Rocket are in town, so I have seen Kelly in person, but it is always as he is heading to the bench to start the period.  He was a gritty player throughout his career and he has been with the Rocket for 3 seasons now as an assistant coach.  

Montreal Canadiens Alumni game in person

 We had the Montreal Canadiens alumni tour come through Napanee, on Sunday.  They played a friendly charity game against some local penitentiary guards.  These games are always a treat and the players are all super friendly with the fans.  I wasn't able to get autographs from all of the players, but I did add a few that I did not previously have, so that is a huge plus.

Oleg Petrov was a rookie with the Habs back in the 1992-93 season.  He played 9 regular season games with 3 points and only playing 1 playoff game.  That was also the year they won the cup.  He went back and forth for a few season between Fredericton (AHL) and the Habs, before signing to play in Switzerland for 3 seasons. He pretty much lit that league on fire and came back over for 3 more with the Habs and finished his NHL days with the Nashville Predators.  He saw that I had extra cards and offered to sign them all.

Stephane Richer scored 51 goals for the Habs in the 89-90 season and he played over 1000 games in the NHL.  He looked like he could still be playing. He won the Cup in 1986 with the Habs.

Richard Sevigny won the Vezina trophy for the 80-81 Habs.  Although he is now 66 years old, he absolutely amazes me how he is able to make some incredible saves on guys less than half his age.  My knees are shot from playing rec goalie for like 20 years.  Anyways, I have always missed getting his autograph at these events for whatever reason.  This time I got him, on one of the first hockey cards I ever got in my collection.

 

Chris "Knuckles" Nilan was the coach for the alumni squad.  He was super friendly with everyone, signing lots of autographs and joking with kids. He was part of the 1986 Stanley Cup Champions.

 

Andrew Shaw was a local favourite to say the least.  Andrew hails from Belleville, ON, a short 20 minute drive from Napanee.  He was pretty well mobbed every where he went, but he was super friendly with everyone.  He stayed around a while extra to make sure everyone got autographs or pictures with him.  He even played a rock, paper, scissors tournament with some kids.  The winner got his stick.  A friend's son won it.  I got him to sign a puck.