Alex Auld

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 37
Percentage: 35%

Alex Auld

Currently with the Ottawa Senators.

Fan letter sent: November 28, 2011.

Autographs received: January 23, 2012.

January 23 was a great day for TTMs. I received cards from Kevin Poulin, Joey MacDonald and Alex Auld--3 goalies.

Auld signed my cards in black Sharpie marker. This is the second time I wrote to him. The first time--way back in early 2007--was also successful.

Kevin Poulin

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 36
Percentage: 34%

Kevin Poulin

Currently with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 27, 2011.

Autographs received: January 23, 2012.

Kevin Poulin was a part of the Islanders' revolving door goaltender lineup last season that included 5 other goaltenders. He saw action in 10 games and was included in a few sets late last year.

Poulin nicely signed my 2 cards in blue Sharpie marker and added his number (60).

Joey MacDonald

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 35
Percentage: 33%

Joey MacDonald

Currently with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 27, 2011.

Autographs received: January 23, 2012.

In the past 10 years. Joey MacDonald has spent most of his time in the AHL and seen only spot duty in the NHL. However, he did play in 49 games for the New York Islanders in 2008-09. He is currently playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American League.

MacDonald signed my two cards in black Sharpie marker and added his uniform number. I especially like the way he circled 29 on the Maple Leafs card.

Ron Hextall

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 34
Percentage: 32%

Ron Hextall

Retired player. Currently the Assistant GM of the Los Angeles Kings.

Fan letter sent: December 19, 2011.

Autographs received: January 21, 2012.

Ron Hextall was one of my favorite goalies in the 1990s. He was the playoff MVP in 1987 (even though the Flyers lost the Stanley Cup), he got into fights with opposing players and he even scored a goal. Twice!

Hextall signed my four cards in black Sharpie marker. He always has been fan-friendly when it comes to signing autographs through the mail. He signed some cards for me back in the mid-1990s, and again in 2009.

Interestingly, he added "Best Wishes" on the 1991-92 Upper Deck card and "All the Best" on the 1994-95 Pinnacle card. But I have no idea what he wrote on the 2010-11 All-Goalies card (bottom right). Does anyone have any idea what Hextall might have written on that card?

Artem Anisimov

Artem Anisimov

Currently with the New York Rangers.

Signed insert card.

Purchased at a card shop on January 13, 2012.

I bought 2 autographed Champ's minis last week--one of Ville Leino and this one of Artem Anisimov. Although these cards are small, they are signed on-card and in blue Sharpie marker. But you have to wonder how "nice" these autographs really are. I mean, who really could do an "every-letter" signature on one of these? I don't think I could.

Earlier this season, Anisimov made headlines when celebrated a goal by holding his stick like a rifle and pretending to "shoot" at the Tampa Bay Lightning net. Of course, this angered the Lightning players, and several fights broke out on the ice. For those who have not seen "the celebration"--or need a refresher--I've included the video below:



So I have to ask...do you think this goal celebration really excessive? Did the Tampa Bay Lightning players overreact? And why is it OK for Alexander Ovechkin to do an "over the top" goal celebration, but wrong for any other player to do so? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Ville Leino

Ville Leino

Currently with the Buffalo Sabres.

Signed insert card.

Purchased at a card shop on January 13, 2012.

Ville Leino is with the Buffalo Sabres this season. He had a career year with the Philadelphia Flyers last year--53 points in 81 games--but is on pace for around 23 points this season. This card is from the 2009-10 Champ's Set. I bought it from my local card shop last week. It is signed  in blue Sharpie marker.

Click on the image to view larger.

Victor Hedman

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 33
Percentage: 31%

Victor Hedman

Currently with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Fan letter sent: October 17, 2011.

Autographs received: January 12, 2012.

Victor Hedman was the 2nd overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He autographed my card in blue Sharpie marker. He also included a very nice form letter thanking me for my support.

Alex Stalock

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 32
Percentage: 30%

Alex Stalock

Currently with the Worcester Sharks (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 19, 2011.

Autographs received: January 12, 2012.

Alex Stalock appeared in 1 game last season with the San Jose Sharks. Currently, he is with the Worcester Sharks rehabbing an injury. He signed my 2 cards in black Sharpie marker.

Ben Bishop

Ben Bishop

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 31
Percentage: 29%

Currently with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL).

Fan letter sent: November 28, 2011.

Autograph received: January 12, 2012.

Ben Bishop is a prospect with the St. Louis Blues organization. He has appeared in 13 games with the Blues thus far, but has spent most of his time in the AHL with the Peoria Rivermen. Bishop stands 6-foot-7, which I believe makes him the tallest-ever professional goalie.

Anyway, Bishop signed my Panini All Goalies card in black Sharpie marker. I also had success when I wrote to him last season.

Johan Hedberg

Johan Hedberg

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 30
Percentage: 28%

Currently with the New Jersey Devils.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2011.

Autographs received: January 10, 2012.

Johan "Moose" Hedberg autographed all 3 cards sent in black Sharpie marker. The first two cards are from Sweden (Globe and Upper Deck Swedish Elite) and the third is from the 2010-11 Panini All Goalies Set.

I did not write to Hedberg c/o the Devils because I heard that the players are not given their fan mail (I usually get back a form letter "signed" by GM Lou Lamirello). So instead, I wrote to Hedberg at his home address. Thanks to fellow blogger JonWayne for providing me the address.

Jordan Pearce

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 29
Percentage: 27%

Jordan Pearce

Currently with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2011.

Autographs received: January 7, 2012.

My first return of 2012. Jordan Pearce has appeared as a backup goalie for the Detroit Red Wings in 2010-11, so he was included as a rookie in some sets (even though he didn't actually play in a game). He signed my two cards in thin black marker, and added his uniform number (36) after his name. Pearce is currently playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League.

Contest Update

Here are 4 Chicago Blackhawks 1990-91 team schedules. I got these signed when I attended the team's annual "Skate with the Hawks" event in 1990. They are all autographed in blue Sharpie marker.

CONTEST TIME: I asked who the autographs above belonged to. Well, a lot of you knew the answers.

The winner is...

Chris

...who was the first to correctly name the autographs: Mike Hudson, Jocelyn Lemieux, Stu Grimson and E.J. McGuire. (I honestly thought McGuire was a trick question, since he was an assistant coach. And what kid would want an autograph from an assistant coach? Oh right, 15 year old me, that's who.)

However, I am going to also award prizes to:

Casey (Drop the Gloves)

Sebastien

Jrazy

JonWayne

Captain Canuck

Chris and Jrazy, email me your address and what your favorite team is:

SJB at PUCKJUNK dot COM

I have addresses and know favorite teams for the rest of you guys.

Next time, I'll have to make up a harder contest.

Oh, and comments have been enabled again. Thanks for playing.

Show-and-Tell: Joe Sakic autographed "Denver" postcard

Here is another oddball signed item from the 1990s.  In February of 1999, my sister went to Denver to see the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Colorado Avalanche. During her stay, Joe Sakic was signing autographs at a car dealership in Denver, so my sister got this postcard autographed for me. I think she told me that she couldn't find anything hockey-related on short notice, so this photo of the Denver skyline would have to do. 

My sister even saved the newspaper clipping advertising Sakic's autograph session. Peter Forsberg was also signing autographs, but it was at the exact same time and date and across town, so getting autographs from both wasn't possible.

Show-and-Tell: Ed Olczyk 4" x 6" photo

This week and next, I am teaching 3 sections of a blogging class at Columbia College in Chicago. It is a class I developed called "Intro to Blogging," where I teach college students how to (hopefully) make a successful blog.

Anyway, these classes are going to take up most of my free time over the next two weeks, so I might not update this blog as often as I'd like to.

I also don't have any TTMs in the queue to show off, so I will be focusing on some odds and ends from the 1990s.

Here is a 4" x 6" photograph of former NHL player and current color analyst Ed Olczyk. I purchased this photo at a card show probably in 1990 or 1991. The guy I bought it from took the photo himself and later got it signed. I think I paid $4 for it. Yes, I still remember the price I paid--when you are 15 with no job, a $4 counts as a "big" purchase. 

Richard Petiot

Richard Petiot

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 105
Successes: 28
Percentage: 26%

Currently with the Norfolk Admiralss (AHL).

Fan letter sent: November 5, 2011.

Autograph received: December 31, 2011.

My last TTM success of 2011. Richard Petiot has played in a handful of NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning. He signed my card with either a dry erase marker or a marker that was almost out of ink.

RTS - Doug Smail (for a 3rd time)

Doug Smail

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2011

RTS Received: December 31, 2011

Let's ring in the NEW YEAR with a RETURN TO SENDER!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!

This is the third time I have received an RTS when writing to Doug Smail. A reader of this blog suggested I try an address in Colorado, but unfortunately it did not work (it was marked INSUFFICIENT ADDRESS). My previous 2 attempts--one sent to Nevada and the other Texas--were from late 2010. My very first attempt, from 2009, was successful though.