The Hockey Life: Week 26

Just when I think the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign is coming to an end, the Tampa Bay Lightning shakes off the goal-scoring cobwebs Saturday and lights up the Pittsburgh Penguins to force a Game 6 back here in Hockey Bay.

At the least, it means another opportunity, schedule permitting, to have Gilles Meloche sign a pair of pucks. I missed him by five minutes last Wednesday morning.

Getting caught up in the spirit of the playoffs, I couldn't help myself from commenting on Saturday's game on Facebook. Among them:

~ Shhhh! Listen. It's Pittsburgh.

~ Scoring a power play goal is the best way to deter dumb penalties. Except, of course, if you're Kris Letang. Bolts 8-2.

~ Uh-oh. The Pens care coming back. The multitalented Michael Rupp scores from his butt. You gotta like players who don't give up.

~ I love the grumpy look on the blonde's face behind the Penguins bench. I've yet to see her smile all game long. She must be thinking "I paid how much for this?"

~ Lightning 5, Penguins 0. Steven Stamkos wakes up with his second goal. The rout is on. Let's go Bolts!

~ The Consol Center's lacking a little energy right now, isn't it?

Now, I don't have anything against Pittsburgh folks. I work with a few people from there. There's even a soft spot in my heart for the Pirates. It was just good to see the Lightning, a team that we've followed over our five-plus years here, respond to a challenge.

The next big test comes Monday, when we'll see if the Lightning can maintain the momentum and force a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh. If not, I'll man up and take any heat that comes my way.

What would you do?

Colin turns 10 Thursday, making it his first double-digit birthday, which, for that reason alone, makes it a pretty big deal. Though he'll get to open his birthday presents and head out to Cody's Roadhouse for his meal, we're waiting a week or so for his party.

The problem, however, is that he has a practice that night with the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars, his recreational league team. The Stars don't have any games left, but the rink owes them one more hour of ice time -- hence, the practice.

Compounding the situation, he has a two-hour travel-team practice Monday, a 90-minute skating session with me Wednesday before another hourlong travel-team practice at another rink and two travel-team games on Saturday. That's a pretty busy week, if you ask me, even without the birthday factored in.

I'm thinking, given everything else that's going on, there's no need for him to take part in the P.A.L. practice. He says he wants to attend the practice, as it's likely the last time he'll be a part of that team, one that he's served as an alternate captain this season. That appeals to the hockey dad in me. As a parent, though, I'm not so sure.

Quote of the week

"Hey, when's the last time the Sabres won a Stanley Cup?"
Colin, to me, after giving him some ribbing about the Boston Bruins falling behind early in their series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Team report: Buffalo Sabres

As a child, I'd always get excited about a parade. It didn't matter if it took place on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July or at the Maple Festival in Franklinville, New York. If there was a parade, I wanted to see it.

I loved seeing the shiny red fire trucks. I liked hearing the marching bands, playing patriotic tunes as they strode, in perfect unison, past my curbside perch. And, yes, I loved scooping up the candy thrown as floats passed by.

As a hockey hound, however, I'm not a big fan of parades. I prefer having NHL players come out in two or threes, not in one, gigantic group as the Buffalo Sabres did last a couple weeks ago after gathering for a team meeting before the morning skate.

When it happens, there's little you can do to stop it. You just have to make the best of it, picking out the players you want and letting everyone else walk by. As a result, I came home with only 14 autographs, including the Sabres puck signed by Tim Connolly.

Signing cards, shown above from left, were: Nathan Gerbe, Steve Montador, Tyler Myers and Thomas Vanek.

Other highlights, so to speak:

~ Getting greedy and having Ryan Miller sign a McFarlane base;
~ Adding Thomas Vanek to the Threads collection; and
~ recognizing Brian Engblom, a former Montreal Canadiens defenseman turned TV analyst.

Sorry, Mr. Al

As Buffalo's Ryan Miller walked up the sidewalk, a flash of guilt struck my conscious. Given the item in my hand, I knew it would be the only item -- a base for McFarlane figure -- that I'd get signed. The only question was whether I'd keep it.

Al, Hound Central 5.0's senior correspondent in Toronto, is one of the very few people we'll get autographs for down here in Hockey Bay. Between all of the the work he's done for this blog and Hockey Hounds Universe, as well as his inspiring, but unsuccessful, attempt to covert Colin to the long-suffering existence of Leafs Nation, it's easy to say "yes" when he sends down the occasional item he'd like for us to get signed.

In one of his recent parcels, Al sent a McFarlane base for Miller. Later, he sent a Miller McFarlane for us, too. So, going into he Sabres recent visit, I faced the prospect of carrying both. That, to me, posed a little bit of a problem.

It's my belief that anytime you offer two same items to a player, you immediately come off as a dealer. After spending as much time as we have cultivating a collection, that's the last thing I wanted to do. And when it comes to the Sabres, I must remain true to my allegiances. Even if it means appearing greedy.

Besides, should both team make the playoffs and ultimately meet in the early rounds, I'll have another chance to get Al's signed. If not, there's always next year.

On display

If I was only a collector of hockey cards, this Hat Trick Heroes triple jersey swatch memento of Buffalo's Thomas Vanek would likely end up near the front of a three-ring binder showcasing some of my favorites. Well, in a way, it did.

After Vanek signed it last week, making it the latest installation of the Threads project, it ended up at the front of a three-ring binder -- the one that holds the collection. Top left corner of the sheet, too, right where (Sabres fans will enjoy this) Mama hides the cookies.

Team report: New York Rangers

It's all the Florida Gators football team's fault. Had the Gators, in Hockey Bay to play Penn State in the Outback Bowl, not been staying at the same hotel as the New York Rangers on New Year's Day, I'm certain we would have had much better luck than we did.

Though we hustled enough to add two dozen autographs, including half a dozen pucks, to the collection, we fell victim to a never-ending stream of buses shuttling the Gators and their boosters from the hotel.

Rather than walk past as earlier teammates had, the late risers took a right, rather than a left, and I didn't want to run across an active driveway, especially with Colin and a couple of his teammates with me.

Sometimes, it's just better to play it safe and be happy with what you can get. There's always another season.

Signing the pucks were:

Top row: Martin Biron (Rangers and Islanders) and Michael Del Zotto; and
Bottom row: Ruslan Fedotenko (Rangers and Lightning 2004 Stanley Cup Champions - he scored the Cup-winning goal) and Alexander Frolov.

One of the morning's biggest surprises, as well as the biggest score, came when Rangers captain Chris Drury signed all four cards I offered. I told him I'd be happy with any one.

Rounding out our hockey adventure were:

~ getting a little help from Colin's teammates; and
~ Colin helping the Rangers celebrate their 85th anniversary.

Thanks, guys

Ask any hound, and they'll tell you the same thing. The New York Rangers' Martin Biron is one of the most pleasant players they've ever met in the NHL.

It's beyond the fact that he'll sign more than a single item. Biron, who came up in the Buffalo Sabres organization, is personable, too, taking the time to chat. He's the kind of player who makes this hobby enjoyable. No attitude, just autographs -- the way it should be.

That hasn't helped me, though, get this jersey swatch signed over the past few years as he played his way across the Eastern Seaboard. It always seemed like I had something else or, to be honest, would let him pass so I could get an autograph from another player.

That all I changed New Year's Day. As you can see, the card finally got signed, becoming the latest addition to the Threads collection. I didn't get it, though. Nope, I have someone else to thank for that.

Over the holidays, we took a couple of Colin's hockey teammates -- twin brothers -- out hounding, showing them the ropes. The Rangers were the last of three teams they hounded with us over the break.

Before morning skate, Biron signed a pair of pucks, as we made the push to 2,200 for the collection. As a result, as well as I had to go into work early that day, it looked like the card would have to wait again. That's when one of the twins, who'd be sticking around with their dad until the team came back, offered to get some cards signed for us.

They did a good job, if you ask me.

Interesting insight

Remember Phil Myre? He's a retired NHL goalie who played for, among other teams, the Atlanta Flames, Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Rockies.

He's also created a blog that offers an insider's view on the NHL, hockey and life. It's definitely worth a look.

Breaking the ice

So, who signed the first autographs of our 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign? Well, it was Stu Barnes, an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars.

I suppose one could argue that the campaign began back in August, even before training camps opened. I prefer, though, to kick off a campaign with the first visiting team of the season.

Hotlanta's hopping

I was able to make a quick trip by the Duluth, Ga., training facility to check in on the Atlanta Thrashers. Really glad that I did. Pretty much the whole team, as well as a few prospects, were there getting in some skating before camp opens.

We showed up a bit early for the Thrashers and saw a goalie out on the ice. It turns out to be Dave Caruso, a current New Jersey Devils prospect and former Ohio State Buckeye. He was kind enough to stop and talk with us for a couple of minutes before heading out to catch a flight to New Jersey.

The Thrashers then entered the ice for a little scrimmage. It's my opinion that these guys shouldn't be taken lightly this year.

As the players exited the ice (almost all at once), it got a bit crazy stopping them. I decided I would ask them as I was able to get to their page in my binder. The ones I missed, well, I'd just have to wait for another day.

Those who stopped to sign:

Akim Aliu on an 8x10;

Ben Eager on an 8x10;

Evander Kane on an 8x10, expressing dissatisfaction with Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke;

Arturs Kulda on an 8x10;

Rich Peverly on an 8x10;

Chris Mason on a practice puck; and

Head coach Craig Ramsay on a card.

Craig Ramsay being at the rink was a bit of a surprise, because I thought the coaching staff wasn't allowed to meet with the players until the start of camp. The entire coaching staff, as well as new general manager Rick Dudley, once a Buffalo Sabres teammate of Ramsay's, was on hand in the locker rooms, but not on ice.

Hmmmmmm!

I can live with this one

As much as I hate making mistakes, I certainly don't mind that I missed on the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Lord Stanley's Cup in Game 6, not Game 7 as I predicted.

Having a fellow Buffalo kid -- Patrick Kane -- score the Cup-winning goal and then give props to his hometown was pretty cool. Though the Sabres didn't win it, the Stanley Cup will get to spend at least one day in western New York.

Guess who?

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

Sore loser

At least one hockey fan in the house is happy that the Boston Bruins knocked out the Buffalo Sabres last night. Too bad he doesn't know -- yet -- that he's grounded for a week.

Sunday morning homily XXVI

As Colin started playing youth hockey, I thought I understood most every aspect of the game. I've played the game, more street than ice. Won. Lost. Tied. Reffed a few games, too. I've even driven a Zamboni.

We also knew it would be costly. Ice time, gear, skate sharpenings and G2s add up. It's worth every penny, though. There's also the investment of time, back and forth to practices and skating sessions and road trips to Ellenton across the $1-a-ride Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

What we didn't expect, however, is the emotional attachment felt by parents, ourselves included. We've had great moments, watching the Stars win on road ice and Colin scoring his first goal in organized play. There's been some bummers, too, but there's no need to digress.

Bottom line, it's all about everyone having fun.

Later today, Colin wraps up his second season of rec hockey for the Pinellas Police Athletic League Stars. Two games, down in Ellenton, with a chance to top last season's victories. Win or lose, we all get a well-deserved break.

I'll be honest. It'll be nice to get back to a less-hectic hockey pace. After a little time off, he'll have a pair of practices a week -- great opportunities to take in-game experiences into training so he'll recognize good decisions in future games. After that, he'll get into some 4-on-4 games. And, if the money's there, a week at hockey camp.

Believe it or not, that's a step back from the usual pace.

Come this fall, though, the hockey game bug will be back. New gear. Long Sundays. More predawn rides across the Skyway. I can't wait.

No great loss

Depending upon your perspective, Buffalo's 7-1 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Lightning last night was one of two things: 1.) sheer, unadulterated enjoyment; 2.) the final nail in the Lightning's season. Given my allegiances, I rather enjoyed the game. Goalie Patrick Lalime needed it. Now, let's see if the Sabres can make some noise.

For the Lightning, it marks the third straight season of missing the playoffs. For the fans, it'll be time to forget another frustrating season. Flashes of brilliance, namely Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis, dulled by inconsistency, especially captain Vinny Lecavalier.

For Hockey Bay's hounds, it means another season of shutting it down until late summer. Good thing, too. Had the Lightning made the playoffs, they would have played the Capitals. No matter where you're from, we all know the inevitable outcome. Oh, yeah, the Capitals would have swept the Bolts.

5 Big Sigs

With the Lightning still on a road trip, this week's hounding opportunities are limited to the New York Rangers. With decent luck last trip, I'm hoping that's a continuing trend and we add these items:

~ a McFarlane base signed by goalie Henrik Lundqvist;
~ Marian Gaborik on Minnesota Wild and 2007 NHL All Star Game pucks;
~ rookie defensemen Matt Gilroy on Rangers and Boston University pucks;
~ Erik Christensen and Olli Jokinen adding to the Threads collection; and
~ a nice, full team sheet from the Rangers.

Back for Buffalo

After missing out on the Buffalo Sabres' first trip to Hockey Bay because of my work schedule, I was eagerly looking forward to hounding my hometown team last week. To me, a hockey-hounding campaign just isn't fun when it doesn't include your favorites.

As expected, I wasn't disappointed, adding 32 autographs, including 21 cards, to the collection.

Signing cards, shown above, were:

Top row: Chris Butler, Tim Connolly and Paul Gaustad; and
Bottom row: Jochen Hecht, Patrick Lalime and Adam Mair.

A handful of specialty cards dominate this group:

Top row: Tyler Myers, Jason Pominville and Derek Roy; and
Bottom row: Drew Stafford, Henrik Tallinder and Thomas Vanek.

At first, I wasn't sure how many pucks I'd be able to get signed on last Thursday's trip to Tampa.

But after remembering the NHL trade deadline deal for Raffi Torres and researching his career, I was able to put this Brampton Battalion puck, from his junior days in the Ontario Hockey League, to good use.

Also signing cards were, from left, Mike Grier, Toni Lydman and Steve Montador.

Chris Butler, left, and Tim Kennedy signed the Portland Pirates practice jersey.

Other highlights from hounding the Sabres:

~ Ryan Miller salvaging his Team USA portrait;
~ Legendary Sabres' head equipment manager Rip Simonick signing a pair of pucks;
~ Winning a stick signed by Drew Stafford through a Tom Hanks movie trivia contest;
~ Having Tim Connolly and Henrik Tallinder add to the Threads project; and
~ Snagging rookies Tim Kennedy and Tyler Myers on cheap skate cards.

My box of chocolates

Buffalo's Drew Stafford was walking down the sidewalk last Thursday after the Sabres' morning skate carrying one of his hockey sticks. A handful of hounds approached him, asking for autographs.

One of us asked what was he doing with the stick. Well, he said, he was going to give it away. First, though, one of us would have to earn it.

How, we asked. We'd have a contest, he replied. What kind of contest? A movie trivia contest, he said, specifically, a round-by-round, single-elimination naming the titles of Tom Hanks' movies.

My winning answer, at the beginning of the third round: Forrest Gump, if you can believe that. I'd already spent Joe Versus the Volcano.

Thanks, Rip

As a Buffalo kid, my roots for the Sabres run deep, back to the days of the French Connection, Billy Inglis and George "Punch" Imlach. Throughout the team's history, though, there's been one constant -- Rip Simonick, who's been a part of the Sabres' equipment staff since Day One.

For that reason alone, having Simonick, now the team's head equipment manager, sign a Sabres puck has been one of the few remaining goals of my hockey-hounding career. Well, after last Thursday, that little task was finally crossed off my to-do list.

That's not to say, though, it didn't come at a price. First, Simonick questioned why I would want his autograph. That's simple, I told him, you're an original Sabre. Simonick, who joined the Sabres organization from the American Hockey League's Buffalo Bisons, smiled at my response.

Then, I fumbled the Sabres puck, dropping it from its case and watching it roll away. That, too, caused Simonick to smile, as I chased the puck down the sidewalk. His reaction -- pointing at me in wonder, as in "What's up with this?" -- drew laughter from my fellow hounds.

I wasn't the least bit embarrassed. After waiting as long as I had, Simonick, a 2000 inductee of the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame, finally signed these pucks.

Salvage job

During the Buffalo Sabres' first trip to Hockey Bay this season, this photo of goalie Ryan Miller was the victim of a rogue paint pen, which led to a a sizable glob ruining what was a perfectly fine autograph.

Not wanting to throw it away, I used a variety of tools (eraser, a dab of Goo Gone and a black Sharpie) to erase the mess and get the photo back into circulation. Colin was rather pleased with the results.

All you have to do is ask

After missing out on getting two members of the Phoenix Coyotes to sign jersey cards earlier last week, I specifically asked Buffalo's Tim Connolly and Henrik Tallinder to apply blue Sharpie to thick slabs on cardboard when the Sabres came to Hockey Bay. As you can plainly see, they were more than happy to add to the Threads collection.

Always a solution

The problem with rookies, when it comes to hounding, is there's very little, other than pucks or photos, for them to sign. That's why I believe these cheap skate cards are a very useful tool. Without them, I wouldn't have had much for Buffalo's Tim Kennedy and Tyler Myers last week.

Sunday morning homily XXIV

It's not like he's become my nemesis. Nope, not in the least bit. I'm beginning to wonder, though, what it's going to take. For the past few seasons, I've carried a pair of pucks for Buffalo Sabres' legendary head equipment guy Rip Simonick. I've come home short every trip.

Now, I understand some might question my decision to have a staff guy sign a pair pf pucks. Well, as a Buffalo kid, and especially a Sabres fan, this guy is as old school as they come. He's been with the Sabres since Day One. Before that, he served with the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League. Hence, the two pucks.

With the Sabres coming into town this week, I'll have another opportunity to get the pucks signed. If history repeats itself -- and I hope it doesn't -- it could very well be time to move on. I've left messages for him at a team hotel and talked to members of his staff over the years. To date, nothing has worked.

I entertain no delusions that Simonick is purposely avoiding me. Sidney Crosby? Maybe. But, no, not Rip. Instead, it's more about schedules. By the time I drag my carcass over to Tampa, he's already been at the rink for an hour. From what I hear, he stays there most of the day.

Of all the pucks we've gotten signed, it's hard to believe that I'd be so focused on these two. From a equipment guy, no less. I guess that's a part of being a Sabres fan. Sooner or later, it'll happen.

Hello, old friend

Tuned in to the NHL Network early enough last night to see an old buddy -- Peter Puck. How many of you remember him during intermissions of televised games in the 1970s? Just like the Sabres, that's how far back we go.

It's good to see Peter Puck's shtick hasn't changed, dispensing bits of hockey wisdom in simple terms that even a (fill-in-the-blank) fan could understand. I'm sure there are a few of us who learned a rule or two from him.

Even better, at least where I'm sitting from, was Colin's disbelief that I watched Peter Puck when I was about his age. Yes, it made me feel old. Just another instance, I believe, where hockey transcends age.

5 Big Sigs

Beyond the obvious pair of pucks, here's what we're also hoping to add this week when the Phoenix Coyotes and Sabres hit Hockey Bay:

~ Phoenix's Ilyz Bryzgalov on Coyotes and Ducks pucks;
~ Phoenix's Shane Doan on 2004 World Cup of Hockey-Canada and Canada souvenir pucks as well as a double-swatch jersey card for the Threads project;
~ Phoenix's Viktor Tikhonov, now that he's been called back from Russia, on a Coyotes puck;
~ Phoenix's Jim Vandermeer on a Red Deer Rebels puck; and
~ Buffalo's Tim Connolly and Henrik Tallinder on jersey cards for the Threads project.