Stewart Gavin

Stewart Gavin

Retired player.

Autograph received: January 15, 2010.

One awesome thing about blogging is that I've made a lot of "online friends" who share the same passions that I do. One such friend--who asked to remain anonymous--is friends with ex-NHL player Stewart Gavin, and offered to get some cards signed for me.

Gavin signed six cards for me in blue Sharpie marker. Gavin played 12 seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Hartford Whalers and the Minnesota North Stars.

Andrew Ebbett

Andrew Ebbett

Currently with the Minnesota Wild.

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2009.

Autograph received: January 25, 2010.

What a year it has been for Andrew Ebbett. He started the season in Anaheim, playing in only 2 games before getting picked up on waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks. Then, after 10 games, he was picked up on waivers by the Minnesota Wild. It is c/o that team that I wrote to Ebbett, who signed both cards in blue Sharpie marker.

Scott Clemmensen

Scott Clemmensen

Currently with the Florida Panthers.

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2009.

Autograph received: January 20, 2010.

A few years back, Scott Clemmensen wrote an article about life as a backup goalie for The Hockey News. It was an interesting story, and since then I've paid attention to Clemmensen's career. He broke in with the New Jersey Devils, but played less games than a third-string goalie, since Martin Brodeur plays upwards of 70 games a season.

Last season, Clemmensen played 40 games when Brodeur went down with an injury, and put up some decent numbers (a 2.39 GAA and 25-13-1 record). Currently, he is Tomas Vokoun's backup with the Florida Panthers.

Clemmensen signed all three cards with a black Sharpie marker. Too bad it was running out of ink.

The center card is from the 2005-06 Parkhurst set. I now have 125 different cards from that set autographed.

Brian Campbell

Brian Campbell

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Autographs obtained in person on January 11, 2010.

Blackhawks d-man Brian Campbell was signing autographs at a Verizon Wireless store near my apartment. I put together a short (under a minute) video of the event that can be seen here.

Braydon Coburn

Braydon Coburn

Currently with the Philadelphia Flyers

Fan letter sent: November 6, 2009.

Autograph received: December 4, 2010.

I have always had TTM success with Braydon Coubrn--one card in 2008 and another card in 2009. This time, I sent three cards, and Coburn signed all three in silver Sharpie marker.

Coburn began his pro career with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, but had some spot duty with the Atlanta Thrashers. Since his trade to the Philadelphia Flyers, he has become a regular in the NHL.

Bill Muckalt

Bill Muckalt

Retired player. Currently the head coach of the Valencia Flyers of the WSJHL (Western States Junior Hockey League).

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph received: January 8, 2010.

Muckalt played 4 seasons in the NHL, and despite doing well had to retire due to shoulder injuries. He nicely signed this card in black Sharpie marker.

Troy Murray

Troy Murray

Retired player. Currently the radio color commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 24, 2008.

Autograph receiveds: January 7, 2010.

That's right--it took over a year to get these cards back. Not sure why. I was about to give up and try writing to Troy Murray again. I guess the lesson is that sometimes these things take time. Mr. Murray was kind enough to sign all five cards sent in black Sharpie marker.

Murray had a pretty interesting career. He was the captain of the gold medal-winning 1982 Canadian Junior Team. He won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward in 1986. He would later serve as the captain of the Winnipeg Jets, and win the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. Most of his career was spent with the Chicago Blackhawks, but he'd spend his final year playing with the Chicago Wolves of the "old" IHL.

Incidentally, Murray got his degree at DePaul University--the same school I am going to for my graduate degree.

Dan Bylsma

Dan Bylsma

Retired player. Currently the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph received: January 6, 2010.

Two Dans in a row! After getting my cards back from Dan Bouchard yesterday, today I received one signed card from Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma. He signed the card in black Sharpie marker.

Dan Bouchard

Dan Bouchard

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph receiveds: January 5, 2010.

My second success of 2010, retired NHL goaltender Dan Bouchard generously signed all six cards in blue ballpoint pen. Above his name, he added PS139, meaning "Psalm 139". Also, it looks like he drew a smiley face in the D of his first name. Below his name is his uniform number--30 on the Flames cards, and 35 on the Nordiques cards.

A few years back, when I wrote to Michel Dion, he also put some Bible stuff on the cards he signed.

Jannik Hansen

Jannik Hansen

Currently with the Vancouver Canucks.

Fan letter sent: March 9, 2009.

Autograph received: January 2, 2010.

My first success of 2010, I wrote to Hansen c/o the Canucks almost 10 months ago. This just shows that you gotta be patient with these things, because many times you get a response. Hansen signed the card in silver Sharpie marker. I now have 21 signed cards from the 2007-08 OPC Marquee Rookies subset.