Andy Moog

Andy Moog

Retired player. Currently the Goaltending Coach for the Dallas Stars.

Fan letter sent: December 26, 2007.

Autographs received: February 25, 2008.

I sent Andy Moog four cards. He signed two, kept one (a 1989-90 OPC card) and returned another card unsigned (a 1990-91 Pro Set card). Two out of four ain't bad, but I wonder why he kept the '89-90 OPC card.

Moog was a player I enjoyed watching with Boston back in the 1990s, so I am happy to get these two cards back from him signed. I'm especially glad he signed the checklist, because I like that painting of Moog, decked out in the throwback uniform.

Keith Jones

Keith Jones

Retired player. Currently a Studio Analyst / Co-Host of "Hockey Central" on Versus.

Fan letter sent: May 21, 2007.

Autographs received: February 23, 2008.

I wrote to "Jonsey" just as the '06-07 season was winding down. Having been over six months, I figured either Jones didn't get my letter...or perhaps he doesn't answer fan mail at all. Both suspicions proved to be false, though, as he nicely signed all four cards that I sent his way. Two of the cards depict Jones as a member of the (now-defunct) Baltimore Skipjacks of the AHL, while the other two are of Jones with the Washington Capitals.

Jason Spezza

Jason Spezza

Currently with the Ottawa Senators.

Fan letter sent: November 9, 2007.

Autographs received: February 23, 2008.

Wow! Three cards signed by a current NHL Superstar. Very cool.

John Torchetti

John Torchetti

Currently an Assistant Coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: January 14, 2008.

Autographs received: February 22, 2008.

John Torchetti is an Assistant Coach with the Chicago Blackhawks. He signed this card in silver marker, which looks kind of neat. I guess if he signed it in black marker, it would have blended in with his suit.

James Wisniewski

James Wisniewski

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: January 14, 2008.

Autographs received: February 21, 2008.

This is the second time I have written to James Wisniewski this season. The first time was back at the beginning of the season.

Both times, "Wiz" signed his name in black marker, including his uniform number "43" with his 'graph.

Jim Roberts

Jim Roberts

Retried player.

Fan letter sent: January 22, 2008.

Autographs received: February 16, 2008.

Roberts played for 15 seasons in the NHL--two stints with the Montreal Canadiens, and two stints with the St. Louis Blues. His signature is nice, but of course I wish it was in marker.

Rick Nash

Rick Nash

Currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Fan letter sent: January 19, 2008.

Autographs received: February 16, 2008.

This is actually the third time I have written to Rick Nash. The first time was during the 2006-07 season, while the second time was actually earlier this season.

Nash signs cards in blue Sharpie, and has usually a pretty quick turnaround time (ten weeks or less--fast for an active player, in my opinion). But he will only sign one card per request. I guess that's why I don't feel too guilty about writing to him two times during the same season.

Milt Schmidt

Milt Schmidt

Retired player. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1961.

Fan letter sent: July 3, 2007.

Autograph received: February 11, 2008.

A wrote to Milt Schmidt in June of 2007, and that was also successful. He signed two cards for be back then.

This time around, I sent Mr. Schmidt one card, from the 1993-94 Parkhurst "Missing Link Set"--which is basically a "what if?" set for the 1956-57 season. He signed the card neatly in black Sharpie, adding his uniform number when he was a player (15) and his Hall of Fame induction year of 1961. The man is almost 90 years old, and yet he still signs for fans. I must say for a man his age, he has a very nice autograph.

Alex Delvecchio

Alex Delvecchio

Retried player. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Fan letter sent: January 22, 2008.

Autographs received: February 15, 2008.

This is the second time I have written to Delvecchio. The fist time, he also signed three cards, also under a month's time.

The man is amazing. He is a Hall of Fame player, and yet still nice (humble?) enough to sign autographs for his fans. Not to mention that he signs his autograph in Blue Sharpie--which is indisputably the best type of marker for autographs.

The fact that men like Delvecchio still sign autographs, even though he's long retired, makes autograph collecting gratifying.

Paul Henderson

Paul Henderson

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: July 3, 2007.

Autographs received: February 11, 2008.

I sent Henderson three cards, and he only signed one. He returned the other two--a '64-65 Parkie Tall Boy card and a '69-70 Topps card--unsigned. I think I will try writing to him again, but will send only one card--the Tall Boy--sine I'm trying to get cards from that set signed.

Nonetheless, it is cool to have an autograph from the hero of the 1972 Summit Series. While I was not alive when it happened, it was still a big event in hockey history.

Plus, I remember catching this movie on CBC way back when called Pray for Me, Paul Henderson. No, I'm not Canadian, but my Aunt had a satellite dish, so I used to watch CBC when I got the chance. That station, and Much Music.

David Poile

David Poile

Currently the General Manager of the Nashville Predators.

Fan letter sent: January 22, 2008.

Autographs received: February 7, 2008.

Poile is the General Manager of the Nashville Predators, and used to be the GM of the Washington Capitals. Somehow, I ended up with a bunch of cards (but not a whole set) from the '86-87 Washington Capitals team issue, so I decided to try and get this one signed by Poile. Most GMs are pretty cool about signing stuff, and Poile is no exception.

Marcel Dionne

Marcel Dionne

Retired player. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Insert from a pack of 2007-08 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards.

Friggin' awesome! I pulled this signed card from a pack of 2007-08 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards. Supposedly, OPC Buyback Autographs occur about one in every 1,440 packs. So I'm pretty pleased that I got one. But the fact that it is of Hall of Fame player Marcel Dionne makes it an even more awesome find.

Also included with the autograph was a certificate (above right), which explained that the card was signed by Dionne in the presence of an Upper Deck representative.

Jeff Hackett

Jeff Hackett

Retired player. Currently the Goalie Coach for the Colorado Avalanche.

Fan letter sent: December 26, 2007.

Autographs received: February 4, 2008.

Hackett was a goalie for several teams, including the Sharks, Islanders, Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks. He is currently the Goalie Coach for the Colorado Avalanche.

Doug Mohns

Doug Mohns

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: January 22, 2008.

Autographs received: February 2, 2008.

Another success from Doug Mohns. I also wrote to him back in June 2007. I recently picked up a set of '56-57 Parkhurst Missing Link, so now I am trying to get cards from that set signed too.

Doug also enclosed a business card that says

Visit dougmohns.com
A Charitable Website To Benefit The Dianne Devanna Center

I visited his site, and it has information about his charity, as well as his career.

Jim Vandermeer

Jim Vandermeer

Currently with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Fan letter sent: January 14, 2008.

Autographs received: February 2, 2008.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded Jim Vandermeer to the Philadelphia Flyers for Ben Eager. Vandermeer is a tough player, one I enjoyed seeing in the 'Hawks lineup. So of course I was annoyed when they traded him.

I have written to Vandermeer two other times--both were successful. One was at the beginning of this season, and the other time was the middle of last season.

Vandermeer has a nice signature, and also includes his uniform number 23.