Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Month of Mail - August 2020

August turned out to be a great month for 'hockey ink in the mail.' Thanks to all the collectors who I made deals with this past month, especially Steve!
A total of 60 new NHL player signatures were added in August, raising the grand total to 6,700 unique player signatures for 86% of everyone to play in the league.


                      Rhys Thomson (d. 1993)
Defenseman Rhys Thomson played a handful of NHL games with the 1939/40 Montreal Canadiens and 1942/43 Toronto Maple Leafs.

                           Bill Wylie (d. 1983)
Bill Wylie played 1 game in the NHL with the 1950-51 New York Rangers.

                      Bert Connolly (d. 1990)
From 1934 to 1938 Bert Connolly scored 28 points in 88 career NHL games between the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks. He won the Stanley Cup in 1938 with Chicago.
I scanned this card together with the matchbook that I display it with. The matchbook is his only 'card' and while I like having a Mystery Cuts card in my collection, I also like having a photo to go along with the signature.

              Johnny Gottselig (d. 1986)
Johnny Gottselig was a long time member of the Chicago Blackhawks, from 1928 to 1945 he played 590 regular season NHL games for the club. He was captain of the Hawks for 5 seasons and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 1934 and 1938. He also spent time as head coach of Chicago. 

              Bobby Lee (d. 1974)
Bobby Lee played 1 game in the NHL with the 1942/43 Montreal Canadiens. He spent most of his career in Great Britain.

              Rosario "Kitoute" Joannette (d. 1998)
Kitoute Joannette played 2 games in the NHL with the 1944/45 Montreal Canadiens.

                    Archie Wilder (d. 2002)
Archie Wilder played 18 games in the NHL with the 1940/41 Detroit Red Wings.

                   Zellio Toppazzini (d. 2001)
Zellio Toppazzini scored 21 goals and 42 points in 123 career NHL games between the Bruins, Rangers and Blackhawks.

                      Shep Mayer (d. 2005)
Shep Mayer played 2 career NHL games with the 1942/43 Toronto Maple Leafs and scored 3 points. 

                          Bob Champoux
Goaltender Bob Champoux appeared in 1 playoff game with the 1963/64 Detroit Red Wings. He returned to the minors where he toiled until 1973/74, when he returned to the NHL to play 17 games with the California Golden Seals.

                         Gary Donaldson
Gary Donaldson played 1 game in the NHL with the 1973/74 Chicago Blackhawks. He later played a few games in the WHA with the 1976/77 Houston Aeros.

                     Brian McDonald
Brian McDonald made his NHL debut during the 1968 playoffs, playing 8 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. He never played a regular season with the club and didn't return to the NHL until playing 12 games with the 1970/71 Buffalo Sabres. He then went on to play over 300 games in the WHA.

                          Alain Raymond
Goalie Alain Raymond played in 1 NHL game with the 1987/88 Washington Capitals.

                           Glenn Tomalty
Glenn Tomalty played 1 game in the NHL with the 1979/80 Winnipeg Jets.

                        Bernie Saunders
An undrafted Western Michigan University product, Bernie Saunders played 10 games in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques. Thanks to the popular politician with a similar name, I had a heck of a time tracking him down and was thrilled to get this return.

                       Andre Corriveau (d. 1993)
Andre Corriveau recorded 1 assist in 3 career NHL games with the 1953/54 Montreal Canadiens.

                           Gord Wappel
From 1979 to 1982 Gord Wappel played 20 games in the NHL between the Atlanta/Calgary Flames.

                          Greg Carroll
Greg Carroll played a couple seasons in the WHA and a couple seasons in the NHL. He was a member of the Cincinnati Stingers, New England Whalers, Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers.

                             John Arbour
From 1965 to 1972 John Arbour played just over 100 NHL games between the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues. He then went on to play five seasons and well over 300 games in the WHA.

                              Doug Acomb
Doug Acomb recorded 1 point in 2 career NHL games with the 1969/70 Toronto Maple Leafs.

                         Paul Hurley
Paul Hurley represented the United States at the 1968 Olympics and a few months later, he played his only NHL game with the 1968/69 Boston Bruins. In 1972, Hurley found a home in the WHA and went on to play over 300 games in the rival league.

                       Alain Langlais
From 1973 to 1975 Alain Langlais scored 4 goals and 8 points in 25 career NHL games with the Minnesota North Stars.

                        Gary Gambucci
A member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, Gary Gambucci played 51 games in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars. He then spent a couple seasons in the WHA with the Minnesota Fighting Saints. He represented the United States at the World Championships in 1969, 1971 and 1976.

                       Jack Borotsik (d. 2018)
Jack Borotsik played 1 game in the NHL with the 1974/75 St. Louis Blues.

            Harry Taylor (d. 2009)
From 1946 to 1952 Harry Taylor scored 15 points in 66 career NHL games between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks. He's best known for helping Toronto win the Stanley Cup in 1949.

                           Gary Laskoski
An undrafted goalie signed from St. Lawrence University, Gary Laskowski spent 2 seasons in the NHL with the LA Kings. From 1982 to 1984 he played 59 games in the NHL.

                         Ed Cooper
There aren't many missing living former NHLers who I have contact info for so my TTM returns have been few and far between lately. This was an exciting return and Mr. Cooper graciously answered my question as well, it made my day. During the early 1980s, Cooper played 49 NHL games with the Colorado Rockies.

                            Greg Holst
From 1975 to 1978 Greg Holst played 11 games in the NHL with the New York Rangers. He went on to have a long career as a hockey coach in Austria.

                            Don Cairns
Don Cairns played 9 games in the NHL between the Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies.

                      John Gibson (d. 2020)
John Gibson played 9 games in the WHA with the 1978/79 Winnipeg Jets. During the 1980s he played 48 games in the NHL, dressing for the Kings, Maple Leafs and Jets.

                      Alain Belanger
Alain Belanger recorded 1 assist and 6 penalty minutes in 9 career NHL games with the 1977/78 Toronto Maple Leafs.

                        Cam Botting
Cam Botting played 2 games in the NHL with the 1975-76 Atlanta Flames.

                            Jeff Allan
Defenseman Jeff Allan played 4 games in the NHL with the 1977/78 Cleveland Barons and 2 games in the WHA with the 1977/78 Cincinnati Stingers. It is interesting that he got his cup of coffee in both leagues the same season.

                    Michel Archambault (d. 2018)
Michel Archambault played 3 games in the NHL with the 1976/77 Chicago Blackhawks. He's best known for his season in the WHA, scoring 12 goals and 37 points in 57 games with the 1972/73 Quebec Nordiques.

                          Ron Chipperfield
Ron Chipperfield was a top prospect in 1974 who decided to sign in the WHA instead of the NHL. In the WHA, he starred with the Vancouver Blazers, Calgary Cowboys and Edmonton Oilers. He followed the Oilers into the NHL as the team's first captain but was traded to Quebec before the season ended. Chipperfield played 83 NHL games between the two teams.

                             Peter Folco
Defenseman Peter Folco played 2 games in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks. He later played a handful of games in the WHA with the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls.

                            Dale Lewis
Dale Lewis played 8 games in the NHL with the 1975/76 New York Rangers.

                             Jim Mair
During the 1970s defenseman Jim Mair played 76 regular season games in the NHL. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks.

                           Mike Korney
From 1973 to 1979 defenseman Mike Korney played 77 games in the NHL between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers.

                         Rod Graham
Rod Graham scored 2 goals and 3 points in 14 NHL games with Bobby Orr and the 1974/75 Boston Bruins.

                          Ron Busniuk
Ron Busniuk played 6 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres before jumping ship to the WHA. He spent 4 seasons as a full time WHA player, dressing for the Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers and Edmonton Oilers. His brother, Mike, also played in the NHL.

                         Ken Kuzyk
From 1976 to 1978 Ken Kuzyk played 41 games in the NHL with the Cleveland Barons.

                         Rick Hodgson
Defenseman Rick Hodgson played 6 games in the NHL with the 1979/80 Hartford Whalers. He also played a game in the NHL playoffs with club that season.

                          Jamie Gallimore
Jamie Gallimore played 2 games in the NHL with the 1977/78 Minnesota North Stars.

                           Larry Fullan
An undrafted Cornell product, Larry Fullan scored 1 goal in 4 NHL games with the 1974/75 Washington Capitals.

                          Gilles Lupien
From 1977 to 1982 defenseman Gilles Lupien played over 200 games in the NHL, dressing for Montreal, Pittsburgh and Hartford. He's best known for winning the Stanley Cup in 1978 and 1979 with Montreal.

                         Dean Magee
Dean Magee played 7 games in the NHL with the 1977/78 Minnesota North Stars. He also played a few games in the WHA with the 1978/79 Indianapolis Racers.

                          Dave Gans
From 1982 to 1986 Dave Gans played 6 games in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings.

                            Mike Dwyer
From 1978 to 1982 Mike Dwyer played 31 games in the NHL between the Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames.

                          Tom Cassidy
Tom Cassidy scored 3 goals and 7 points in 26 career NHL games with the 1977/78 Pittsburgh Penguins.

                             Dan Clark
Dan Clark played 4 games in the NHL with the 1978/79 New York Rangers.

                  Tucker Poolman
Defenseman Tucker Poolman, a University of North Dakota product, has played a couple seasons in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets.

                    Neal Pionk
An undrafted defenseman, Neal Pionk has played 3 seasons in the NHL, most recently with the Winnipeg Jets. Internationally, he represented the USA at the World Championships in 2018, winning a Bronze Medal.

                     Alex Kerfoot
A Harvard alumni, Alex Kerfoot has played 3 full seasons in the NHL, most recently with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's scored over 100 points in the NHL.

                     Jake DeBrusk
The Boston Bruins drafted Jake DeBrusk 14th overall in 2015. He's played 3 seasons and over 200 NHL games with the Bruins so far. His father, Louie, was also an NHL player.

                  Dominic Turgeon
From 2017 to 2019 Dominic Turgeon played 9 games in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings. He's the son of former star NHL player Pierre Turgeon.

                  Casey Mittelstadt
Casey Mittelstadt was drafted 8th overall by the Sabres in 2017. He's played over 100 NHL games with Buffalo. Internationally, he won a Bronze medal at the 2018 World Juniors with USA.

                 Adam Gaudette
Forward Adam Gaudette has played over 100 NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks since making his debut with the club at the end of the 2017/18 season.

                 Andreas Borgman
Swedish defenseman Andreas Borgman played 48 NHL games with the 2017/18 Toronto Maple Leafs. He's spent the last couple seasons in the AHL.

                                Ethan Bear
Defenseman Ethan Bear has played a couple seasons in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Stefan Liv (d. 2011)
Stefan Liv dressed in 1 NHL game as a backup goalie with the 2006/07 Detroit Red Wings. He represented Sweden internationally on many occasions, highlighted by a Gold medal win at the 2006 Olympics. Tragically, he passed away in 2011 in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.

                       Nick Ellis
Nick Ellis dressed in 7 NHL games as a backup goalie with the 2017/18 Edmonton Oilers. He retired at the end of the season.

                          Bob Boyd
Defenseman Bob Boyd spent a couple seasons in the WHA with the Minnesota Fighting Saints. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings but never played in the NHL.

No comments:

Post a Comment