Month of Mail - August 2024

Seven new autographs added this past month brings the grand total of unique signatures up to 7,617 for 93% of everyone to ever play in the NHL. Big thanks to a fellow collector who helped me land most of this month's autographs. 

I'm grateful to have been able to acquire both Red Garrett and Joe Turner's autographs this past year. They make for two of my most treasure signatures, the two NHLers who gave their lives to serve Canada in WWII. 

                     Dudley "Red" Garrett (d. 1944)

Defenceman Red Garrett spent 1 season in the NHL with the 1942-43 New York Rangers. He played 23 games for the Rangers then put his career on hold to serve in WWII. In 1944 he was killed in action. Since 1947 the AHL has honoured his memory with the Red Garrett Award for AHL rookie of the year.  

                           Roy Worters (d. 1957)

In 1929 Roy Worters became the first goalie to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP. He won the Vezina trophy in 1931 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. "Shrimp" Worters is also know as one of the shortest players to ever play in the NHL.

                        Gordie Brydson (d. 2001)

Gordie Brydson was a tremendous athlete. He played in both the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts. Still, it was another sport, golf, in which he most excelled. He won a number of notable tournaments in Canada and in 1982 was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

                        Normie Himes (d. 1958)

From 1926 to 1935 Normie Himes played over 400 games in the NHL with the New York Americans. He later became a professional golfer. This is more of a note to my future self, Himes signed his "N" slightly different on personal documents while his "H" remained consistent. The provenance of this signature is that it comes from a collection of Himes memorabilia from an impeccable source. 

                          Jimmy Franks (d. 1994)

Goalie Jimmy Franks played over 40 games in the NHL between the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins. He played a small part in Detroit's 1937 Stanley Cup win.

                         Bob Kirkpatrick (d. 1988)

Bob Kirkpatrick scored 12 goals and 24 points in 49 NHL games with the 1942-43 New York Rangers. It was his only season in the NHL, leaving the Rangers to join the Canadian military.

                          Gord Davidson (d. 2004)

Like the Kirkpatrick, this autograph would not scan for me due to the black background but it is clear in person. Gord Davidson played 51 games in the NHL over two seasons with the New York Rangers

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                       Eric Tulsky

The highly educated Eric Tulsky has gained a reputation as one of the NHL's brightest executives. In 2024 he was named General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes. This goes with my collection of NHL coaches and GMs who never played in the league.

                           Isabelle Chartrand

Defenceman Isabelle Chartrand won Gold at the 2002 Olympics with Canada. She also won Gold with Canada at the 2001 World Championships. These next signatures go in my collection of women hockey autographs.

                             Danielle Dube

Danielle Dube won Gold with Canada at the 1997 World Championships. She's most notable for being one of only a handful of women to play men's professional hockey. She was a member of the 2002-03 WCHL's Long Beach Ice Dogs.

                                Luce Letendre

Luce Letendre won Gold at the 1997 World Championships with Canada.

                             Amanda Benoit

Amanda Benoit helped Canada win Gold at the World Championships in 1999 and 2000.

                             Rebecca Fahey

Rebecca Fahey was a member of Canada's National team for a few years and helped Canada win Gold at the 1997 World Championships. 

Month of Mail - July 2024

It's been a beautiful month of July here in Prince Edward Island and made all the better with an excellent addition of autographs. Most of these come from a beauty of a find, a team signed sheet of the 1934-35 Philadelphia Arrows. 

8 new autographs gives me 7,610 unique NHL player autographs for 93% of everyone to ever play in the league. 

Herb Gardiner (d. 1972)

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958,  defenseman Herb Gardiner won the Hart Trophy in 1927 as the MVP of the NHL. He played for the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks.

Helge Bostrom (d. 1977)

Helge "Bulge" or "Arbuckle" Bostrom played for the Chicago Blacks Hawks from 1930 to 1933. A big defenceman, he was a season pro at 36 when he joined the Hawks. He was captain of the Black Hawks for the 1932-33 season.

Buddy Maracle (d. 1958)

Henry Elmer "Buddy" or "Bud" Maracle is very notable in hockey history for being the first full-blood Native American to play in the NHL. He recorded 4 points in 11 regular season NHL games with the 1930-31 New York Rangers. He also dressed in 4 playoff games for the Rangers that season.

Roy Burmister (d. 1980)

From 1929 to 1932 Roy Burmister scored 4 goals and 7 points in 67 career NHL games. He played for the New York Americans. 

Gus Forslund (d. 1962)

Gus Forslund spent one season in the NHL, scoring 13 points in 48 games with the Ottawa Senators. He was born in Sweden but moved to Canada as a child. That still makes him the first born Swede to play in the NHL. 

Harry Oliver (d. 1985)

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967, Harry Oliver was the leading scorer of the Stanley Cup winning 1929 Boston Bruins. From 1926 to 1937 he played nearly 500 games in the NHL between the Boston Bruins and New York Americans.

Jim Archibald

From 1984 to 1987 Jim Archibald played 16 games in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars. His son, Josh, also played in the NHL. I wrote to Archibald many times and even wrote to Josh asking if he could help me, but all to no avail. I finally caved and bought this one since Archibald is one of the very last living former NHLers I still needed.

Mason Marchment

A late bloomer, Marchment only recently got his first certified autograph card. He had 22 goals and 53 points with the 2023-24 Dallas Stars. His father, Bryan, was a long time NHL defenseman. 

Month of Mail - June 2024

June, 2024 was a relatively slow month for me that saw two new NHL autographs and two new NHL official autographs arrive.

The grand total of unique NHL player autographs in my collection now stands at 7,602 for 93% of everyone to ever play in the league. 

Lex Chisholm (d. 1981)

From 1939 to 1941 Lex Chisholm played 54 regular season games in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored 10 goals and 18 points for the Maple Leafs.

Chisholm goes with my 1939-40 season in autographs. 

Neil Strain (d. 1989)

Neil Strain spent one season in the NHL, scoring 11 goals and 24 points in 52 games with the 1952-53 New York Rangers.

Strain is added to the 1952-53 season of debuts.

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Dom Baolto

Dom Baolto was an NHL linesman during the 1940s and 1950s. There is criminally little written about the NHL's early officials including Baolto but he worked some important games over his career.

Baolto and Cvik go with my collection of NHL official autographs.

Mike Cvik

Mike Cvik was an NHL linesman who worked over 1,800 NHL games throughout his long career. He worked in the NHL from 1987 to 2016. He was a towering figure who stood at 6 foot 9 inches.

Month of Mail - May 2024

May 2024 saw 9 new NHL player autographs added. Most of those came from a team signed 1939 St. Louis Flyers piece of tape that was originally on a puck. It was a great little find for me. 

The grand total of unique NHL player autographs in my collection is now 7,600 for 93% of everyone to ever play in the league. 

                       Rob Garner

Rob Garner played 1 game in the NHL with the 1982-83 Pittsburgh Penguins. Garner is one of the very last living former NHL players I've long needed so I was absolutely thrilled to get this back.

               Clarence "Pudge" MacKenzie (d. 1960)

Pudge MacKenzie spent 1 season in the NHL, playing 36 games with the 1932-33 Chicago Black Hawks. He scored 4 goals and 8 points in the NHL.

  John AKA "Johnny" and "Johnnie" McKinnon (d. 1969)

From 1925 to 1931 Johnnie McKinnon played over 200 games in the NHL. He played for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Quakers. He had two 10+ goal seasons as a defenseman when that type of production from the blueline was virtually unheard of.

                  Walter "Hap" Harnott (d. 1977)

Walter "Happy" or "Hap" Harnott played 6 games in the NHL with the 1933-34 Boston Bruins. 

                           Bill Kendall (d. 1996)

From 1933 to 1938 Bill Kendall played 131 games in the NHL. He was a member of the Chicago Black Hawks and Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 1934. 

                          Joe Matte (d. 1988)

Joe Matte played 12 games in the NHL with the 1929-30 Detroit Cougars. He then spent over a decade in the minors before returning to the NHL with the 1942-43 Chicago Black Hawks, playing another 12 games in the NHL.

                        Jack Howard (d. 1983)

Defenseman Jack Howard played 2 games in the NHL with the 1936-37 Toronto Maple Leafs.

                           Wally Maxwell

Wally Maxwell played 2 games in the NHL with the 1952-53 Toronto Maple Leafs. I owe a big thanks to a fellow collector who sent this to me, its a signed piece of plastic from a puck holder. The collector had sent a puck for Maxwell to sign and Maxwell mistakenly signed the plastic holder instead. That collector did get his puck signed and since I've never been able to get a success from Maxwell, he sent it to me! The flat piece of plastic worked for a very unique custom.

                             Marcus Sorensen

From 2016 to 2021 Marcus Sorensen played over 200 games in the NHL, all with San Jose. Sorensen completes the 2016-17 year of debuts for me. He seems adverse to signing via the mail and has no certs so it took a little while to track this one down.

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                    Chris Dennis

From 2010 to 2013 Chris Dennis was a video coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs and then in 2013 he was promoted to assistant coach. He coached in the NHL for 2 seasons, leaving Toronto in 2015. Dennis later coached the AHL's Chicago Wolves and OHL's Kitchener Rangers.

This goes with my collection of NHL coaches and GMs who never played in the NHL.

                      Derek Amell

Derek Amell worked in the NHL from 1997 to 2021. He officiated in 1,497 regular season NHL games, well over 200 playoff games and 8 Stanley Cup final series.

This goes with my collection of NHL officials autographs.

Month of Mail - April 2024

April, 2024 saw 7 new NHL autographs added including a huge addition in Joe Turner. I'm honoured to own such an important autograph. 

The grand total of unique NHL player autographs in my collection now stands at 7,591 for 93% of everyone to ever play in the league. 

                            Joe Turner (d. 1944)

Goalie Joe Turner played 1 game in the NHL with the 1941-42 Detroit Red Wings. He signed this autograph while playing with Detroit's AHL affiliate, the Indianapolis Capitals in 1942. Tuner served in WWII and was killed in action in Germany in 1944, one of two NHL players who never came home.

                             Art Ross (d. 1964)

Art Ross is a true legend of the game. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and honored with the Art Ross Trophy, he was a long time player, coach and manager. As a player, he won the Stanley Cup in 1907 and 1908 and played in the NHL during the league's very first season in 1917-18. As coach and GM of the Boston Bruins, he won the Stanley Cup another 3 times.

                       Lorne Chabot (d. 1946)

Through the 1920s and 1930s goalie Lorne Chabot played over 400 games in the NHL. He played for the Rangers, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Blackhawks, Maroons and Americans. He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1928 and with the Maple Leafs in 1932. He won the Vezina Trophy in 1935 with the Blackhawks.

                      Bill Beveridge (d. 1995)

From 1929 to 1943 goalie Bill Beveridge played just short of 300 regular season games in the NHL. He played for the Detroit Cougars, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Eagles, Montreal Maroons and NY Rangers.

                   Conny "Connie" Brown (d. 1996)

From 1938 to 1943 Conny Smith scored 15 goals and 39 points in 91 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings. Most current databases note his name as "Connie" Brown but he did indeed sign as "Conny" and newspapers from his playing days also spell his name as "Conny."

                  Fred "Frock" Lowrey (d. 1968)

From 1924 to 1926 Fred Lowrey played 54 games in the NHL between the Montreal Maroons and Pittsburgh Pirates. Two of his brothers, Eddie and Gerry, also played in the NHL.

                       Veini Vehvilainen

Veini Vehvilainen played 1 game in the NHL with the 2020-21 Columbus Blue Jackets. Internationally, he won a Gold Medal with Finland at the 2019 World Championships.

Month of Mail - March 2024

A huge month of mail for March 2024. A total of 25 new NHL signatures brings the grand total up to 7,584 for 93% of everyone to ever play in the NHL. 

                          Newsy Lalonde (d. 1970)

Newsy Lalonde is widely considered to be one of the all time best players of his generation, if not the best. He was a high scorer who captained the Montreal Canadiens from 1915 to 1921, leading them to the Stanley Cup in 1916. He scored an incredible 124 goals in 99 regular season NHL games. Only Gretzky and Lemieux tallied more points per game in the NHL over their careers than Lalonde. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1970. 

                      Bert Lindsay (d. 1960)

Goalie Bert Lindsay tended goal during the NHL's very first season in 1917/18 with the Montreal Wanderers. He was a seasoned pro by then who had a long career. He also tended goal for the 1918/19 Toronto Arenas. Bert is also notable for being the father of hockey legend Ted Lindsay.

                        Johnny Mowers (d. 1995)

From 1940 to 1947 Johnny Mowers played over 150 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings. He had a huge season in 1942-43, helping Detroit win the Stanley Cup and also winning the Vezina Trophy. It was his last full season in the NHL. He enlisted in the army and when he returned to hockey, his job was gone. 

                    Frank Fredrickson (d. 1979)

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958, Frank Fredrickson won Olympic Gold in 1920 and the Stanley Cup in 1925, making him the first to achieve the feat. In the NHL, he played with the Detroit Cougars, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Falcons.

                      Barney Stanley (d. 1971)

Barney Stanley played at least one game in the NHL with the 1927-28 Chicago Blackhawks during a season he was the team's head coach. He had a long pro career in leagues rival to the NHL during the 1920s. He won the Stanley Cup in 1915 with the Vancouver Millionaires. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.

                     Gord Hannigan (d. 1966)

Through the 1950s Gord Hannigan scored 60 points in 161 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two of his brothers, Pat and Ray, also played in the NHL. Gord actually had a big impact on Canadian history that not many people know about. He ran a food chain in Western Canada during his playing days that strongly and directly influenced his teammate, Tim Horton. Gord Hannigan was only 37 when he died.

                      George McAvoy (d. 1998)

Defenseman George McAvoy played 4 games in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens during the 1955 playoffs. Those playoff games were his only games in the NHL. He also represented Canada at the World Championships in 1955, winning Gold.

                         Ernie Roche (d. 1988)

Defenseman Ernie Roche played 4 games in the NHL with the 1950-51 Montreal Canadiens.

                           Wally Clune (d. 1998)

Wally Clune played 5 games in the NHL with the 1955-56 Montreal Canadiens.

                       Wally Kilrea (d. 1992)

Through the 1930s Wally Kilrea played over 300 games in the NHL. He played for the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Quakers,  New York Americans, Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings. The well travelled Kilrea won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in '36 and '37. He's a member of the great Kilrea hockey family that includes Hec, Ken and Brian.

                       Clare Martin (d. 1980)

From 1941 to 1952 defenseman Clare Martin played over 200 games in the NHL between the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks. 

                       Sammy Godin (d. 1975)

From 1927 to 1929 Sam Godin played 47 games in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators and then later played another 36 games in the NHL with the 1933-34 Montreal Canadiens.

                          Don Grosso (d. 1985)

From 1938 to 1947 Don Grosso scored over 200 points in 336 regular season games in the NHL. He spent most of his career with the Detroit Red Wings but was also a member of the Blackhawks and Bruins. He helped Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 1943, scoring 4 goals in 10 playoff games.

                       Vic Desjardins (d. 1988)

Michigan native Vic Desjardins played in the NHL with the 1930-31 Chicago Blackhawks and 1931-32 New York Rangers. There were very few Americans in the NHL at the time. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.

                      Gerry Lowrey (d. 1979)

From 1927 to 1933 Gerry Lowrey played over 200 games in the NHL. He played for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Quakers, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators.

                        Cully Simon (d. 1980)

From 1942 to 1945 John "Cully" Simon played 130 regular season games in the NHL between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. He's most notable for helping Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 1943. His brother, Thain, also played in the NHL.

                         Ron Rowe (d. 2005)

Ron Rowe scored 1 goal in 5 NHL games with the 1947-48 New York Rangers.

                      D'arcy Coulson (d. 1996)

Defenseman D'Arcy Coulson played 28 games in the NHL with the 1930-31 Philadelphia Quakers. He recorded 0 points but over 100 penalty minutes.

                     Roly McLenehan (d. 1984)

Roland/Rollie/Roly McLenehan scored 2 goals and 3 points in 9 career NHL games with the 1945-46 Detroit Red Wings.

                         Bob Gracie (d. 1963)

Bob Gracie played nearly 400 NHL games through the 1930s. The well traveled Gracie played for the Maple Leafs, Bruins, Americans, Maroons, Canadiens and Blackhawks. He won the Stanley Cup with Toronto in 1932 and with the Montreal Maroons in 1935.

                         Moe White (d. 2003)

Moe White played 4 games in the NHL with the 1945-46 Montreal Canadiens. This completed my Year of Debuts for 1945-46.

                            Normand Baron

Norman Baron was an enforcer who played 27 games in the NHL between the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues. He certainly has a unique story, he quit hockey after junior and spent years as bodybuilder before returning to hockey at 25 and making it to the NHL.

                                Jon Fontas

Jon Fontas played 2 games in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars. He has remained active in hockey as an instructor but oddly and unfortunately for me, he seems adverse to signing so I had to buy an index card he had signed during his playing days. He was one of the last living former players I'd long needed.

                               Mike Lauen

Mike Lauen played 4 games in the NHL with the 1983-84 Winnipeg Jets. Lauen is also notable for representing USA at the 1980 World Junior Championships, scoring 5 points in 5 games.

                              Mike Posavad

From 1985 to 1987 Mike Posavad played 8 games in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues.

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                  Ryan Warsofsky

Ryan Warsofsky attended Curry College and then played a little lower level pro before becoming a coach. In 2016 he became a head coach in the ECHL, in 2019 he became head coach of the AHL's Charlotte Checkers and then in 2022 he was promoted to the NHL as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks. This goes with my collection of NHL coaches and managers who never played in the NHL.

                       Scott Driscoll

Scott Driscoll spent 28 seasons in the NHL as a linesman. He worked the Stanley Cup finals in 2004, 2007 and 2014. This goes with my collection of NHL official autographs. 

                    Marianne Grnak

Marianne Grnak helped Canada win Gold at the 1994 World Championships. This and the next couple of autographs to with my collection of USA/Canada women national players. 

                 Shawna Davidson

Shawna Davidson represented USA at the 1990, 1992 and 1994 World Championships. She brought home a Silver medal each time.

                     Fiona Smith

Fiona Smith won a Silver medal at the 1998 Olympics as a member of Team Canada. She also won Gold at the 1997 and 1999 World Championships.