The month saw 25 new NHL player signatures added to the collection for a total of 6,261 unique NHL autographs, or 82% of everyone to play in the league.
Frank Finnigan (d. 1991)
Frank Finnigan was a star NHL player with the 1920s Ottawa Senators and spent time as team captain. He won the Stanley Cup in 1927 with the Ottawa Senators and in 1932 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Frank Eddolls (d. 1961)
From 1944 to 1952 defenseman Frank Eddolls played over 300 NHL games between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. He won the Stanley Cup with the 1946 Canadiens. Eddolls was the 6th captain of the New York Rangers, 1950-51. He later spent a season as a head coach in the NHL with the 1954/55 Chicago Blackhawks. He was head coach of the AHL's Buffalo Bisons when he passed away at just 40 in 1961.
Leo Lamoureux (d. 1961)
Defenseman Leo Lamoureux was a member of the Montreal Canadiens from 1942 to 1947. He won the Stanley Cup with the Habs in 1944 and 1946.
John Henderson
John Henderson played 45 NHL games with the 1954/55 Boston Bruins as an NHL rookie. He played 1 more NHL game the following season and that was the extent of his big league career. He continued playing in the minors until 1970. He represented Canada at the 1958 World Championships, winning Gold. I was never able to locate him post hockey career so was very happy to find this goalie.
Jean-Paul Lamirande (d. 1976)
From 1946 to 1955 Jean Lamirande played 49 regular season games in the NHL. He played all but one with the New York Rangers, dressing his last NHL game with the Montreal Canadiens. He won Gold at the 1958 World Championships with Canada.
Mike Buchanan (d. 2017)
Defenseman Mike Buchanan played 1 NHL game with the 1951/52 Chicago Blackhawks. Unlike today's players, Buchanan went on to play in the NCAA with the University of Michigan only after he played pro and in the NHL.
Jim McBurney
Jim McBurney recorded 1 assist in his only career NHL game with the 1952/53 Chicago Blackhawks. Called up from junior, it was his only professional hockey game. McBurney is still alive and I've unsuccessfully tried writing to him a few times over the years. I find it interesting that even though he's been around so long, the autograph I acquired here would have been signed during his first year as a junior hockey player, at the very start of his career.
Lorne Duguid (d. 1981)
From 1931 to 1937 Lorne Duguid played 135 games in the NHL. He played for the Montreal Maroons, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins.
Irv Frew (d. 1995)
Born in Scotland, Irv Frew was a long time pro hockey player who spent 3 season in the NHL. From 1933 to 1936 Frew played 95 games in the NHL, dressing for the Montreal Maroons, St. Louis Eagles and Montreal Canadiens.
Johnny Gagnon (d. 1984)
From 1930 to 1940 Johnny Gagnon scored 120 goals and 261 points in 454 career regular season NHL games. He spent the majority of that time with the Montreal Canadiens but he also had stints with the Boston Bruins and New York Americans. Gagnon won the Stanley Cup in 1931 with Montreal.
Sid Finney (d. 2009)
From 1951 to 1954 Irish born Sid Finney scored 10 goals and 17 points in 59 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bill Folk (d. 1976)
From 1951 to 1953 defenseman Bill Folk played 12 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings.
Bob Gassoff (d. 1977)
From 1973 to 1977 Bob Gassoff played 245 regular season NHL games with the St. Louis Blues. The tough defenseman recorded 866 penalty minutes. He died at only 24 in a motorcycle accident. His brother, Brad, also played in the NHL.
Scott Garland (d. 1979)
From 1975 to 1979 Scott Garland played 91 NHL games between the Toronto Maple Leafs and LA Kings. He died tragically young in a car accident.
Marc Dufour (d. 2015)
From 1963 to 1969 Marc Dufour appeared in 14 NHL games between the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.
Chris Evans (d. 2000)
Defenseman Chris Evans played over 200 games in both the NHL and WHA. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Kansas City Scouts, Calgary Cowboys, Quebec Nordiques and Birmingham Bulls.
Gary Dineen (d. 2006)
Gary Dineen played 4 games in the NHL with the 1968/69 Minnesota North Stars. Internationally, he represented Canada at the Olympics in 1964 and 1968, brining home a bronze medal in '68.
Aut Erickson (d. 2010)
From 1959 to 1970 defenseman Aut Erickson played 226 regular season games in the NHL, dressing for the Bruins, Blackhawks, Maple Leafs and Seals. He played a playoff game for the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs, enough to get his name immortalized on the Stanley Cup.
Scott Campbell
Defenseman Scott Campbell was drafted 1st overall in the 1977 WHA draft by the Houston Aeros. He played a season for Houston then a second season in the WHA with the Winnipeg Jets. Campbell followed the Jets to the NHL and played 80 NHL games between the Jets and St. Louis Blues. An illness forced him to an early retirement.
Bill Kitchen (d. 2012)
From 1981 to 1985 defenseman Bill Kitchen played 41 games in the NHL between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. His brother, Mike, also played in the NHL.
Vladimir Tarasenko
A three time NHL All-Star, Vladimir Tarasenko was a key part of the team's 2019 Stanley Cup win. It was the last autograph I needed for the 2012/13 year of debuts, putting me 118/118 for the year.
Ivan Provorov
Russian defenseman Ivan Provorov was drafted 7th overall in 2015 by Philadelphia. He's played 3 full seasons in the NHL with Philly. In 2017, he won a Bronze medal at the World Championships with Russia.
Ian McCoshen
Defenseman Ian McCoshen was drafted 31st overall by the Florida Panthers in 2013. He spent 3 seasons at Boston College before turning pro and has played 60 NHL games with the Panthers. Internationally, he represented the United States at the World Juniors in 2014 and 2015.
Paul LaDue
Defenseman Paul LaDue has played 67 NHL games with the LA Kings over 3 seasons. He was a 6th round draft pick in 2012 who attended the University of North Dakota.
Mikko Rantanen
Drafted 10th overall by Colorado in 2015, Mikko Rantanen has emerged as an NHL All-Star and recently signed a big six-year extension with the Avalanche.
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Paul Heaver
Defenseman Paul Heaver played 71 games in the WHA over two seasons. He dressed for the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls.
Jim Sherrit played 3 seasons in the WHA and was a solid contributor, netting 63 goals and 135 points in 193 regular season games. He won the WHA's Avco Cup in 1974 and 1975 with Gordie Howe's Houston Aeros.
Hockey Hall of Famer Red Storey was an NHL referee during the 1950s. Before becoming an official, he was a star CFL football player, winning the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts.
Cameron Voss spent two years, 2016-2018, as an NHL official. He was a former college hockey goalie.
This is about as random as random hockey autographs come. Dave Leonardi is the long time "Sign Man" of the Philadelphia Flyers. He actually has three different autographed cards in this Broad Street Boys hockey card set. Leonardi is definitely the only NHL "sign man" with an official hockey card.
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