Zdeno Chara

Zdeno Chara

Currently with the Boston Bruins.

Fan letter sent: September 17, 2007.

Autographs received: October 27, 2007.

I've always heard good things about Zdeno Chara--that he was fan-friendly and signed autographs through the mail. So, I thought I'd give him a try, and wrote to him during training camp. About 40 days later, I got my three cards back, all signed in black.

Of course, the Upper Deck cards don't take ink too well sometimes--it actually smudged on the back of the Fleer card. But at least the fronts of the Fleer and Parkhurst cards look good, because those are sets where I am trying to get as many as possible signed.

Dale Hawerchuk

Dale Hawerchuk

Retired player. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

Fan letter sent: October 11, 2007.

Autographs received: October 24, 2007.

Wow. OK, some mixed emotions here. I am always grateful to get some autographed cards back--even more so from a Hall of Fame player.

But Hawerchuk kept three of my cards, sent back one, and one other one that I did not enclose. The cards he kept were 89-90 OPC, 90-91 OPC Premier and 93-94 Fleer Power Play. He sent me the Pro Set card--which I already had signed by him.

At least he sent back the 87-88 Topps card. I've always liked that one. with his chin on his hands, his hands on his stick. I don't know if he's catching a break here, but I always thought this was a nice pic.

Hawerchuk has a nice signature, and adds his #10 too.

Martin Lapointe

Martin Lapointe

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: September 20, 2007.

Autographs received: October 23, 2007.

Dude, I cannot get over how cool Martin Lapointe is. This is the second time I have written to him. The first time, he signed all three cards that I sent. This time, he signed all four. I sent another copy of his '93-94 Classic card to get signed, because it got smudged the first time.

I am trying to get all of these Chicago Blackhawks team cards signed, like the one you see to the left. They sold these team sets at the game for $10. I picked up two sets, the second for getting autographed. Right now, all I have is Lapointe and Lasse Kukkonen.

Tim Hunter

Tim Hunter

Retired player. Currently an Assistant Coach with the San Jose Sharks.

Fan letter sent: September 27, 2007.

Autographs received: October 18, 2007.

Another member of the '89 Cup winning Flames, Hunter signed all three of my cards.

Jim Peplinski

Jim Peplinski

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: October 1, 2007.

Autographs received: October 13, 2007.

I remember Peplinski well when he was captain of the Calgary Flames. In the 1989 Campbell Conference semifinals, the Flames beat my Blackhawks 4 games to 1, and then went on to beat the Montreal Canadiens for the Stanley Cup.

Coach Terry Crisp benched Peplinski so that 16-year NHL vet Lanny McDonald could wear the "C". At the time, I thought it was kind of a weaksauce move on the Coach's part. I mean, Peplinski was in his 9th season with the Flames.

But that's neither here nor there.

Peplinski has a nice autograph, and also enclosed a note with my cards.

Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger

Currently with the Anaheim Ducks.

Fan letter sent: February 5, 2007.

Autographs received: October 12, 2007.

Wow! Freakin' wow! Chris Pronger! Man, what a great return. A superstar player signed--and personalized--all four of my cards in marker! This is awesome!

Truth be told, I did not have a very high opinion of Pronger before now, but this definitely changes it. Sure, it took eight months, but who cares? The guy probably gets a ton of letters, and he took the time to nicely sign the cards, adding his uniform number to each one as well as the aforementioned personalization. He even signed the Oilers card (surprise!).

One other interesting thing about this return. When I wrote to Pronger, postage in the U.S. was still 39 cents. It has since gone up to 41 cents. The envelope only had my 39 cent stamp on it, but the post office delivered it anyway. My SASE has my address in the "return address" area as well as the main area...so I guess the Post Office really didn't have a choice, eh?

Denis Herron

Denis Herron

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 27, 2007.

Autographs received: October 9, 2007.

I sent Herron five cards, but he kept two of them--his 74-75 Topps RC, and an 82-83 OPC card. I liked that '74 card...but I guess he did too. Too bad he didn't keep the 1975-76 card--the close up--because that is one design that I'll never like.

Annnnnyyyyywayyyysssss.....Herron signed the remaining three in ballpoint pen. Two of the card say "To Sal, Best Wishes", while the third one he wrote "To Sal, Good Luck" instead. Pen sucks, but personalization is rad.

Interestingly, Herron was in the NHL for like 14 seasons, and played three separate stints with the Penguins.

Gary Dornhoefer

Gary Dornhoefer

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: July 3, 2007.

Autographs received: October 9, 2007.

Gary Dornhoefer is an extra-cool autograph signer. When I got the cards back, they were in a different envelope, and the cards themselves were carefully placed in a folded piece of cardboard that had been taped, so as to keep the cards in perfect shape. The envelope was marked with a label that said "Photos Please Do Not Bend". Talk about going the extra mile!

The envelope was from "Jerry Callahan"--the Flyers'" Fan Relations Assistant", according to their website.

So, thanks Gary for signing my cards, and Jerry for packing them up so nicely.

Bob Sauve

Bob Sauve

Retired player. Currently a player agent.

Fan letter sent: September 20, 2007.

Autographs received: October 5, 2007.

Jiri Latal

Jiri Latal

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: July 5, 2007.

Autographs received: October 5, 2007.

I wrote to Latal in the Czech Replublic, and got these back today--about 90 days later. It's always cool that a player in Europe will go through the extra trouble of putting postage on the return envelope. Of course, I enclose $2 U.S. to cover postage costs.

Derek Laxdal

Derek Laxdal

Currently the Head Coach of the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL).

Fan letter sent: September 27, 2007.

Autographs received: October 5, 2007.

Derek Laxdal did not play too long in the NHL. Most of the games he played was during the 1988-1989 season...enough to get a true RC in 1989-1990. He pretty much spent the rest of his career in the minor leagues. But anyone who gets to play pro hockey for a living--at any level--is a celebrity to me.

He is doing well as a coach though. The Idaho Steelheads won the ECHL championship the past season.