Gallery: P.A.L. Stars practice

Brian Bradley, a former Tampa Bay Lightning player, ran the Pinellas Police Athletic League Stars squads through a practice earlier this week at the Clearwater Ice Arena. The players, from PAL's bantams and pee wee/squirts squads, worked on stickhandling, passing and skating.

Players from both squads teams gather before the practice.

Colin waits his turn to take part in a drill as Bradley provides on-ice instructions.

Players from both squads wait to run through a drill.

Colin tries to get one last shot past his goalie after a short-ice, double-net drill.

Did I mention there's always lots of skating at these practices? Well, there is.

Gallery: Leafs photos

For the past few weeks or so, Moody, Hound Central 5.0's primary correspondent, has been telling me I need to start working photos. Given that I'm starting to run out of NHL players to put on pucks, he has a good point.

They're much lighter, easier to handle and aren't as expensive. So, yes, I see the benefits.

Still, though, I'll be sticking primarily with cards, pucks, and, yes, the occasional photo, for the rest of the 2009-10 hockey-hounding campaign. Moody, on the other hand, is a photo machine, racking up at least a half dozen 8x10s every time he hounds a team.

Here's a look at our combined efforts on Thursday, when the Toronto Maple Leafs traveled to Hockey Bay:

Defenseman Garnet Exelby, on a wallpaper image from his days down in Dixie;

Goalie Jonas Gustavsson, in a pretty neat image;

Winger Niklas Hagman, on the lone photo I got signed;

Defenseman Tomas Kaberle, which Colin got signed at the gametime bus;

Defenseman Jay Rosehill, shown with the AHL's Springfield Falcons during his time in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization;

Defenseman Luke Schenn, on a wallpaper image celebrating his draft status;

Winger Lee Stempniak, from his days in St. Louis;

Goalie Vesa Toskala; and

Coach Ron Wilson, left, shown with Toronto GM Brian Burke, in happier days.

Gallery: Boston Bruins

It's part of the drill, really, heading down to the glass to watch warm-ups. It's extra special, though, when your favorite NHL team comes to town. Just ask Colin, who got his front-row perch long before warm-ups began. Here are a few sights, taken by The Missus, from last night's pregame action:

Patrice Bergeron, Colin's best NHL buddy, watches warm-ups.

Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is an imposing presence, even before the game.

Goalie Tuukka Rask prepares to make a save while Patrice Bergeron waits for a rebound opportunity.

As Colin watches warm-ups, Mark Recchi hangs out near the boards. Recchi, who earlier in the day watched Colin wipe out in front of him, would later flip a puck over the glass to Colin.

Something in the crowd catches the attention of goalie Tim Thomas.

Along the blue line, Steve Begin, from left, Blake Wheeler and Johnny Boychuk await their turns during warm-ups.

Gallery: Philadelphia Flyers

For the most part, it's either myself or The Missus who takes pictures for Hound Central 5.0 galleries. This time, though, it's a little different. This gallery, taken during the Philadelphia Flyers' morning skate earlier this week, features photographs taken by Colin.

Not bad for a 8 year-old, huh?

Teammates Jeff Carter, left, and Daniel Carcillo chat at the bench before the start of the morning skate.

Goalie Michael Leighton, plucked from the Carolina Hurricanes off waivers recently, waits for a shot. That not a new mask for Leighton, either. It's strips of white athletic tape covering the design he wore with the 'Canes.

New coach Peter Laviolette, right, skates past as the team gathers at the center ice circle at the St. Pete Times Forum to stretch before running through drills.

Gallery: Leafs practice facility

This new arena, officially known as the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, is where the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the club's AHL affiliate Marlies, hold practices. Though it's possible to score some autographs from Leafs and Marlies players, there are a few odd rules to keep in mind, reports Al, Hound Central 5.0's correspondent in all things related to Toronto.

This is the sidewalk, near the players' parking area, where hounds have to stand. Although it's a public parking lot for the arena, hounds have to yell over to the players, as they get out of their cars, to ask them for an autograph. If the player waves a hound over, the hound can approach the player and get an autograph. In some cases, though, the players will walk over.

The first few players get the spots nearest the doors they enter, which are the furthest from this sidewalk "staging area." As the parking lot fills up, the players eventually park right in front of hounds.

Here's a warning, though. If a hound approaches a player without being invited, apparently the security staff, as Al so eloquently puts it," gets its underwear in a knot" (don't they all?) and threatens to call the police. Thankfully, this didn't happen the day Al was out hounding.

Once inside, though, the facility, which has four pads of ice, allows fans to watch the Leafs practice from as close as the boards, as these photos attest:

The Leafs gather at the boards for a chalk talk from coach Ron Wilson.

Jason Blake, standing out in a red jersey, leads a group of Leafs players during the practice.

Goalie Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson during the practice.

Alexei Ponikarovsky takes a spin around the rink.

Leafs players, from left, Luke Schenn, Phil Kessel, Jamal Mayers and Joey MacDonald. That's coach Ron Wilson in the background.

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?

Say cheese, please

Our special project for the Lightning's rookie camp this week required getting a handful of prospects to sign their pictures with Colin. After tonight's visit, that's crossed off the to-do list.

Swedish defensemen Victor Hedman, right, the Lightning's No. 1 pick in at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and Erik Gustaffson, sandwich Colin after the Young Guns camp ended. Gustaffson, who plays for the University of Northern Michigan, isn't attending rookie camp.

Even without his name and number on his practice jersey, defenseman Vladimir Mihalik, the Lightning's No. 1 pick in 2005, is easy to pick out among players. At 6 foot 7, he's the tallest one in camp.

Despite being born in Slovakia, center Juraj Simek, Vancouver's sixth-round pick in 2006, has twice represented Switzerland at the World Junior Championships.

Goalie Dustin Tokarski, a fifth-round pick in 2008, does nothing but win. After leading the Spokane Chiefs to the 2008 Memorial Cup championship, claiming MVP honors, Tokarski backed it up with a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championships.

Gallery: Lightning informal skate

Among the Tampa Bay Lightning players who've gathered this week in Brandon for informal workouts include, from left, Ryan Craig, Marty St. Louis, Jeff Halpern, Steven Stamkos, Adam Hall and Andrej Meszaros.

Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier, right, talks to new teammates Kurtis Foster, left, and Todd Fedoruk.

Victor Hedman, the Bolts' 2009 No. 1 draft pick, didn't look out of place in Wednesday's session.

No, Tampa Bay's Jeff Halpern isn't reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. He's explaining a drill during Wednesday's skate.

Goalie Antero Niittymaki, a free-agent signee, follows the puck during Wednesday's session.

Victor Hedman, left, talks to teammate Adam Hall during Wednesday's session.

Gallery: Leafs informal skate

One of the surest ways to know that hockey is just around the corner comes when NHL players take to the ice to prepare for upcoming trainings camps. In Toronto, that's exactly what's taking place.

Special thanks to Allan, Hound Central 5.0's correspondent in Toronto, for sharing these photos:

A sight that should appeal to most hockey fans, especially those in Toronto: Leafs players at the Lakeshore Lions Arena.

Jason Allison, attempting a comeback with the Leafs, signs a fan's jersey.

Defenseman Luke Schenn signs an autograph for a fan.

Defensemen Jeff Finger, left, and Luke Schenn watch drills during the practice.

Alexei Ponikarovsky was the only Leafs player to wait on the bench as the ice was being resurfaced.

Goalie Jonas Gustavsson takes a knee during a break in practice. His nickname is "The Monster."