My 2010-11 NHL awards picks

Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP): Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Vezina Trophy (best goalie): Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
James Norris Memorial Trophy (best defenseman): Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie): Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (gentlemanly conduct): Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Frank J. Selke Trophy (top defensive forward): Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Jack Adams Award (top coach): Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay Lightning (yes, I know he's not a finalist)
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship): Ray Emery, Anaheim Ducks (pretty weak field, too)
Ted Lindsay Award (players' MVP): Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

The Hockey Life: Week 25

When you travel in hockey circles, you'll never know who you're going to run into. Twice within a week, assuming the role of a hockey dad, I crossed paths with a few members of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In our search for s specific pair of hockey socks, we took a ride recently over to the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. It must have been a practice night for the Ice Bulls, as we saw Marty St. Louis, Mattias Ohlund and Brett Clark walking around the facility.

Last Sunday, at Colin's home rink in Clearwater, we saw St. Louis and Clark again, as their children played a Mites game against a Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning squad. One of the boys was easy to identify, as he wore the same number as his dad. The other? Well, a strong facial resemblance gave him away, though his jersey lacked a name and had a different number than his father.

While there was a bit of a buzz going through the facility, and The Missus loaned a black Sharpie to one of Colin's teammates so she could get some autographs, at no time did I entertain the thought of hitting them up for autographs. Lacking any items on hand, it was easy to do. But even if I had items for them, and I do have a couple of pucks earmarked for St. Louis, I still wouldn't have asked.

More than anything else, it was more out of respect for family time for these guys. They weren't NHL players when we saw them. No, they were hockey dads. Just like me, they were building a bond with a child over the game of hockey. No autograph is worth interfering with that.

Bragging Daddy alert

Granted, it may have been an intrasquad scrimmage, brought about by the inattentiveness (apparently) of his home rink's youth hockey director, but any time Colin logs six points (four goals and two assists) in a game, I can't help but tell the world.

One goal came on a breakaway, shooting while he was "flying" through the air after being tripped.

Even better, one of Colin's linemates had nine points (two goals and seven assists) in his team's 10-7 victory. Way to go, Sophia. You rock, kiddo.

Programming note

The next hounding adventure comes Wednesday, trying out luck for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Until then, I'll be taking a break from posts.

Beyond that, it all depends on how deep the Bolts go into the playoffs. As always, I appreciate your time.

Warmup act

In a way, NHL training camps are a hound's training camp. It's our time to get back into the game, check the schedule and think about another hockey-hounding campaign.

What's even better, though, is taking advantage of opportunities, especially knocking out a quick project. When Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier signed this 8x10 last Sunday at the Lightning's training camp, it made fairly short work of a really sweet piece.

Dallas' Brad Richards, a former Bolt, and Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis signed it only weeks ago. It helped catching Richards, who won the Conn Smythe during the Lightning's Stanley Cup season, as he was skating with some of his old teammates in late August.

Well, well, well

It was more than a hunch that our last day of Colin's summer vacation yesterday might include getting some autographs from NHL players. What I didn't know, though, was that it would involve Dallas' Brad Richards and Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis.

But that's exactly what happened, as we took in the final minutes of an informal workout by a handful of NHL players at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. Richards, a former Bolts player, and St. Louis were among those skating. Other confirmed sightings were Tampa Bay defensemen Brett Clark and Mattias Ohlund.

Colin hustled to have Richards and St. Louis sign the pucks shown above. St. Louis, who was in a downright jovial mood, signed the new 2004 Stanley Cup champions puck in the top left corner. Richards signed the others.

I didn't get shut out, either, as Richards and St. Louis signed this photo, showing Tampa Bay's old Big Three celebrating Canada's championship in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Now, all we need is for Vinny Lecavalier to complete this photo.

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.

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?

Post-shutout blowout

It may not have been a pretty game Monday night when the Tampa Bay Lightning got skunked 3-0 by the Washington Capitals, but the Bolts' practice Tuesday morning made it up to the Moody family.

I decided Tuesday it would be a good day for the wife and kids to play hooky from their normal days and partake in a little bit of Lightning hockey. It may have only been an off-day practice, but it was still a good time to spend together (Editor's note: It was Moody's birthday, too).

Being the only four people inside the St. Pete Times Forum gave us a good chance at a few sigs as well.

The players were awesome and all took the time to say "hi" to the girls. Most even tossed out a high five as they came off the ice.

Being in a good mood, I decided to step back and let the little ones have all the fun as the players finished up their hour-long skate.

The first few guys flew off the ice after a tough practice, leaving me to think it was going to be tough for the girls to get any autographs.

Marty St. Louis, above, changed it all for them. He stopped and chatted with the girls, asking them if they enjoyed coming out to the rink to watch practice.

I give Marty, or MSL26, credit for one thing, he is great with the kids.

When Vinny Lecavalier, or V4, came off, he walked right over to Mikayla and asked if she needed an autograph.

Quick to respond, she handed over this photo of them taken last season, and a marker. To our surprise, he said he didn't like the marker and told us he would be right back. He went in the back and returned with a new marker to sign for her. Later, he told me that he didn't like the thin-writing Sharpies.

Class act to help her out that way, in my opinion.

After that, every Lightning player who left the ice stopped and asked the girls if they would like an autograph. They added a few extras.

As usual, I couldn't risk a shutout. So, while Marty was chatting with the kids, I finished off my All Star Game photo of him taking a shot on Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom. He let me know that he missed the goal be a mere inch.

Other Lightning players who signed Tuesday were Alex Tanguay, Mike Smith, Stephane Veilleux and James Wright.

Gallery: Black Friday

While everyone and their mother, brother, cousin twice-removed and next-door neighbor was out hunting down holiday bargains last Friday, we headed over to the St. Pete Times Forum to take in open morning skates for the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers.

Though a free donut and cup of coffee occupied most of my free time, the Missus kept herself busy taking these pictures of the guys who were actually working that day:

Tampa Bay's Antero Niittymaki, left, and Stephane Veilleux share a moment during the Lightning's morning skate.

No, I don't believe Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis was asleep on his feet. Sure looks that way, though, doesn't it? Then again, maybe he had too much turkey the day before.

Here's another one of Antero Niittymaki, apparently taking a break during the morning skate, that was simply too good to pass up.

Gee, I wonder why the Missus took so many pictures of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist? This one, among the half-dozen or so, was the best.

Jim Schoenfeld, center, the Rangers' assistant general manager and interim assistant coach, leads players, from left, Marc Staal, Bobby Sanguinetti (I believe), Ales Kotalik and Michal Rozsival through a drill.

Steve Valiquette, the Rangers' backup goalie, towers over the net, doesn't he?

Backstage pass

When it comes to hounding, the golden rule is being at the right place at the right time. It also helps, too, when you can snag unfettered access to the players. Just ask Brett, one of Hockey Bay's up-and-coming hounds, who loaded up on autographs following the Oct. 22 game between the San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Brett, who joins the ranks of Hound Central 5.0 correspondents, filed this report:

After the Sharks and Lightning game, I was lucky to get a guest pass and wait where the players exit the St. Pete Times Forum.

The first obstacle was talking the Lightning employees at guest services into letting me run to the car and get my hounding bag, stuffed with photos, cards and pucks. After getting back into the Forum, I headed down to the area.

While waiting, I wasn't sure how it would be at first. I debated whether it would be better just waiting at the Sharks hotel for them to return. Thankfully, I made the right choice by staying inside. I asked one of the guards how it is for autographs, and they said as long as you call them over, they should sign for you.

The first player out was former Lightning defenseman and current Sharks player Dan Boyle. He quickly came over and signed for anyone who wanted him before joining up with about 30 people who were waiting for him, leaving three people asking for autographs.

Next out was Lightning defenseman Matt Smaby, who is always good for signing whenever and whatever items you want.

Then a group of Sharks came out, including Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton and Rob Blake. They all walked over and gladly signed what was presented to them. One of the last players out was Dany Heatley, who signed three cards before heading to the bus. The only Sharks player who refused to sign was Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who said, "Not now."

Other Sharks players who signed were Ryan Vesce, Ryane Clowe and Doug Murray.

The Lightning players were equally impressive, too. Among those signing were Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, Victor Hedman, Ryan Malone, Andrej Meszaros, Drew Miller, Stephane Veilleux and Alex Tanguay.

This was a great time, and the players are a lot more down to earth and seem happy to stop, talk, and sign autographs.

Malone, I would have to say, left the biggest impression on me. Not only did he sign everything I had, but he stayed a few minutes after signing and just talked with me.

All in all, this was one of my most memorable moments and showed me what class acts hockey players truly are.

43 seconds

Here are a few short videos, on Hound Central 5.0's HockeyBayHound channel at You Tube, of a few Tampa Bay Lightning players during Thursday night's pregame warmups: Victor Hedman, Marty St.Louis and James Wright.

Early indications

Here we are, less than two weeks into the project, and it's readily apparent that Colin will have no trouble working his hockey-hounding project, Colin's Pucks. In it, the goal of each hounding trip is to score at least one puck signed in blue.

As you can see, he snagged these three, as well as his first milestone puck, this past Sunday at the Lightning's training camp.

Lightning players and coaches who signed pucks were, from left, Adam Hall, Adam Oates and Marty St. Louis.

In case you hadn't heard, Oates helped the Lightning during training camp, focusing on power plays. There's word, too, he may join the Bolts' coaching staff. I'd certainly welcome his addition.

Gee, Marty, it's nice to see you, too

When it comes to Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis, you never know what you're going to get.

Some days, he's one of the most personable players I've met. Other days, though, he can be a little testy. Take this past Tuesday, for instance.

Following an informal workout of mostly Lightning players, St. Louis was among those who stopped to sign. Though others were pleasant, he was in full midseason form:

"I'm not going to sign all those for you," he grumbled, as I approached with three pucks. "I sign for you all season long."

True, Marty, you do sign. It's definitely appreciated, too. But it's hardly all season long.