Gretzky Jersey Update

Now, you might wonder why I choose this jersey to get signed. First, I wanted it to be different, maybe because as a kid, the sight of his jersey brought me to tears. Remember where I am from... Secondly, the cost of a nice Gretzky jersey was around $150. I put this one together for around $100. It turned out better than I thought it would, brought home by the nameplate I think. I can never complain about this particular 48 hours, the greatest hockey player ever, 3 autographs, 2 pictures with him and a 5 minute chat with him about teaching.

Game Time, Flames-Wild

The last regular season game was Lanny McDonald bobble head night so the first 3000 fans through the door received a bobble head and mustache, Lanny, get it? We were 10th in line so we grabbed our bobble heads and looked for our seats. I remembered that the Flames will sign after warm up for those sitting by the tunnel. We got position second from the bar so felt good about our chances. I had nothing to get signed but the tickets. But remember autograph karma? I had my Regehr jersey on and thought well, maybe...The siren came on, the lights went out and the fire started from the scoreboard. That is a great entrance for any team. Out they came walking right by us. Flames fans are great, the people that actually had the seats, let us sit there until game time. Conroy gave pucks to kids, had smile on his face the whole time. Man, I hope he comes back, he's a gem of a player and person. Iggy was the first off and did not sign for anyone. I told the people around who were new and anxious about getting autographs that Conroy would stop. They asked how I knew and I just smiled and said, "That's Conroy." Sure enough, Conroy stopped and signed for everyone, everyone who asked. Even me, he signed my ticket. Please go back and sign my Craig Conroy for Calgary Mayor petition on the right side of the page. He needs to stay in Calgary!
Now, Regehr came off next and started to sign for people. Some very nice people beside us had Flames jerseys and only black sharpies. I gave 3 people my extra silver sharpies to use. Robyn came off and started to sign, I ripped off my jersey holding over the edge hoping he'd see it was his. Sure enough, he signed it. I thought he had signed in black on the red back beside his number, no biggie I thought. I brought it back up and honestly, 5 mins later I realized what he signed.

In the words of Peter Maher, "Yah Baby!"
David Moss came off next and signed my ticket with some other jerseys.
Stajan signed on the other side but I didn't really care I missed him.

We headed back to our seats to watch the game. They showed Lanny on the jumbo tron speaking. We saw where his box was but the Dome is not like Saskatoon, no access to that section from main level. Hmm, oh well...
Colin Patterson, Perry Berezan, Jamie Macoun, and Lanny. Grr...that sucks....

The Flames lost in a shoot out but saluted the fans just after skating off the ice, which I thought was classy. I bought an Adam Pardy game used stick from Fan Attic after the game, I was inches away from Iggy when he gave his stick away.

Hall, Nieuwendyk, Desjardins, Jones, Kadri, McMillan, and Bourque

I will go out on a limb and say this autograph ranks in the top 3 in my life. A Flame from the Stanley Cup Team in 1989!Well what a way to end it last night. We ended up with free tickets to the Canada game, rushed into the city making sure that I grabbed my silver paint pen and sharpies, not really sure what to expect. We wandered around the arena before the game and I noticed Ron Tugnutt heading to the VIP lounge. He walked in and as I walked by, I caught a glimpse of Joe Nieuwendyk. I told my wife and we double checked it was him. He walked over to buy a 50/50 ticket (funny I know) and I approached asking if I could bother him when he was done. He said, "Sure". Music to my ears! I had bought 4 IIHF pucks at $10 a piece so I handed him a puck with silver sharpie. I had to comment to him, that I was really nervous. I mentioned that I had got a lot of autographs this week and I was shaking talking to him. I told him I was from Calgary so this was really cool to meet someone from the 1989 Cup team. Hey that's 2 in 2 months! He patted me on my shoulder and said it was nice to meet me. I could have went home right there. As my wife took some pictures of of Team Canada in warm up, I sat in the lower level behind the net. I looked behind me and saw Brian Burke, Leafs GM in one of the boxes. This one might be tough.
We saw Messier but it was clear he was in no mood for fans. During the second period we sat behind the Swiss goalie with some new friends. There were scouts galore around us, by this time, they were not hard to miss, black jackets, suits, and black binders. Funny...
With 7 mins left in the game, we headed down to try and get Messier, finding out he left early almost running out the box. I turned around seeing Burke almost running to the stairwell, even at his age. Well, first one we missed all week. We waited around by the bench noticing Coach Desjardins visiting with a friend. I waited patiently and he motioned for me to walk over. He signed my puck and I said good luck in the gold medal game. We headed down stairs to the area between the Team Canada family lounge and the dressing rooms. Ryan Ellis was the first to walk by arm in arm with a female security worker. Other players walked out so you just had to position yourself. I saw Hall come out with Bourque so I walked over to the area. He signed for everyone, I think when he hits the bigs he will toughen up a lot.
His comment was, "I have to go and see my family guys." Nice kid but time will change him. And my wife got the last item he signed, a nice IIHF logo puck. Martin Jones was next, I got him on the last IIHF puck. I had no more pucks so I had to move to my Team Canada jersey. Pietrangelo signed for a few and a stupid security guard stuck his arm out blocking my wife getting her Canada jersey signed. Kadri, Cowen, McMillan and Bourque all signed my jersey. Not many had sharpies so I ended up handing the players sharpies, just as long as mine was signed first. Eberle and Schenn were rushed through quickly. There was about 200 people down there now and the players did not sign, were just rushed to the lounge. Desjardins signed and took pictures for about 10 mins, nice to see a local guys taking more time for the fans. We had enough by then, hit Tim Hortons for some hot smoothies and subs and we headed home. I know I have said this before but I think that's it for us at the World Juniors. But we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Steve Yzerman, Lowe and Kypreos

We got to the event early as usual but with the cold December air, this was a tough position. We waited at the door to see if we could catch them coming in, after about 5 minutes, freezing our butts off, a older guy came out asking what we were doing. We mentioned we were hoping to get some autographs of the guys when they came inside. He laughed and said that they were here for an early breakfast. So we walked back to the main doors to stand in line. TSN said they would let the people in when they were ready not at the scheduled 10:00 am. The doors opened and it was a mad rush to get inside. The tables were set up in a poor way, some dipsh*t working said some chairs were saved and by the time I walked around we were sitting 6 or 7 chairs back from the front. The crowd filled in and by 10:45 easily held 1500 people. Steve Yzerman and his crew walked out and the place went crazy. After the introductions, I realized the person walking with Steve at CUC two days earlier was Ken Holland, Wings GM. Hey, I'm not Wings fan...LOL...
After the media blitz, I tried to read where he would sign. We waited by the Sportsnet booth and noticed Nick Kypreos, of the 1996 New York Ranger Cup team, working. It took a little time for Nick to get setup and he told people he would come back to sign soon. We laughed when we saw what he has to do. At the table across from the Sportnet seats his kids were having lunch. He played 'dad' for a few minutes, making sure they did what they needed to do, even fixing an iPod for one son. He came back and signed for about 10 people. He signed my Leafs jersey with a blue sharpie, came out really nice, I thought. No one was talking to him, so as he was signing for others, I asked how his Christmas was. He smiled and said, "Great and how was yours?"
Well, I never get skunked.
I told my wife to stay at our post, walking to the other side of the stage. Steve was sitting getting ready for a CTV interview. I watched the interview and saw a bunch of kids on his right side. After a guys from Hockey Canada, handed him a sharpie and he started to sign. He stayed in one spot and signed for about 30 people. Myself not being one of them. I tried to get close but there was no physical way to get close, tables and too many people. So I headed back to the right side to wait. Kevin Lowe walked over signed for a few people and redeemed himself quickly in my books (see Edmonton VS New York game in Saskatoon). He signed my Team Canada practice jersey and we chatted for a bit. Really nice guy, hmm.
Back to Steve Yzerman again. He came over to the Sportnet booth to be interviewed by Darren Millard and Kypreos. He stood right in front of us, I thought this would work. When it was done, someone who I can not name stood in the VIP area asking for an autograph for her brother who plays in the NHL. Not cool. He walked away and told the crowd he would come back. He was being pulled 100 different ways by Hockey Canada, so in a way I did feel bad for him. CTV interview him on the other side again so we headed over there. Now, if you have read my blog, you know I am a strong believer in autograph karma. Some really loud guy hollers at me when I tried to get close along the wall.
He yells, "Hey the line is over here, go to the end!"
I laughed and walked to the back. I really hate bringing attention to myself during these times. So I watched Steve sign for many in that one spot, the loud mouth was still a ways back. I called my wife to see where she ended up. She told me where she was so I walked around to see her, right by the stage door. Steve was right there. I said nothing, laughed to myself but thought keep my mouth shut, she's in. Steve got to her and did a complete 180*. He told her he does not sign numbers. He signed for someone else and she said she sounded so heartbroken, telling him she was not going to sell it, it was for her husband. He said sorry he just doesn't do that. She is not a rookie at this by any means, so she asked if he could personalize it. He changed even the tone of his voice and said "Ok, sure."
He put 'Best Wishes Kolin, Steve Yzerman'
He put up a fuss, but came through in the end, and I walk away with a personalized Steve Yzerman jersey, it will be heat pressed today and stick next week. Karma baby, karma the loud mouth got nothing.

Yzerman, Lowe and Kypreos Signed Jerseys

The whole story and complete pictures tomorrow, I am tired from the day... I will let the cat out of the bag, I had trouble getting Yzerman to sign so I sent in the professional, my wife.

Reggie Leach and Fast Freddie

Well today was very unique hounding day. I headed down to the BHP Family Fest to get into some trouble. The Stanley Cup was on display all day, and for a cost of $10, with proceeds going towards the Children's Hospital Foundation, you walk away with an 8X10 print out. As soon as I walked over to the Cup, the line was long so I had to move quick. Jeremy Boyer of the Saskatoon Blades was signing at the First Nations Hockey booth. I had my Blades puck ready and snagged the first. Jim Neilson was standing around visiting so I approached for an autograph on a blank puck. He was very reserved so I just thanked him and stood back. Reggie Leach was introduced seconds later to another fellow so I waited to approach him too. I asked Reggie to sign my #7 and a Bruins puck, explaining I could not find a Flyers puck. I asked him to personalize it and he asked how to spell my name. We chatted for a bit and I then got picture with him. He went so far as to ask one of his friends to take our picture. Reggie rules, I tell you. Flash forward to the official autograph signing, I waited to get to Leach, still following my cardinal rule, "never get greedy", passing on autographs from all the guys again. I asked Leach to take a picture of his Cup ring. He said, "Sure". I did and heard him say something. I said, "Ok", and soon had his cup ring in my hand. He allowed me to put his ring on and he actually took the picture. Yes, Reggie Leach Conn Symthe winner, took this picture.

Next on the agenda was Fast Freddie Sasakamoose. I missed him at the Juno Cup in Prince Albert three years ago so this was kind of cool to finally catch him. I got him on a Team Canada puck, he was curious about the color of the pen. I told him it was silver and he asked where to sign it. I said anywhere on the logo would be fine. He had a real nice slow signature. He laughed and said he liked how that looked and said he should keep that one. If you have ever heard Freddie, you know he's a real card, really funny guy.

Now I had to get over to get my picture with the Stanley Cup. There was about a 10 minute wait and then another hour for the picture print. On my way out the door, Leach was eating some chips standing at the booth. I took my chance and walked over asking him one thing before I left. I asked Reggie Leach; Who was tougher, Bobby Clarke or him? He laughed and said, "Clarke was a (*&*^%". OMG, that was funny, kinda think he was half serious though. Hmm. The Keeper of the Cup, Phil Pritchard was walking around so I chatted with him for abit and got him on a Team Canada puck, he added "Keeper of the Cup" inscription. Christmas is coming soon but I tell you, this feels like Christmas to me aleady.