More March Mail

Joe Mullen and Dino Ciccarelli

Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Mullen had a tremendous career that saw him win 3 Stanley Cups, 2 Lady Byng trophies, the Lester Patrick Trophy and named to 2 All-Star teams. 

Another Hall of Famer, Dino Ciccarelli never won a Stanley Cup or an individual award of note but was a 4 time NHL All-Star and 2 time 50 goal scorer. 

Dave Brown and Warren Young

Dave Brown was a tough guy who retired with, if you include the playoffs, nearly 2000 penalty minutes in the NHL.  He won the Stanley Cup in 1990 as a member of the Oilers.

I was surprised but happy to see Warren Young on this checklist.  Its his first, and in all likelihood last, certified autograph.  He played only 2 full seasons in the NHL but one was a whopping 40 goal season for the 84/85 Pittsburgh Penguins, earning him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie team.  It has to be noted that he had the benefit of playing with Mario that season. 

Jim McKenny and Miroslav Frycer

Jim McKenny played a few regular season games for the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs but it wasn’t enough to get his name on the Stanley Cup.  He spent over a decade playing for mostly poor Leaf teams in the 1970s.  After retiring he went into broadcasting and even worked as a male model. 

Miroslav Frycer, born and raised in Czechoslovakia, was one of the first Euro stars to defect to the NHL.  He played for the Nordiques, Leafs, Red Wings and Oilers.  He represented the Leafs at the 1985 All-Star game. 

Mike McPhee and Matt D’Agostini

Mike McPhee received his first certified autograph in Famous Fabrics.  He was never a star forward but spent over a decade in the NHL and was a regular for the Habs when they won the 1986 Stanley Cup.

Since making his debut with the 2007/08 Montreal Canadiens Matt D’Agostini has played over 250 NHL games.  He scored over 20 goals for the 10/11 St. Louis Blues and remains with the team. 

Jason Bowen and Eric Lavigne

Since this is his only cert I was happy to knock Jason Bowen’s autograph off the want list.  He played 77 NHL games, mostly for the Flyers but he also saw time as an Oiler. 

Eric Lavigne played just 1 NHL game and it came as a member of the 1994/95 Los Angeles Kings. 

Dustin Jeffrey and Alexandre Burrows

Since 2008 Dustin Jeffrey has played 84 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Alexandre Burrows is an impact NHL player for the Vancouver Canucks.  He has 4 seasons with 20+ goals, scoring 35 in 09/10. 

Thomas McCollum

A 2008 first round draft pick, Thomas McCollum has, so far, played 1 game for the Detroit Red Wings. 

Alexandre Daigle

Alexandre Daigle will forever be remembered as one of the biggest busts in NHL history after being drafted 1^st overall by the Ottawa Senators in 1993.  Even tough he fell far from expectations he still spent a decade in the NHL, playing for the Sens, Flyers, Lightning, Rangers, Penguins and Wild. 

Hardy Astrom and Ted Ouimet

Hardy Astrom is famous because he has been blasted by former coach Don Cherry as being one of the worst goalies in NHL history.  He spent two seasons with the Colorado Rockies but made his NHL debut with the 1977/78 New York Rangers.

Teddy Ouimet played 1 game for the 1968/69 St. Louis Blues and 1 game for the WHA’s 74/75 New England Whalers.  He mentioned that he still guards the net regularly at age 65 in a senior league.    

Sean Gauthier and Marc D’Amour

Sean Gauthier has one of the shortest careers in NHL history.  He played all of 3 minutes for the San Jose Sharks in 1998/99. 

Marc D’Amour saw 15 games of NHL action with the 1985/86 Calgary Flames as well as 1 period of play with the 1988/89 Philadelphia Flyers. 

Bobby Lalonde and Dave Dunn

Between 1971 and 1982 Bobby Lalonde played over 600 NHL games and scored over 120 goals and 300 points.  He suited up for the Canucks, Flames and Bruins. 

As a Vancouver Canuck or Toronto Maple Leafs Dave Dunn played just under 200 NHL games.  He also spent a couple seasons in the WHA playing for the Winnipeg Jets, winning the 1978 Avco Cup.  

Bryan Rodney and Ken Sutton

Bryan Rodney has played 33 games for the Carolina Hurricanes and 1 game for the Edmonton Oilers.  He’s one of an amazing 11 players from the 2005 Memorial Cup winning London Knights to make the NHL. 

Between 1990 and 2002 Ken Sutton played over 400 NHL games.  For playing only 6 regular season games with the 99/00 New Jersey Devils he got his name on the Stanley Cup. 

A couple additional hockey autographs of guys who have not played in the NHL,

Don McCulloch and Jean Bernier

Don McCulloch played 1 season, 51 games, for the WHA’s 1974/75 Vancouver Blazers. 

Jean Bernier spent 4 seasons in the WHA playing for the Quebec Nordiques, winning the 1977 Avco Cup. 

Irving Grundman and Bob Woods

Irving Grundman spent a few seasons as General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens.  His name in engraved on the Stanley Cup as GM in 1979. 

A former Devils draft pick, Bob Woods was hired by Anaheim after serving as an assistant coach for 3 seasons with the Washington Capitals.  

Brad Park & Slapshot

Scott Clemmensen and Brad Park

Iowa’s first NHL player, Scott Clemmensen made his debut in 2002 but it was not until the 2008/09 season that he emerged as a legitimate NHL goaltender.  He has spent most of his career with the Devils, spent a year in Toronto and is currently playing his fourth season in Florida. 

Hockey Hall of Famer Brad Park is one of the NHL’s best ever defensemen.  He was a member of the 1972 Summit Series team and was runner up to the Norris numerous times to Bobby Orr. 

Dan Maloney and Victor Hedman

From 1970 to 1982 Dan Maloney was an NHL regular.  The left winger played nearly 800 games between the Hawks, Kings, Red Wings and Leafs.  Maloney was not only a feared fighter but he also had skill and scored nearly 200 goals.  He later returned to the NHL as a head coach with the Leafs and Jets. 

Since being drafted 2^nd overall in 2009 Victor Hedman’s hobby value has dropped so much that I was able to pick up his autograph for a dollar.  He is a solid NHL player but more of a quiet stay at home defenseman. 

Cody Almond and Andrew Bodnarchuk

Between 2009 and 2012 Cody Almond saw 25 games of NHL action for the Minnesota Wild, scoring 2 goals. 

Defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk played 5 games for the 2009/2010 Boston Bruins.  He has since been signed by the Kings but has yet to play for the team. 

Colton Gillies and Ryan Hollweg

A nephew of former Islander star Clark Gillies, Colton now plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets.  He was a first roud draft pick in 2007 by the Minnesota Wild and made his NHL debut for them in 2008. 

Between 2005 and 2011 Ryan Hollweg played well over 200 NHL games, suiting up for the Rangers, Leafs and Coyotes. 

Justin DiBenedetto and Cameron Gaunce

Justin DeBenedetto saw 8 games of NHL action with the 2010/11 New York Islanders. 

Cameron Gaunce played 11 games, scoring 1 goal, for the 2010/11 Colorado Avalanche.  His brother, Brendan, is a top prospect for the Canucks. 

Bill Houlder and Ville Leino

Between 1987 and 2003 defenseman Bill Houlder played over 900 NHL games.  He dressed for the Capitals, Sabres, Ducks, Blues, Lightning, Sharks and Predators. 

Detroit signed Ville Leino as a late blooming free agent in 2008.  He was a disappointment in Detroit, pleasant surprise in Philly and once again a disappoint in Buffalo after yet having lived up to a huge contract. 

Vincent Riendeau

Goaltender Vincent Riendeau tended net for the Canadiens, Blues, Red Wings and Bruins.  He was mostly a backup yet still appeared in over 200 NHL games. 

Mike Vernace and Sean Selmser

Originally a San Jose draft pick, Mike Vernace was later traded to Colorado, were he made his NHL debut in 2008/09.  Between the Avalanche and Lightning he has dressed in 22 NHL games.

Sean Selmser is a one game wonder, having played in a single contest for the 2000/2001 Columbus Blue Jackets.  He didn’t record any points but had a fight against the Flame’s Chris Clark. 

Doug Barrault and Lonnie Loach

Doug Barrault played 2 games for the 1992/93 Minnesota North Stars and 2 games for the inaugural 1993/94 Florida Panthers. 

The majority of Lonnie Loach’s 57 career NHL games came while he was with the 1992/93 LA Kings.  He did, however, have brief stints with the Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Mighty Ducks. 

Brett Callighen and Nick Stajduhar

Brett Callighen was one of the Edmonton Oilers’ earliest stars.  He followed the team into the NHL from the WHA and was a point per game player through his first two NHL seasons, much of which was spent playing on a line with Wayne Gretzky.  An eye injury hampered his career and he had left Edmonton before they won a championship. 

A first round draft choice from 1993, Nick Stajduhar played 2 games for the 1995/96 Edmonton Oilers. 

Kevjn Morrison and Jim Latos

Kevin Morrison’s only NHL season was with the 1979/80 Colorado Rockies but prior to that he had played half a dozen seasons in the WHA. 

James Latos played 1 game for the 1988/89 New York Rangers. 

and 1 non-NHL player autograph;

Guido Tenesi

This is my favourite autograph of the post.  It is my 17th autograph from the cast of the best hockey movie ever made, Slapshot.  Guido Tenesi played Chiefs player Billy Charlebois in the movie but was also a good real life hockey player and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I'm still missing a bunch of the cast like Jerry Houser, Allan Nicholls, Stephen Mendillo, Ross Smith and Ned Dowd.  This is the first new autograph I've received for this project in a long time so I was very excited to get it back.