No lizards here

By Colin
Hound Central 5.0 junior correspondent

When I wanted to do the lizard logo for Phoenix Coyotes team sheet, my Dad said, "No. You have to do a more recent logo."

So, my Dad forced me to do the regular logo or the paw. I chose the paw logo.

I kinda improvised the logo because I can't write "Phoenix Coyotes" with a crayon that small, except if I drew the logo really big. So I drew the paw with the background, even though it took me 15 minutes to find a burgundy color crayon. Then I put the "Phoenix Coyotes" on the side.

Oh, yeah, I got 25 autographs on it.

Editor's note: Yes, I am that "mean." Darn nice paw, eh? I never understood what a lizard had to do with coyotes.

Among those signing were Shane Doan, Ilya Bryzgalov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Derek Morris, GM Don Maloney, head coach Dave Tippett, assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson, goalie coach Sean Burke, former NHLer-turned-analyst Tyson Nash, Vernon Fiddler, Mikkel Boedker, Martin Hanzal, Paul Bissonette and Kyle Turris.

Two more, please

The Phoenix Coyotes' recent trip to Hockey Bay resulted in another two additions to the Threads collection, this time with Colin getting the honors.

Coyotes captain Shane Doan signed the double-swatch card. Apparently, the black Sharpie was left uncapped for too long, resulting in a pretty thin signature. Still, Doan was nice enough to sign it and, really, an autograph is an autograph.

Mikkel Boedker kicked off another quad-card project. We'll need Peter Mueller, now with the Colorado Avalanche, to complete this side. Los Angeles' Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar are featured on the other side.

Old reliables

Here we are, yet again, espousing the virtues of using homemade cheap skate cards to add true 1-of-1 autographs to your collection. Granted, they'll seldom top any collector's wish list, but they do provide an affordable platform for NHL rookies and role players like Phoenix's David Schlemko.

The Hockey Life: Week 20

It's a bittersweet moment anytime Colin gets a new pair of hockey skates. It isn't about the money, either. As any hockey parent knows, deep pockets are a part of the game.

Any kid will tell you that it's exciting getting a new piece of equipment. Doesn't matter if it's a helmet, gloves, stick or some other gear. Getting new skates, like this pair of Bauer Supreme One 100s, is different.

Not only do they represent a fresh start, but they also show a continued, and deepening, commitment to a goal. Beyond that, it's keeping a promise to grow -- and not just in foot size.

The sad part, though, is retiring a pair of skates. Colin skated many miles in his Bauer Vapor XXVs, shown above, the second pair he owned. As you can see, they're plenty scuffed-up. Many Wednesday afternoons were spent in these skates, working on crossovers, stop-and-pops and building up speed and stamina.

To be honest, I was hoping we could've waited until fall for his latest pair. It wasn't that Colin's toes were getting cramped. No, after 18 months, we were running out of blade to get sharpened.

To me, his new skates represent the latest installment in the bonding of a father and son. In time, I'm sure he'll think the same thing. If I'm lucky, he'll continue this tradition, provided he's as blessed as we are, with his children.

It's something you just can't put a dollar value on.

Making the switch

After intermittent problems with metallic DecoColor paint pens over this past season, I've sent those silver and gold pens to the sideline for the rest of the 2010-11 hockey-hounding campaign. From here on in, I'll be using silver Sharpies for any remaining pucks I get signed.

Perhaps some of the gaffes were self-induced, brought about, from time to time, by hastened priming or trying to get one too many autographs out of a pen.

The last straw came Wednesday when a pen with less than 15 autographs out of it hiccuped for Phoenix's Oliver Ekman-Larsson, leaving me with this stellar piece.

It worked enough for a somewhat legible autograph, good enough not to erase until I have another opportunity for him to resign the Coyotes puck. It was just too thin, even after priming, to use it for any other player. Funny thing, too, was after shaking the pen in disgust, the paint pooled on the tip, enough so that it splattered across some nearby foliage.

I'd be interested in hearing of others have experienced these issues or have some sure-fire tips they're willing to share.

Quote of the week

"Bull(hockey)!"
New Jersey's Henrik Tallinder, in fake-cough response to a Hockey Bay hound's assertion to Tallinder's Devils teammate Mattias Tedenby that he had heard that Tedenby, a fellow Swede, was one of the best players to come out of the Swedish Elite League in recent years.

Not that picky

Not every addition to our Threads collection has to be a big-name NHL player. The only standard we apply is that the card must have a jersey swatch. This double-swatch card of Colorado's Kevin Porter, shown from his days with the Phoenix Coyotes, is a good example.

A thank-you note

I have this rule when it comes to hockey-hounding. If an NHL player is nice enough to sign all four cards that I offer, he gets a shout-out here at Hound Central 5.0. Think of it as a token of my appreciation.

In this case, it's Toronto's Mikhail Grabovski (top row) and Fredrik Sjostrom, who signed eight of the 15 cards I got Tuesday morning before and after the Maple Leafs' morning skate.

Thanks, guys.

Guess who?

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

No need to howl

There's just something about Western Conference teams when they visit Hockey Bay. Most, if not all, certainly aren't shy about signing. And we're certainly not hesitant to ask.

Though other obligations kept me from spending an entire day hounding the Phoenix Coyotes, and likely rivaling other big-number efforts from Western Conference this season, a solid morning of hounding Tuesday produced another 56 autographs, including a season-high 21 pucks, for the collection.

Signing pucks, shown above, were:

Top row: Ilya Bryzgalov, Martin Hanzal and Mathieu Schneider; and
Bottom row: Viktor Tikhonov and Keith Yandle.

Also adding to the mound of pucks were:

Top row: Jason LaBarbera, Petteri Nokelainen and Taylor Pyatt; and
Bottom row: Ulf Samuelsson and Jim Vandermeer

Quite a few players signed cards, too:

Top row: Vernon Fiddler, Jason LaBarbera and Sami Lepesto;
Bottom row: Matthew Lombardi, Zbynek Michalek and Derek Morris; and

Top row: Tyson Nash, Petr Prucha and Lee Stempniak; and
Bottom row: Jim Vandermeer, Radim Vrbata and Daniel Winnik

Signing specialty sets cards were, from left, Adrian Aucoin, Martin Hanzal, Lauri Korpikoski and Keith Yandle.

Cheap skates cards signed by Paul Bissonnette and Viktor Tikhonov.

Other highlights from the Coyotes:

~ Shane Doan living up to his reputation;
~ Robert Lang dispelling a notion;
~ A trio of defensemen signing multiple pucks;
~ Keith Yandle completing a "doubles" card; and
~ Daniel Winnik signing our UNH jersey.

Top Shelf: Shane Doan

Phoenix's Shane Doan enjoys a reputation as one of the most hound-friendly players in the NHL. After signing these two pucks Tuesday, the Coyotes captain did nothing to dispel that image.

It's only through my reticence, too, that I didn't get a double-swatch jersey card signed. I'm fairly certain, though, it shouldn't be a problem that next time we cross paths.

Hogwash, I tell you

Over the years, I'd heard that Phoenix's Robert Lang wasn't the most willing of signers. It's funny, then, how perspectives change. All it took was for Lang sign these three pucks after Tuesday's morning skate for me to now offer that others' perceptions might be a bit outdated.

To the defense

In nothing more than sheer coincidence, it's a bit amusing, if you ask me, that three of the five Phoenix Coyotes who signed multiple pucks earlier this week were defensemen. Perhaps it's because they're more grounded and less prone to shameful acts of self-importance.

Following that line of thinking, let's just say that most NHL defensemen are the consummate team players. Most aren't afraid to get their noses dirty, stick up for their teammates and, as you can see, sign more than one puck at a time.

For that, I'm grateful to these three players, from top: Adrian Aucoin, Ed Jovanovski and Zybnek Michalek.

Double down

It might take some time, but when it happens it truly brings about a genuine sense of accomplishment. What am I talking about? Heck if I know.

No, really, I do know what I'm talking about. It's this 2006-07 O-Pee-Chee rookie Showdown card, completed earlier this week when Phoenix's Keith Yandle joined former Coyotes' teammate Keith Ballard, now with the Florida Panthers.

Honestly, though, completing cards like this, which I call "doubles," is easier said than done. In some cases, one of the players has moved to a different team, meaning at least two trips before completing the task. Other times, though, it's simply a case of priorities.

No matter the issue, though, they do look pretty sweet once completed.

A select few

Every so often, I remember that our work-in-progress jersey for University of New Hampshire alumni in the NHL. One of those times came Tuesday, when the Phoenix Coyotes, and former Wildcats player Daniel Winnik, paid a visit to Hockey Bay.

Granted, there may not be too many former UNH players in the NHL, but this jersey represents those who've played over the past few seasons. In fact, Winnik became the fourth player to sign it this season, joining Philadelphia's James van Riemsdyk, Atlanta's Jason Krog and Lightning goalie coach Cap Raeder.

Others who've signed it are St. Louis' Ty Conklin (then with Detroit) and Atlanta's Darren Haydar.

A letter-by-letter guide to the signatures:

U: Jason Krog and Daniel Winnik
N: Ty Conklin and Cap Raeder
H: James van Riemwsdyk (the tiny scribble) and Darren Haydar

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.

Your Turn III

Thank goodness for faithful readers. If it wasn't for these fine folks, this collection of hounding reports wouldn't be possible.

Let's see what they've been up to:

Michael

Hounding out of Hartford, Conn., and Springfield, Mass., Michael takes advantage of his proximity to American Hockey League cities. This is his first report:

"Doing mostly the AHL, you don't get the big names but players who are on the rise over time like Thomas Hickey, Nikita Filatov, Tuukka Rask and Marc-Andre Fleury. Even the year of the NHL lockout, we were able to get Eric Staal and Patrice Bergeron on multiple items.

"Then, there are those players looking to just get another chance, like Adam Hall, Ryan Craig and Mark Parrish among others (you will notice I mentioned a lot of Tampa players).

"And if you pay attention to the transaction page from the AHL you get players sent down for conditioning. The Islanders' Rick Dipietro and Marty Biron were down this year.

"Even with all that, the ones to watch out for are the scouts. In the past few years, I've gotten Brad Park, Bill Barber, Larry Robinson and Kevin Lowe, among others.

The main difference in hounding the NHL vs. the AHL is the attitude by both the hounds and the players. When it comes to the hounds, there is less pressure to get things signed. So, no one is pushing or shoving to get something signed.

"The players themselves seem more willing to sign. I have noticed that when some players get to the NHL, their habits will change and many no longer sign multiples or sign at all.

"I can remember sitting in a hotel in Springfield with another hound watching TV. The Bruins were on. John Slaney, then with the Philadelphia Phantoms, came out of the elevator, signed and then sat down to watch the game with us.

"We were later joined by other members of the team who all signed and made comments about the game. Then there is the times you get to players or former players sitting in the stands and you get to hear a lot of great stories.

"And for all you puck collectors, one to get if you don't have it would be Marty McSorley. Well worth the wait. And ask him about his movie role in Con Air; he was the pilot."

Keith

Keith and his wife don't mind making the drive from Memphis to Nashville to watch the Predators. They leave work early on game days so they catch the earliest of the players.

Phoenix Coyotes: "I bailed out of work around noon and we got out of Memphis around 12:30 and in downtown Nashville by 3:30. As we pulled up to the team's hotel, we realized that the team bus was just pulling up in front of the main entrance. This is always a good sign, in that it ensures that we haven't missed any early players.

"Since it was cold, we ducked into the hotel to grab some hot coffee from the Starbucks in the lobby. As we were walking out to take our regular spots outside the hotel, we spotted former Pred and current Yote, Vern Fiddler, checking out. He followed us out and was more than happy to sign a couple of pucks and chat a bit while he flashed his newly reconfigured smile. He recently lost four teeth in a harsh meeting with a slapshot.

"Shortly thereafter, the players came out in groups. We missed out on Jovu as he had hotel staff wave down a taxi immediately after loading his bags into the bus. Most of the team, though, was fair game and was happy to sign after ditching their luggage. Most opted to walk the three blocks to the arena.

"We scored multiples from Peter Mueller (who insisted on priming each paint pen before signing ... great guy), Ilya Bryzgalov, Shane Doan, Taylor Pyatt and Keith Yandle. Others signing were Robert Lang, Adrian Aucoin, and Radim Vrbata. The only player who boarded the bus and didn't return to sign at all was goalie Jason Labarbera.

"And although he was called up from the AHL a couple of days prior and listed as as a healthy scratch that night at the game, we never saw Mikkel Boedker walk over. He since has been sent back down.

"All in all, a great trip worthy of the six-hour round trip. It's a shame the Preds lost, though."

J.R.

J.R., checking in again from San Jose, shares this head-scratcher:

"Joe Thornton stopped to sign after practice. The first person he tried to sign for was a female who had a black Thornton T-shirt. Her silver Sharpie wasn't working, so I gave her mine to use. She also had him sign her Sharks team sheet (the generic ones sold in the team store, not drawn like the ones your son creates).

"He then walked right past me and signed about another 8-10 autographs before heading into the locker room.

"Here's my deal. I won't yell, beg or draw any unnecessary attention to myself to get a player to sign. Thornton obviously saw me, but decided to move on. That's fine. I can try again some other time."

BEV

BEV, hounding in Toronto, shares another story of enjoying inside-the-hotel access:

New Jersey Devils: "I had an opportunity to hound the New Jersey Devils prior to game time Feb. 2. when they were in Toronto. Obviously, my main goal was to get an auto from Martin Brodeur. I was also looking for a sig from Devils coach Jacques Lemaire. I also kept an eye open for assistant coach Scott Stevens and special assignment coach Larry Robinson.

"I only collect Hall of Famers, so the rest of the team did not interest me. The team was staying at a high-end Hyatt hotel downtown. I was also staying at the hotel, so I freely made my way back and forth between the lobby and the 15 hounds on the sidewalk.

"The game bus parked on the street in front of the north tower of the hotel around 3:30 p.m. Security staff put up waist-high fences across the sidewalk that the hounds had to stay behind. Unfortunately, this interfered with pedestrians using the sidewalk, who had to walk around the hounds and fences.

"The players got to the bus by walking through a special door that lead through the kitchen of the hotel restaurant. Security was very tight. There were several plainclothes security guards with earpieces in the lobby and on the sidewalk. Lobby access to the players near the special kitchen exit was minimal due to the number of security staff.

"Around 3:45 p.m., I noticed Lemaire outside on the sidewalk having a cigar. After he was done his stogie, I asked him for an autograph in French and he gladly signed a Montreal Canadiens logo card for me. Several hounds by the bus saw me and brought over sticks, pucks, etc., to get signed. He signed everything.

"Around 4:00 p.m., I returned to the lobby and noticed several players walking through the lobby to the south tower of the hotel. For some reason, player after player went to the south tower of the hotel before they went to the team bus parked by the north tower. I never did figure it out. Maybe they were dropping off room keys or something.

"Anyway all the security folks were in the north tower or by the bus. I sat in a chair by the south tower elevators, pretending to read my Brodeur autobiography (with a blue sharpie hidden underneath). Sure enough, Marty comes walking through the lobby toward the south tower.

"I show him his book and ask for an autograph in French. He immediately recognizes the book and walks over to me to sign it. I tell him I am looking forward to reading it. He thanks me for buying it. Perfect.

"I was two-for-two and decided to head out to the street to see how the other hounds were doing. By now, it is about 4:30 and all the players are heading out to the bus. Let me say that most of the team was very good at signing. Almost every player signed for every hound who asked. Only Rob Niedermayer and Jamie Langenbrunner needed to be coaxed by the hounds but they did sign.

"Also note that some of the players did not use the special kitchen exit and exited through the front doors of the lobby. They walked right out to the sidewalk/street, tried to blend in with pedestrians and board the bus without the hounds noticing. Of course the hounds noticed this and got the sigs they wanted.

"When it was time for Brodeur to board the bus, the hounds went into a screaming frenzy. He came out of the special kitchen exit and to the right-hand fence. Immediately in front of me, he signed a team photo for a guy, a puck for a guy and boarded the bus. That was two sigs for the 15 hounds. I thought about getting something else signed, but I was happy with the book. I never did see Stevens and Robinson.

"It was a great outing for me adding two more Hall of Famers to my collection."

Moody's Olympics Gold: Team Czech Republic

Team Czech Last won gold in 1998 and finished third (bronze medal) at the last Olympiad held in Torino, Italy. In Vancouver, the Czechs were eliminated from medal contention.

Cards signed by some of Team Czech's players:

Top row: Boston's David Krejci, Montreal's Tomas Plekanec, Minnesota's Marek Zidlicky and Lokomotiv's Josef Vasicek; and
Bottom row: Nashville's Martin Erat, New Jersey's Patrik Elias, Avangard's Jaromir Jagr and Phoenix's Zbynek Michalek.

Minnesota's Martin Havlat

Atlanta's Ondrej Pavelec

Washington's Tomas Fleischmann on a Hershey Bears wallpaper.

Atlanta's Pavel Kubina

Above Photo: Tomas Kaberle with Mikayla during a Toronto Maple Leafs visit to Tampa.

Right Photo: Tomas Vokoun with Mikayla during a Florida Panthers visit

Ottawa's Filip Kuba signed last year when the Senators came to town.

Most of these items have been signed over the past two seasons, either in Hockey Bay or South Florida.

Down a couple notches

Maybe it's just me, but hounding the Phoenix Coyotes just got a little less exciting now that Wayne Gretzky has left the team. This isn't a knock against Shane Doan, Ed Jovanovski, Peter Mueller or Kyle Turris, but the Great One was the main reason to hound the Coyotes.

Hopefully, Gretzky will be back in the game soon, though all signs point to him working with Hockey Canada.

I'm thankful, then, that I was able to get Gretzky to sign a Team Canada puck during Phoenix's visit to Hockey Bay in February 2007.