Stu Grimson

NHL Stats
Games Played: 729
Penalty Minutes: 2113
PIMs per Game: 2.90

Stu Grimson

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Out of all 15 ITG Enforcers autographed cards I got, this one is my favorite. Stu Grimson played a handful of games with the Calgary Flames, but became a full-time NHLer with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was claimed in the 1993 expansion draft and was one of the alternate captains of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks during their first season. Coincidentally, it was around this time that Grimson became known as "The Grim Reaper." He would then blossom into arguably the best fighter in the NHL, even besting Bob Probert.

I got this card in my third (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in black Sharpie marker.

Here is a classic fight between Grimson and Probert:

Tony Twist

NHL Stats
Games Played: 445
Penalty Minutes: 1121
PIMs per Game: 2.52

Tony Twist

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Tony "The Tiger" Twist played 10 seasons in the NHL--6 with the St. Louis Blues and 4 with the Quebec Nordiques.

I got this card in my third (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in black Sharpie marker.

Wally Weir

NHL Stats
Games Played: 320
Penalty Minutes: 625
PIMs per Game: 1.95

WHA Stats
Games Played: 150
Penalty Minutes: 410
PIMS per Game: 2.73

Wally Weir

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Wally Weir played in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. He played 8 seasons with the Quebec Nordiques--3 in the WHA and 5 in the NHL.

I got this card in my third (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in black Sharpie marker.

Curt Brackenbury

NHL Stats
Games Played: 141
Penalty Minutes: 226
PIMs per Game: 1.60

WHA Stats
Games Played: 265
Penalty Minutes: 753
PIMS per Game:  2.84

Curt Brackenbury

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Curt Brackenbury had an 11-year pro career in 7 different leagues. He played a solid 5 seasons in the WHA and 2 full seasons in the NHL

An interesting fact is that 6 of the leagues he played in no longer exist: the EHL (Eastern Hockey League), the IHL (International Hockey League), the NAHL (North American Hockey League), the SHL (Southern Hockey League), the CHL (Central Hockey League) and the WHA (World Hockey Association) are all now gone.

I got this card in my third (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker. It looks like he signed "Curtis" instead of "Curt" on this card.

Theo Peckham

NHL Stats (thus far)
Games Played: 156
Penalty Minutes:385
PIMs per Game: 2.47

Theo Peckham

Currently with the Edmonton Oilers.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

With no disrespect to Theo Peckham, I was kind of disappointed when I got this card. I was expecting to get autographs of enforcers from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. An autograph Peckham card seems more appropriate in a set like "Heroes and Prospects" than it does in "Enforcers." Anyway, Peckham is now an NHL regular with the Edmonton Oilers.

I got this card in my third (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Phil Russell

NHL Stats
Games Played: 1016
Penalty Minutes: 2038
PIMs per Game: 2.00

Phil Russell

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Phil Russell played in the NHL from 1972 to 1987. He is probably best-known for his 7 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, but here he is pictured with the New Jersey Devils.

I got this card in my second (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker. Players from the 1970s like Russell usually have a nicer autograph than the NHL players of today, who usually scribble some incoherent nonsense. (Check out these two cards I got signed in person by Russell three years ago.)

Jimmy Mann

NHL Stats
Games Played: 293
Penalty Minutes: 895
PIMs per Game: 3.05

Jimmy Mann

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Jimmy Mann broke into the league with the Winnipeg Jets in 1979-80, leading the Jets with 287 penalty minutes in 72 games. But after that, he would only play 40 or less games per season over the next 8 years.

I got this card in my second (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker. I love the way Mann added a smiley face inside of the loop on the "J" in his signature. Very cool. If I can find an address, I would love to write to him and get a few of his O-Pee-Chee cards signed.

Andrew Peters

NHL Stats
Games Played: 229
Penalty Minutes: 650
PIMs per Game: 2.84

Andrew Peters

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Andrew Peters spent most of his career with the Buffalo Sabres, but he also played a bit for the New Jersey Devils.

I got this card in my second (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Basil McRae

NHL Stats
Games Played: 576
Penalty Minutes: 2453
PIMs per Game: 4.26

Basil McRae

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Now we're talking! This is the type of player I expect to get in a box of Enforcers. Basil McRae was one of the toughest mofos in the NHL during the late 1980s to mid-1990s. McRae topped the 300-minute mark 3 times in his NHL career while playing for the Minnesota North Stars.

I got this card in my second (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Kelly Buchberger

NHL Stats
Games Played: 1182
Penalty Minutes: 2297
PIMs per Game: 1.94

Kelly Buchberger

Retired player.Currently an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Kelly Buchberger had a very respectable NHL career, playing 16 seasons. Most of his time was spent with the Edmonton Oilers. I don't really think of Buchberger as a fighter, though he did lead the Oilers with 234 penalty minutes in 1988-89. (Someone had to step up in place of the recently-traded Marty McSorley).

I got this card in my second (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Willi Plett

NHL Stats
Games Played: 834
Penalty Minutes: 2572
PIMs per Game: 3.08

Willi Plett

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Willi Plett played 12 seasons in the NHL and won rookie of the year honors in 1977. He also racked up 2,572 penalty minutes. The most PIMS he earned in one season was 316 with the Minnesota North Stars in 1983-84.

I got this card in my first (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in black Sharpie marker.

John Wensink

NHL Stats
Games Played: 403
Penalty Minutes: 840
PIMs per Game: 2.08

John Wensink

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

John Wensink played with the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Rockies and the New Jersey Devils.

I got this card in my first (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Rich Pilon

NHL Stats
Games Played: 631
Penalty Minutes: 1745
PIMs per Game: 2.77

Rich Pilon

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Rich Pilon played most of his career with the New York Islanders (1989 to 2000). He also played with the New York Rangers (2000 to 2001) and a scant 8 games with the St. Louis Blues at the end of his career (2001-02). He accrued an eye-opening 291 penalty minutes during the 1992-93 season.

I got this card in my first (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Peter Worrell

NHL Stats
Games Played: 391
Penalty Minutes: 1554
PIMs per Game: 3.97

Peter Worrell

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Peter Worrell played 7 seasons in the NHL. After the lockout, he spent the 2005-06 season in the ECHL, then retired. He played 391 games, but still racked up an impressive 1,554 penalty minutes.

I got this card in my first (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Gerard Gallant

NHL Stats
Games Played: 615
Penalty Minutes: 1674
PIMs per Game: 2.72

Gerard Gallant

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a box of 2011-12 In The Game Enforcers.

Gerard Gallant is perhaps best known as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, but he also spent some time with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the end of his career.

I never really thought of Gallant as an enforcer, especially since the Red Wings had Bob Probert and Joey Kocur to do the majority of the fighting. Still, he was usually near the top when it came to penalty minutes for the Red Wings.

I got this card in my first (of three) boxes of In the Game's Enforcers series. It is signed in thin black Sharpie marker.

Mark Cullen

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 115
Successes: 64
Percentage: 55%

Mark Cullen

Currently with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL).

Fan letter sent: November 5, 2011.

Autographs received: June 2, 2012.

In the past 10 years, Mark Cullen has skated for 3 different NHL teams and 8 different AHL teams. He got his first taste of NHL action with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005-06, and won the AHL's Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award for "exemplifying sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey."

Cullen signed my card with a fading black marker. This is my 15th signed card from the 2009-10 Rockford Icehogs team set.

Louis Leblanc

Louis Leblanc

Currently with the Montreal Canadiens.

Signed insert card.

I got this card in a box of 2011-12 SPx Hockey. It is signed on a sticker in blue Sharpie marker. It also includes a red swatch from a Montreal Canadiens jersey. And it is serial numbered 639 out of 799.

Leblanc split the 2011-12 season between the Habs and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.

Cory Emerton

Cory Emerton

Currently with the Detroit Red Wings.

Signed insert card.

I recently purchased something from Target called "The Hockey Cube," which was a repack containing 4 sealed packs and 1 sealed Score Traded Set from 2010-11. This card is from the traded set, and is signed on a sticker in blue Sharpie marker.

Cory Emmerton played three full seasons in the American Hockey League, then became a full-time NHLer in 2011.

Jaroslav Svejkovsky

Jaroslav Svejkovsky

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

I pulled this card from a pack of 1997-98 Be A Player, which was included in a repack called "The Hockey Cube."It is signed in thin black marker.

Jaroslav Svejkovsky played 113 games in the NHL.Most of his time in the NHL was spent with the Washington Capitals, but he also played for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Joe Thornton

2011-12 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 115
Successes: 63
Percentage: 54%

Joe Thornton

Currently with the San Jose Sharks.

Fan letter sent: October 31, 2011.

Autographs received: May 29, 2012.

Awesome! Joe Thornton signed my card in blue Sharpie marker. It took practically the whole season, but it was worth the wait.

This is the 5th time (out of 5) that Thornton has signed cards for me. I also received signed cards from him in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Wayne Van Dorp

Wayne Van Dorp

Retired player.

Signed photograph purchased at a card show in March.

Wayne Van Dorp was one of my favorite enforcers when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks. He does not have that many cards, so when I found this photo I purchased it immediately.

I don't know who took this picture (it might have been the dealer), but it was taken during a warmup before a game in the 1989-90 season.

The photographer then got the photo signed in blue Sharpie marker. Back then, getting autographs from Blackhawks players was not very difficult.

Mike O'Connell

Mike O'Connell

Retired player. Currently the Director of Pro Development for the Los Angeles Kings.

Autograph purchased online.

Mike O'Connell played in the NHL from 1977 to 1990. He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.

After retiring, he immediately became involved in the management side of hockey, and has in the past served as a head coach or general manager. Currently, he is the Director of Pro Development for the L.A. Kings.

This team-issued postcard shows O'Conell wearing number 33. Even the back of the postcard lists 33 as his uniform number. However, I can't find any supporting evidence that he ever wore number 33, unless it was during a preseason game.

Keith Magnuson

Keith Magnuson
(1947 - 2003)

Former player and former coach.

Autograph purchased online.

Keith Magnuson played 10 seasons in the NHL, all for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was also the head coach for one-and-a-half seasons.

Sadly, Magnuson died in a car accident in 2003. Five seasons later, the Blackhawks retired number 3 in his honor.

I was lucky enough to get Magnuson's autograph a few times in the early 1990s. Although I purchased this signed postcard online, the signature resembles all of the autographs I got in person from Maggie.

Carter Hutton

Carter Hutton

Currently with the Rockford Icehogs (AHL).

Signed insert cards.

Purchased on eBay in May 2012.

Carter Hutton has gotten very close to playing in the NHL three times. During the 2009-10 season, he was a backup goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2010-11, he sat on the bench as the San Jose Sharks' backup. And in 2011-12, he was called up two times for backup duty for the Chicago Blackhawks.

While Hutton has yet to actually play in an NHL game, he has a legitimate chance of doing so next season. He started the 2011-12 season as the third string goalie for the Rockford Icehogs, but gradually worked his way up to the starter role. He posted 3 shutouts, a 2.35 GAA and was named the AHL's Player of the Week twice.

Both of these cards are from the 2010-11 Panini Certified set. The one of the left is numbered to 799 and the one on the right is numbered to 100.

Chris Wells

Chris Wells

Retired player.

Signed insert card.

Chris Wells played  195 games in the NHL. He broke into the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and later played for the Florida Panthers. He also played in the AHL, the ECHL, in Russia and in Italy.

This card is a signed insert from the 1997-98 Be A Player series. It is autographed in black Sharpie marker.

Shea Weber

Shea Weber

Currently with the Nashville Predators.

Signed insert card.

Purchased on eBay in May 2012.

This is one of the more unique autographs in my collection. It is a card from the 2010-11 Panini Playoff Contenders set. It is actually made of plastic and has rounded corners. Weber's autograph is on-card, and was limited to 50 copies.

Zack Kassian

Zack Kassian

Currently with the Vancouver Canucks.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a pack of 2011-12 Panini Contenders in May 2012.

Kassian was the Buffalo Sabres first round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. At the 2012 trade deadline, Kassian was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks, along with Marc-Andre Gragnani, for Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer.

This is the third autograph I got in a box of 2011-12 Panini Contenders. (I also got a redemption for a fourth autograph). It is signed on-card in blue Sharpie marker, and serial numbered 265 out of 800.

Matt Read

Matt Read

Currently with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a pack of 2011-12 Panini Contenders in May 2012.

Matt Read looks like he is going to be a solid NHL player. After a 4-year collegiate career with Bemidji State University (WCHA), he scored 13 points in 11 games for the Adirondack Phantoms (AHL). During the 2011-12 NHL season, Read tallied 24 goals and 23 assists in 70 games for the Philadelphia Flyers.

I got this card in a pack of 2011-12 Panini Contenders. It is signed in thin blue Sharpie marker. Read also added 24, his jersey number with the Flyers. 

Colin Greening

Colin Greening

Currently with the Ottawa Senators.

Signed insert card.

Pulled from a pack of 2011-12 Panini Contenders in May 2012.

This card is signed on-card in blue Sharpie marker and serial numbered 414 out of 800. Hopefully, Colin Greening did not have to sign all 800 of them in one sitting.

In his first full season in the NHL (11-12), Greening scored a respectable 37 points. Prior to playing for the Ottawa Senators, he played for the Binghamton Senators (AHL) and for Cornell University (ECAC).

Tony Esposito

Tony Esposito

Retired player. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.

Signed insert card.

After a partial season with the Montreal Canadiens, Tony Esposito would play the next 15 years with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was one of the game's top goaltenders in the 1970s.

This card is from the 2011 National. You could get it in a redemption pack from the Upper Deck booth. I was pretty lucky, and pulled signed cards of Sidney Crosby, Bobby Orr and Jeff Skinner.

But I did not get a Tony-O autograph. I finally tracked one down on eBay--numbered 1 out of 10--and won the auction. As you can see, it is nicely signed in blue Sharpie marker. Like many other retired greats, Esposito takes his time when signing an autograph.