OMG, Cool. Schenn, Schenn, Stoll and Hartnell

Finally, the other Schenn! This year's Jarret Stoll's Charity Golf tournament is bringing in some different people. Drew Doughty, Fernando Pisani, Sheldon Brookbank, Scott Hartnell, and Jarret himself will be returning this year with; Brayden Schenn (no biggie, got him lots), Wayne Simmonds, Teddy Purcell, Nigel Dawes (cool!), and Luke Schenn!

2009-2010 Be A Player Pack Breaks

Not a bad haul, cheaper packs too than the Trilo3y. First pack, Schenn, just like the first pack of last year's BAP, Schenn...

Gary Leeman Story

I forgot about this one so I thought I'd get it down before I forgot too much. During the fan skate with the Old timers, Gary Leeman, Bob Probert and Jimmy Mann were out doing their thing with people. I noticed Leeman standing around by the boards. I skated over to him and asked if he could give my wife any tips about skating backwards. I said if it comes from him, she'll listen. Well, my wife was ready to shoot me for embarrassing her. But a former 50 goal scorer teaching you how to skate 1 on 1? I thought cool! So he gave her some tips, bend the knees, posture and "cutting half moons" in the ice. He was not sure about the pivot from front to back thought in picks, so he yells over, "Hey Proby, come here for a second please." Probert skates over and he asks him to show her how to pivot from front to back with picks, with Probert being the experienced skater from 'Battle of the Blades'. Probert picks up her skate making sure she did not fall and feels her picks. He explained how to make the transition and then told started started skating backwards and explained how to "cut c's on the ice".

I thought it was kinda cool, Leeman and Probert giving her a free skating lesson.
Probert made sure every person on the ice got something signed. I saw him look around the ice, seeing one kid he missed and zoomed over to him to sign his helmet. He then took the kid over to Gary Leeman to sign the helmet as well. Probert even told Leeman where to sign so it would look good.
I continued to skate with Leeman and just chatted. He told me about his days in AAA, then Wilcox (the beginning of the 'Hound Line'), then Regina and drafted to Toronto. He told me how he started as a defenceman then to get more playing time, was sent to minors. He asked something about Wendel Clark (Wendel played his junior in the arena) . I explained Wendel told those stories at his charity event this summer. Leeman then mentioned something about John Brophy, I laughed and it appeared that Clark respected and liked Brophy . Leeman said the same thing about him, laughing that Brophy played Leeman a lot so they got along well. The rest of the skaters left the ice so the two of us just kept skating around. He finished with a funny story of Brophy swearing at Leeman at Maple Leaf Gardens over a screwed up play with Clark. Leeman is a classy, down to earth good guy...

Wendel Clark Signed Book

Wendel was in town over the Christmas break. He was signing copies of his new book at McNally Robinson on Jan 6. We were working the World Junior Championship during that time so we were extremely tired. We knew he was around but had met him twice in 4 months so we passed one up. On Saturday, I played a hunch stopping in at the book store to find the last signed copy. After the Theo Fluery signing, I noticed the book store obtains and sells signed copies for people at no extra charge. Good deal if you ask me...

Some Updates

I changed the Gilmour from a Leafs number set to a Flames 89 Jersey set. I really like the way the Reggie Leech #27 turned out.

Glenn Anderson Video in My Youtube Channel

Just above this post, click on the link below Nystrom. It may appear he just walks by but never stopped for anyone, even for the people that dished out $120 for players to sign their Oldtimer jersey. A guy beside me was commenting, Anderson had not come out yet. The security guard said that was it and we were to head back up. I told him as we walked away Anderson never comes out for these.

Here's the Loot

Not a bad nights haul.

Bernie Nicholls Ranger Jersey

Bernie Nicholls Plastic stand

Trottier OPC Rookie

Nicholls OPC Rookie Card

Craig Simpson Oilers Puck, Trottier Islanders Puck
Nicholls Ranger Puck and Jimmy Mann Nordiques Puck

Bob Probert used my silver pen for every fan on the ice during the preskate. The pen ran out before I realized it. Hey Bob made sure every person on the ice before the game received an autograph. Can not knock the guy for that. Great stuff!
Anyways, Dave Ellett Leafs Puck,
Gary Leeman Leafs Puck,
Bob Propert Wings Puck

All the players except Ronning and Anderson, they hate fans....

Custom Made Nazem Kadri London Knights Card

This is really cool. After the World Junior Championship, I introduced a Candaian Hero mini unit in Social Studies. They each designed a card of a player, wrote them a letter and hoped for a response. Nazem Kadri sent this card back for her today. He signed 3 cards for her and guess who was asked if he wanted one? If you have met Nazem, it would not surprize you, he was the first to sign and return.

Well, a Flames day maybe couldn't have come at a better time!

2005-06 Be A Player

2005-06 Upper Deck THE CUP
#67/75

2001-02 Upper Deck SP Game Used

2001-02 Upper Deck SP Game Used
#61/900

OH MY GOD THEY DID IT-DION TO TORONTO

I am not surprised but totally shocked, I hope this does not come back to bite us in the butt. I am at a loss for words.

Kinda Funny, Frozen Pond

Surfing the net today on my usual sites, I came across this auction listing by Frozen Pond. Its for a Chicago Black Hawks signed Doug Gilmour jersey. The image they use is from his signing last year at Frozen Pond. Nice jersey but that's Gilmour signing a Leafs #9 not a Hawks. I know this because its my Leafs #9. The small pic of his signature covers the personalization to me Doug made. Here's the original photo. Now this is no disrespect to Frozen Pond, just funny.

Updates...

I almost always make the jersey after the signing or if I know for sure they will be there, have it made ahead of time. So I do my best to show the updated image of the finished jersey. I have lots of signed numbers 'on the go' so it does take time to get the jerseys together. I never buy the $130 jerseys either, I am patient and pick mine up on eBay for a fraction of the cost. I still have a signed Believeau #4 that is low on the list of items to finish. Off topic for a minute...
I wish Mr. Believeau a healthy and speedy recovery from his stroke this past week. He might be the truest gentleman, ambassador of the game we will ever see.
Ok, here is my update of my Tavares and Gilmour jerseys. Turned out not too bad...

Ok, Ready? Card Show This Past Sunday...

2008-09 Heroes and Prospects Game Used Jersey

2008-09 Heroes and Prospects

2008-09 Be a Player Double Signatures

2008-09 Upper Deck SPX Winning Combos

2008-09 Upper Deck SP Authentic
Futures Watch

2006-07 In the Game
Be a Player

2007-08 Upper Deck Game Jersey

2005-06 Upper Deck Rookie Threads

2005-06 Fleer Ultra

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.