This Week's Mail!

Kelly Hrudey, Willi Plett and Normand Leveille

While most of us now know Hrudey as a CBC commentator he was once a good NHL goalie.  He started his career in New York, having joined the Islanders just after they finished their dynasty.  In 1989 he was traded to LA and enjoyed his best years as Gretzky's goalie, helping the team reach the 1993 Stanley Cup finals.  He retired after a couple seasons in San Jose.  Born in Paraguay, moving to Canada and not picking up hockey until 12, Plett still managed to win the 1977 Calder trophy as NHL rookie of the year.  He would play 12 seasons in the league, putting up a career high 38 goals and 239 penalty minutes for the first ever Calgary Flames team in 1980/81. The first round draft choice of the Bruins in 1981, Leveille was scoring at a point per game pace in his second NHL season when doctors discovered a brain aneurysm that ended his career and changed his life.  At only 19 the once to be NHL star had to learn how to walk again.

Craig Weller and David Laliberte

Drafted back in 2000 by the St. Louis Blues, Weller spent many years in the minors before making the 07/08 Pheonix Coyotes team.  He played in 59 games that year and scored 11points.  The following season he played 36 games for the Minnesota Wild and that was the extent of his NHL career having since moved to Europe.  Laliberte played 11 games for the 09/10 Philadelphia Flyers, scoring 2 goals.

Ben Simon & Rob Globke

I tent to only write to players who have not gotten an officially released autograph.  There were 2 players I needed played for the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.  The Steelers are a great organization and after a polite email they quickly sent me the 2 I needed free of charge.  Simon played 81 NHL games between Atlanta and Columbus, last playing for the Blue Jackets in 05/06.  Globke made his NHL debut that year and played a total of 46 games for the Florida Panthers, most recently in 07/08.

                                       

Paul Andrea

Andrea, a Cape Bretoner and one of only a handful of Nova Scotia NHLers, made his debut for the 65/66 New York Rangers.  He also played for the Penguins, Canucks, Seals and Sabres. Andrea took the first penalty shot in Buffalo Sabres history.  He ended his career with a couple seasons in the WHA.