| THE GREAT HOCKEY CARD EXPERIMENT |
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| Dude, the season's over. Are you too busy golfing? |
| I had a bunch of old hockey cards sitting in my closet gathering dust. So, taking a lesson from Mac Maroon’s great website, I decided to send them to players to see if I could get them signed. None of the cards were worth anything, so if they didn’t come back I wouldn’t shed any tears. I provide the results as a public service for you, the hockey fan, so you know who signs and who’s a big jerk. Here are the logistics: About 50 cards were sent on or about August 15, to players in both the NHL, minor leagues and junior leagues. Players ranged from ridiculously popular (Mario Lemieux) to relatively unknown (Remi Royer). It would have behooved me to do a little more homework, as one card was sent to Peter Nordstrom, who hasn’t played outside of Sweden in three years, and Dimitri Tertyshny, who would probably have difficulty signing, because he is dead. Some players I especially like were sent two cards. Here they are in the order I received them back, and I’ll add new ones as they come in. Brandin Cote, Spokane Chiefs - Former member of the Canadian National Under-18 team, now a member of the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. Cote had the card back to me in about 12 days. That seems pretty friggin’ impressive until you consider that WHL games are played in nightlife capitals like Kootenay, Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw. What else can you do but answer fan mail? Cote recently finished his career in Spokane, and a great article about him can be found here. Scott Fankhouser, G, Chicago Wolves - Our parade of goalies started with this UMass-Lowell graduate. It also began a string of bad luck for players who signed for me - the day after I received the card, Fankhouser was sent down by the Thrashers to Chicago of the AHL. Even worse, Fankhouser was sent to the ECHL on 11/1, which is like a baseball player being relegated to Little League. Trevor Kidd, G, Florida Panthers - Signing my card was not a source of good luck for Kidd, who finished the season 4-15-5. Brent Johnson, G, St. Louis Blues – The Michigan native and former Worcester Icecat was careful not to sign over his own face, which is nice. You may have noticed he has recently become impossible to score on. Jean-Sebastien Aubin, G, Pittsburgh Penguins - The first Penguin to send back a card (are you really so busy, Mario?), Aubin has been relegated to backup since Johann “Moose” Hedberg showed up, so he’s got plenty of time to sign autographs. Four goalie cards in a row prove that these guys don't have much else to do. Paul Kariya, Big Jerk, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - Paul couldn’t be bothered to sign, so instead the Ducks sent a silly 4”x6” postcard with a preprinted signature. Pretty cheesy. At least they were nice enough to send back the card. Ray Ferraro, C, St. Louis Blues – “Chicken Parm” is one of my favorite players, and the letter I wrote him said as much. But it would have been nice if he sent back both cards I sent him instead of just one. Life goes on. FYI - I sent and recieved this card while Ray was still with the Atlanta Thrashers. Patrik Stefan, C, Atlanta Thrashers - Bad luck for this former #1 pick, too. A few days before I received the card he broke his jaw. Not only are the Thrashers brimming with young talent, the team is full of guys who sign cards. Matt Herr, C, Hershey Bears - Matt used to play for the Capitals, but was traded to Florida, who sent him to the minors. If you’re going to play in the AHL, it might as well be in the chocolate capital of the world - Moose Jaw. I mean Hershey. Roman Turek, G, Calgary Flames - Finally something good happened to someone who signed for me - Turek was named NHL player of the week the day my card came in the mail. Unfortunately his skills and Jerome Iginla's goals weren't enough to get the Flames in the playoffs. Mike Modano, C, Dallas Stars - I imagine Mike’s a damn busy guy, so I was kind of surprised that I got this one at all, much less as soon as I did. At first I thought it was a rubber stamped signature, or someone in Dallas did the signing for him, but it had a Detroit postmark, and the Stars had played in Detroit the day before the date on the postmark. I’m so appreciative I’ll plug his foundation, which does some great things. Mike Zigomanis, F, Lowell Lock Monsters - Zigomanis receives the ultimate cool guy award. Along with the card, the Carolina Hurricanes prospect sent a handwritten letter, thanking me for my support. Mike's Lock Monsters were recently eliminated from the AHL playoffs, but he finished the season with 48 points and has a great career ahead of him. Jaroslav Spacek, D, Chicago Blackhawks - Clearly the curse is off, as the Blackhawks are looking great this season. Know why? Because Spacek signed my card. Maybe that hip wouldn’t flare up if you were more responsive, Mario. Andreas Dackell, RW, Montreal Canadiens - The Habs are also looking good, and the former Senator is a big reason why. I get the feeling that a lot of the Canadiens team isn’t used to getting fan mail. Marian Hossa, RW, Ottowa Senators - Hossa was good enough to sign and send back two cards. And he's in the playoffs. You listening Lemieux? HUH? ANSWER ME! Martin St. Louis, C, Tampa Bay Lightning - I knew the first card I got from the Lightning would be from this Vermont graduate and Hobey Baker finalist. Vince Lecavlier sent back the unsigned card a form letter. Frankly, I find it a tad hard to believe he gets that much mail. Pavel Bure, RW, New York Rangers - To give you an idea of how messed up the mail is these days, the Russian Rocket's card was postmarked in San Francisco and was mailed in the middle of October - I recieved it in December. FYI - I sent and recieved the card while Bure was still with the Florida Panthers. Antti Laaksonen, LW, Minnesota Wild - The closest I've gotten to a Bruin returning a card, Laaksonen wore the black and gold for two years before a trade to the expansion Wild. Scott Hannan, D, San Jose Sharks - This up-and-coming defenseman was not only good enough to autograph the card I sent him, he sent back an extra Upper Deck card, also signed. Ryan Johnson, C, Florida Panthers - The Thunder Bay, Ontario, native has been shuttled back and forth between Tampa Bay and Miami in his first few years in the league. We should all be so lucky. Derek MacKenzie, C, Chicago Wolves - He's in the Thrashers system but must have a thing for Wolves - he played for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL before being drafted. Jonathan Girard, D, Providence Bruins - FINALLY someone from my hometown Bruins opts to send back a card. That's why they'll always be my team - the Caps have yet to send back a card. Mats Sundin, C, Toronto Maple Leafs - Sundin sent a very nice form letter saying he didn't have time to answer fan mail. He also enclosed a photo that the letter claims was autographed, but was obviously copied. Jeff Lucky, C, Spokane Chiefs - The first overall pick of the Washington Capitals in last years draft clearly is new to autograph signing - he wrote a return address on the envelope. His home address. |
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| Dale Hunter, Owner & Coach, London Knights - One of three Capitals to have his number raised to the rafters, Huntsie decided that if you want a job done right, you do it yourself - he fired his coach early in the Knights season and took over himself. If the rules allowed he'd probably strap on the skates again as well. |
| Patrice Brisebois, D, Montreal Canadiens - Patrice's last name was misspelled on the hockey card I sent him. You'd think 11 years in the league would buy you a little more respect. Jeff Woywitka, D, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)- A first round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, Woywitka's got one of the teeniest signatures I've ever seen. Jan Hrdina, C, Pittsburgh Penguins - It becomes clear that the Penguins don't have a policy against signing cards (unlike the Avs - Sakic, Drury, Tanguay and Roy were all failures, FYI). Still waiting for a certain team owner to hook me up though. Dan Hamhuis, D, Prince George Cougars - A first round pick of the Nashville Predators last year, Hamhuis is expected to do great things in the NHL. Jason Spezza, C, Belleville Bulls (OHL) - Speaking of people who will do great things, Spezza has been dubbed "The Next One" (after Gretzky's "Great One"). He should be playing full time with the Ottawa Senators next season. If you're thinking of sending Spezza a card, note that he was just traded from the Windsor Spitfires to the Belleville Bulls. Mike Knuble, RW, Boston Bruins - I mean, how 'bout them Bruins? This former Ranger is one of many who is helping breathe new life into Bruins hockey. Ryan Jardine, LW, Florida Panthers - One thing this experiment has taught me is that the Panthers have a whole ton of young talent on their team. Why they stunk up the NHL is anyone's guess. I can tell you it ain't Jardine's fault. Tomas Kaberle, D, Toronto Maple Leafs - On the one hand, I'm thrilled Kaberle signed my card. On the other hand, he's on a division rival of my Bruins. I'm so conflicted. Duncan Milroy, RW, Kootenay Ice - Recently traded from the Swift Current Broncos, Milroy was a second round pick of the Montreal Canadiens. Milroy recently earned player of the week honours by recording a goal and five assists in two games to help lead the Ice to a two games to none series lead against the Kelowna Rockets. Kyle Wanvig, RW, Houston Aeros - It pains me to say that the Bruins drafted Wanvig, but were never able to get him signed. He re-entered the draft and was picked up by the Wild. Needless to say he will eventually score 100 career goals on the Bs. NEW - Jochen Hecht, LW, Edmonton Oilers - Jochen's 40 points unfortunately weren't enough to get the Oilers into the playoffs, but he did enjoy his fist complete season, playing in all 82 games. NEW - Rod Brind'Amour, C, Carolina Hurricanes - Brind'Amour hasn't quite rediscovered the scoring touch he had in his prime, but the Canes are looking good. NEW - Wade Redden, D, Ottawa Senators - The veteran defenseman heads into the playoffs after a 34 point, +22 season. |