Playing baseball

Now that we're deep into baseball season, meaning we've attended a couple of Florida State League games, I've resumed weekly postings at Baseball Mondays. It'll keep me out of trouble, so to speak, until hockey season resumes.

Here's your answer

In checking site statistics just a minute ago, I saw that a visitor found Hound Central 5.0 by asking this question on Google: "why is lecavalier called v4?"

Here's my reason: V4 is my shorthand for Vinny Lecavalier. The "V" is an abbreviation of "Vinny" and 4 is his jersey number. Pretty simple, huh?

Sharp readers know I use V4 as a label for any HC5.0 posts that include Lecavalier, just like I use MSL26 for teammate Marty St. Louis.

Doubling up

Now that vacations are over and I've got a better handle on my freelance work, it's time to get caught up with a little bit of Hound Central 5.0 housecleaning, namely the past two HC5.0 polls.

As always, I appreciate your participation and patience.

Summer hounding

The first poll inquired about your summer plans, specifically if you'd been hounding at all this summer. Nearly three-quarters of those responding said they would get in a little hounding. Same here.

In fact, Colin's already put together team balls from the Dunedin Blue Jays and Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League. With any luck, he'll add another, from the Charlotte Stone Crabs, before the week's out.

And, with the news that hockey legend Steve Yzerman is the Tampa Bay Lightning's new general manager, we'll be looking for any and all opportunities to build that collection over the summer.

Question: Hounding this summer?

Yes: 22 votes out of 29 cast (75.9 percent)
No: 7 votes (24.1 percent)

Deep thinking

Hound Central 5.0 took a philosophical approach with the other poll, asking if there is more to life than hockey.

Since last August, when NHL players took to a rink at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, hardly a day went by that hockey wasn't a subject. At times, it felt too consuming. That's part of the reason for the recent scarcity of posts -- I'm trying to realize that there's more to life than hockey.

In a way, that's easier said than done. Between Colin's summer hockey program (3-on-3 games, Tuesday night practices and Wednesday skating sessions), we're still pretty busy and hockey-centric. It's not a complain, just a fact of the life we've chosen.

Lately, though, we're finding time for other endeavours. Beyond attending some FSL games, we're looking forward to Colin's summer vacation. We're working on a 10-item list of things to do once school lets out June 9th. Hunting for trains, counting 100 jets, picking blueberries and watching the Barenaked Ladies perform after a Tampa Bay Rays game are among the items.

I'm sure, too, that taking in the Lightning's Young Guns camp, should the team hold one this summer after the upcoming NHL Draft, will make the list. We wouldn't want to get rusty now, would we? We're hoping that Yzerman will be in a signing mood as well.

Question: More to life than hockey?

Yes: 25 votes out of 34 cast (73.5 percent)
No: 9 votes (26.5 percent)

Guess who?

What Hall of Famer and big-footed cheater did Moody get to sign three cards in 10 days?

Welcome to Hockey Bay, Stevie Y

I don't know about you, but if Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman does, indeed, become the next general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, I just might be able to find a few items to get signed over the next few years.

The official announcement comes in less than 30 minutes.

Effort rewarded

Of the nearly 1,700 items that we got signed over the course of the 2009-10 hockey hounding campaign, this Hot Wheels car signed by Tampa Bay's Ryan Malone is among my favorites.

For one, it's out of the ordinary. I mean, how many toy cars do NHL players sign over the course of a season? I'd dare say it's very darn few.

What really appeals to me, though, is Malone's personalization. Rather than writing "Best wishes!" or "All the best!" to Colin, he offered some good advice: "Dream big!" Very appropriate, if you ask me.

The car, you see, has some significance to Malone. It's one of the cars he owns. We've seen him often behind the wheel. And though it's a status symbol of wealth, it's also a reminder of what hard work, tenacious effort and, yes, dreaming big can bring.

After Malone signed this before the Lightning's final home game of the season, I gave him one of these cars. Maybe he'll give it to his son some day, teaching him that rewards do come if you dream big.

Finding the motivation

At season's end, the motivation for hounding the hometown team often isn't at the same level as it was way back during training camp. The faces are familiar to both sides. Fresh items have dried up. Mostly, it's a time to clear out card books and log the last few autographs of the campaign.

And, that, my friends, is what we have here. Two cards from Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman and Antero Niittymaki. In each case, there was some urgency to get these cards signed. For Hedman, it was snagging a card from his rookie season. For Niittymaki, it was to get a card of him playing for the Bolts.

These two other cards for former Lightning players Dave Andreychuk and Chris Dingman came from a promotional radio show visit to a credit union in Tampa. All season long, these two players, who each have their name inscribed on the Stanley Cup, were among the easiest autographs to obtain --provided you caught their radio show.

Attending these radio shows is more than simply getting an autograph. To me, it's like attending a comedy show. Even without prompts from the crowd, Andreychuk and Dingman take gentle jabs at each other.

Andreychuk, known more for his goal-scoring prowess, wasn't the fleetest of foot. and let's be honest, as these two guys are, neither was Dingman. Dingman, well, is just Dingman. He played in the NHL.

Canvassing for votes

There's less than two weeks left before voting closes for the 2010 Hockey Bay Hounding Awards. Only a handful of dedicated hounds have taken the time to cast their ballots.

Remember, you can't complain if you don't vote.

Family Vacation

As some of you may know, the Moody family spent the last week of the NHL season in Atlanta on spring breaks. We got to see some great sites and spent a lot of time together. We highly suggest a trip to Stone Mountain as well as the Georgia Aquarium. Great times were had by all.

Before our vacation, we hounded the Thrashers in Tampa. During the trip we spent more efforts getting pictures with the players than getting items signed. We got those personal photos signed while we were on vacation.

A small summary of our Vacation Hounding Adventures at the Atlanta Thrashers practice facility:

Pucks signed by Clarke MacArthur, Eric Boulton and Don Waddell;

A photo of Mikayla signed by Johnny Oduya, Ondrej Pavelec and Jim Slater;

A photo of Eric Boulton and Mark Popovic with Mikayla; and

Max Afinogenov and Slava Kozlov also took time to sign their photo with Mikayla.

Signing cards for us were:

Top row: Johnny Oduya, Tobias Enstrom, Slava Kozlov and Nik Antropov; and
Bottom row: Clarke MacArthur, Pavel Kubina, Chris Chelios and Ondrej Pavelec.

All of the Thrashers players were awesome, but we have to give special thanks to Pavel Kubina. He was kind enough to come over and talk to Mikayla and spent some time reminiscing about his run with Tampa Bay. He even remembered her from 2004, when she brought him a Care Bear and wished him good luck during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

10 Questions: Ryan Flinn

Ryan Flinn is now our second "10 Questions" that involves a player still playing professionally. He has 31 NHL games under his belt, all with the Los Angeles Kings. He has spent most of his career playing in the American Hockey League for most of his career, most recently with the Rockford Ice Hogs.

In 10 Questions, Hound Central 5.0 asks NHL players -- past and present -- a few questions about their views on autographs. Former NHLer Ian Moran was the first to respond, giving us a few minutes of his time. Since then, there have been quite a few former NHL players who've responded.

We truly appreciate the opportunity provided by Flinn.

Hound Central 5.0: Did you collect cards/autographs as a kid? If so, who's your favorite autograph?
Ryan Flinn: I collected both hockey a baseball cards. Didn't really get into autographs weren't many to come by in Halifax. Also, sticker books were kinda cool.

Hound Central 5.0: Is signing autographs fun or a chore?
Ryan Flinn: It usually is a good experience, especially when it is a kid who is really excited about getting it.

Hound Central 5.0: What's the weirdest thing you've ever signed?
Ryan Flinn: Women's breast in front of her husband... worst is just a torn piece of paper.

Hound Central 5.0: Best/worst cities for autograph hound/dealers?
Ryan Flinn: AHL isn't too bad for autographs dealers

Hound Central 5.0: Can you tell the difference between autograph dealers and collectors?
Ryan Flinn: Sometimes, you get to know when a person is always there with the same stuff that they are probably more than a collector.

Hound Central 5.0: Does it really matter to you if someone is selling your autographs?
Ryan Flinn: Not really. I guess if you have the feeling that someone is just going to sell the autograph the issue is in the quantity that they ask you to sign.

Hound Central 5.0: Would/do you sign blank pieces of photo paper?
Ryan Flinn: Yes

Hound Central 5.0: Any items you won't sign?
Ryan Flinn: I try not to sign a kids skin or a piece of clothing not related to hockey without the parent consent. It just seems that the parent worked hard to buy that clothing and problem never thought someone would write on it with permanent marker.

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person to ask for your autograph? Most famous person you've asked for an autograph?
Ryan Flinn: Can't think of anyone famous that has asked me for an autograph. My most famous autograph would be Luc Robitaille and probably Greg Biffle (NASCAR) outside of the hockey world.

Hound Central 5.0: Black or blue Sharpies?
Ryan Flinn: Whatever color shows up the best.

Hound Central 5.0 and its correspondents thank Flinn for his time in answering these questions. We appreciate his efforts, on and off the ice.

Hockey moms rock

Even though Colin might be between hockey seasons, he's still working on his game with some 3-on-3 sessions as well as weekly practices with his P.A.L. Stars teammates. All this means that The Missus continues in her role as a hockey mom.

Last night, the boys, all decked out in their hockey gear, interrupted their 3-on-3 session to present their moms with red carnations, a touching gesture that brought tears to at least one hockey mom.

To all of the other hockey moms out there, here's a tip of Hound Central's old Cooper SK600 for all that you do for your hockey players. Without you, the game certainly wouldn't be the same.

Last-minute tasks

Going into the Tampa Bay Lightning's final home game, we really only had a handful of items that we wanted to get signed as we hounded the Bolts' following a morning skate.

Two of those items concerned rookie Victor Hedman.

As you can see, Colin was able to deliver, getting Hedman, the team's top pick in 2009, to complete the 8x10 of him and Atlanta's Evander Kane in a posed, "playful" moment before last year's draft.

The other item, a ticket stub featuring the Swedish defenseman. I'd found it a few days earlier tucked under a seating section sign inside the St. Pete Times Forum. Rather than throw it away, I figured it was better off recycling the item.

Red carpet treatment

For the past few seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning have held a red carpet pregame walk before the final regular-season home game. Provided you get their early enough, it's a good opportunity to score some late-season autographs as the players make their way into the St. Pete Times Forum.

In Colin's case, you managed to snag a ringside seat, so to speak, to snag 11 autographs on a 2009-10 team yearbook before the Bolts hosted the Florida Panthers. Though he doodled a bit on the cover, as kids sometimes do, the yearbook helped Colin cap off another full season of hockey-hounding.

The biggest score on the cover came from center Vinny Lecavalier. Joining the Lightning captain were winger Teddy Purcell, center Nate Thompson and the team's mascot, Thunderbug.

Other Bolts who stopped to sign the program:

Center Steven Stamkos;

Right winger Marty St. Louis;

Right winger Steve Downie;

Center Zenon Konopka;

Goalie Mike Smith;

Defenseman Mattias Ohlund; and

Defenseman Mike Lundin.

We'll likely add to the yearbook if the Lightning holds a summer prospects camp here in Hockey Bay. Should it take place, and we haven't heard otherwise, perhaps Colin can add autographs from these players: Carter Ashton, Mitch Fadden, Johan Harju, Riku Helenius, Alex Hutchings, Jaroslav Janus, Alexander Killorn, Vasily Koshechkin, Richard Panik, Kevin Quick, Dustin Tokarski, Dana Tyrell, Ty Wishart, James Wright and Michael Zador.

If not, there's always training camp, right?

That's not so Terrible ... Ted

Coming from Detroit, sports are in my blood. Growing up in the 1980s and into the '90s as a Detroit sports nut and idolizing the likes of the Red Wings' Steve Yzerman, the Tigers' Kirk Gibson, the Pistons' Isiah Thomas and the Lions' Barry Sanders, how could you go wrong?

Before my father passed, one of the things I remember most are the debates we would have over whose heroes were better. Sure, he chose some good names. The Tigers' Al Kaline, the Lions' Alex Karras and, of course, the Red Wings' Ted Lindsay.

Well, Dad, I think you got me on this one. None of my guys got a major award in their respective sport named after them.

The National Hockey League Players’ Association announced April 14th at the Hockey Hall of Fame that the Lester B. Pearson Award is being reintroduced as the Ted Lindsay Award.

My father took me to a card show in Detroit when I was a kid so I could meet "Terrible Ted." My Dad told me stories the whole ride over. I walked away that day with more than a signed piece of rubber.

Since that father-son trip, I've been able to watch old videos of Lindsay and have been able to see just what Dad was saying. I've also built my Ted Lindsay collection to include some of the following:

A chair from Detroit's old Olympia Stadium;

A single-signed jersey;

These four cards;

A jersey shared by fellow Hall of Famer Sid Abel; and

How 'bout this gem with Gordie Howe?

Anyways ... Congratulations, Ted, on this well deserved-honor.

10 Questions: Marc Lamothe

Marc Lamothe will be our first "10 Questions" that involves a player who is still playing professionally. He has four NHL games under his belt, two with the Chicago Blackhawks and two with the Detroit Red Wings. Playing in the American and International hockey leagues for most of his career, Lamothe has put up solid numbers.

Recently, as of April 7, Lamothe signed a deal to play for the Hamberg Freezers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (germany's top professional league) during the 2010-11 season.

In 10 Questions, Hound Central 5.0 asks NHL players -- past and present -- a few questions about their views on autographs. Former NHLer Ian Moran was the first to respond, giving us a few minutes of his time. Since then, there have been quite a few former NHL players who've responded.

We truly appreciate the opportunity provided by Lamothe.

Hound Central 5.0: Did you collect cards/autographs as a kid? If so, who's your favorite autograph?
Marc Lamothe: I didn't collect autographs as a kid.

Hound Central 5.0: Is signing autographs fun or a chore?
Marc Lamothe: I enjoy signing cards.

Hound Central 5.0: What's the weirdest thing you've ever signed?
Marc Lamothe: Someone's arm

Hound Central 5.0: Best/worst cities for autograph hound/dealers?
Marc Lamothe: I don't know.

Hound Central 5.0: Can you tell the difference between autograph dealers and collectors?
Marc Lamothe: I don't really think about it.

Hound Central 5.0: Does it really matter to you if someone is selling your autographs?
Marc Lamothe: Not really... I'm sure they're not making a ton of money from my signed cards.

Hound Central 5.0: Would/do you sign blank pieces of photo paper?
Marc Lamothe: Probably, but I can't remember ever signing a blank piece of paper.

Hound Central 5.0: Any items you won't sign?
Marc Lamothe: No, as long as it's relevant to me

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person to ask for your autograph? Most famous person you've asked for an autograph?
Marc Lamothe: No one.

Hound Central 5.0: Black or blue Sharpies?
Marc Lamothe: Either one works for me.

Hound Central 5.0 and its correspondents thank Lamothe for his time in answering these questions. We appreciate his efforts, on and off the ice.

Pass the taters, please

Headed into the final weekend of the 2009-10 NHL season and hockey-hounding campaign, there were only two items I really wanted to get signed: Colin's replica third jersey of Florida's Stephen Weiss and a photo of Colin and his favorite Panthers player.

Everything else, I knew, would be pure gravy.

After a long campaign, which saw us snag nearly 1,700 autographs, it was more about putting the finishing touches on another body of work than simply padding the season's stats. All told, we added 41 autographs from the Panthers.

Signing pucks, shown above, were:

Top row: Keaton Ellerby, who inked Panthers and Rochester Americans offerings; and
Bottom row: Shawn Matthias, left, and Bryan McCabe.

We also got a handful of cards. Among those signing were:

Top row: Bryan Allen and Radek Dvorak; and
Bottom row: Ellerby and Nick Tarnasky.

Ellerby, the Panthers' top pick (10th overall) in 2007, also added to the cheap skate collection.

The other highlights from our last road team hounding session of the 2009-10 campaign:

~ Colin's 25th team sheet, which contained 23 autographs; and
~ 8x10s from four Panthers players: Keith Ballard, Scott Clemmensen, Dmitry Kulikov and Steve Reinprecht.

No worries

Brett, one of Hound Central's longtime readers, sent Colin a couple Dustin Tokarski cards recently. Tucked into the envelope was a very nice note. At note's end, Brett complimented Colin on his team sheets, saying they are "awesome" and imploring him to continuing using them.

Well, Brett, there's little to worry about. After Colin racked up another 23 signatures from the Florida Panthers earlier this month, including autographs from Bryan Allen, Keith Ballard, Nathan Horton and Dmitry Kulikov, it's safe to say Colin's team sheets will be a featured item during the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign.

All told, Colin gathered nearly 450 autographs (444, to be exact) on 25 sheets during the 2009-10 campaign. Not bad for a kid, huh?