Two-day project

It may have taken him a couple of days, but Colin got himself a keeper last week with his Ottawa Senators team sheet. The real story, though, was how and where he got most of the 16 signatures.

After missing the Senators before a practice, we managed to catch up with a few, including Jason Spezza and Nick Foligno, before the team headed to the International Plaza mall for some shopping and post-practice stretching of legs. Funny thing, though, was that's where we were headed.

We planned to make the trip to snag autographs from Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier, who was signing at a Champs store at the upscale mall. It was sheer luck, and a small amount of wishful thinking, that Ottawa players were also there.

After walking the mall and recognizing several Senators players, we got into the Lecavalier line outside the store. As Ottawa players walked past or nearby, I'd point them out to Colin and he'd ask them to sign his team sheet. Thankfully, not a single one, including captain Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher and Brian Elliott, shot him down.