I've been extremely lucky as of late to be making some great connections in the hobby. These connections (and the wonderful people they represent) have allowed me to add some autographs I thought I might never see. Its been great fun adding so many vintage signatures and getting a connection to another generation. Recent TTM returns have not been stellar so the vintage pickups have more than made up for it.
Huge thanks to Adam for hooking me up with a Richard Scott signature, I'd long been after his autograph. From 2000 to 2010 I now only need Josh Olson and Dave Morisset to complete to the decade of debuts.
45 new autographs added this month raise the grand total of unique NHL player signatures to 6,498 for 84% of everyone to ever play in the league.
Bill Kyle (d. 1968)
From 1949-1951 William Kyle scored 3 points in 3 career NHL games with the New York Rangers. All 3 of those points came in his 1 game with the 1950/51 Rangers. That gives him a somewhat notable NHL record for the best single season points per game average. His brother, Gus, also played in the NHL.
Sam LoPresti (d. 1984)
Sam LoPresti is a truly remarkable person. He spent a couple years in the NHL as Chicago's starting goalie. In 1941, he set an NHL record with the Blackhawks, facing 83 shots in a single NHL game against the Boston Bruins. He stopped 80 of them. In WWII, LoPresti served in the US Navy and was stranded at sea for over 40 days. He is credited with saving many of his 28 shipmates by catching a dolphin, their only food during the ordeal. When his son, Pete, later played in the NHL, they became the first father-son goalies in league history.
Alex Levinsky (d. 1990)
Defenseman Alex Levinsky played in the NHL throughout the 1930s, suiting up for the Maple Leafs, Rangers and Blackhawks. He won the Stanley Cup in 1932 with Toronto and in 1938 with Chicago.
Bill MacKenzie (d. 1990)
From 1933 to 1940 defenseman Bill MacKenzie played 230 NHL games between the Montreal Maroons, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. He won the Stanley Cup in 1938 with Chicago.
Joe Junkin (d. 2014)
Joe Junkin played 1 NHL game with the 1968/69 Boston Bruins. He later spent a couple seasons in the WHA.
Ken Kilrea (d. 1990)
From 1939 to 1944 Ken Kilrea scored 16 goals and 39 points in 88 career NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings. He had two brothers, Hec and Wally, who also played in the NHL.
Ray Kinsella (d. 1996)
Ray Kinsella played 13 games in the NHL with the 1930/31 Ottawa Senators. He's perhaps most notable for being one of the original Senators who was alive and able to attend the team's 1992 ceremonies when the team once again returned to the NHL.
Nick Metz (d. 1990)
From 1934 to 1948 Nick Metz played over 500 games in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played in 8 Stanley Cup finals and won the Cup 4 times. His brother, Don, also played for the Leafs.
Bert McInenly (d. 1993)
From 1930 to 1936 Bert McInenly played 166 games in the NHL, suiting up with the Detroit Falcons, New York Americans, Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins.
Byron "Butch" McDonald (d. 2006)
Butch McDonald scored 8 goals and 28 points in 66 career NHL games between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.
Smiley Meronek (d. 1999)
From 1939 to 1943 William 'Smiley' Meronek scored 5 goals and 13 points in 19 career NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens.
Jack McIntyre (d. 1998)
From 1949 to 1960 Jack McIntyre played 499 regular season NHL games, dressing for the Bruins, Blackhawks and Red Wings.
Eddie Kullman (d. 1997)
From 1947 to 1954 defenseman Ed Kullman posted 56 goals and 126 points in 343 career NHL games with the New York Rangers.
Arnie Kullman (d. 1999)
From 1947 to 1950 Arnie Kullman played 13 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins.
Pat Lundy (d. 1999)
From 1945 to 1951 Pat Lundy played 150 NHL games between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.
Bryan Lefley (d. 1997)
From 1972 to 1978 Bryan Lefley played over 200 NHL games. He suited up for the New York Islanders, Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies. His brother, Chuck, also played in the NHL.
Ralph MacSweyn (d. 1995)
From 1967 to 1972 defenseman Ralph MacSweyn played 47 games in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers. He later played a couple seasons in the WHA, dressing for the Los Angeles Sharks and Vancouver Blazers.
Ray Manson (d. 2004)
Ray Manson played 1 NHL game with the 1947/48 Boston Bruins and 1 NHL game with the 1948/49 New York Rangers.
Calum MacKay (d. 2001)
From 1946 to 1955 Calum "Baldy" MacKay played over 200 games in the NHL between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens. He helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup in 1953.
Bill Nyrop (d.1995)
Nyrop had an interesting career. His father was a big time airlines executive and Nyrop grew up a star quarterback. He was good enough for the University of Notre Dame football team but an injury set his sights on hockey instead. After graduating from Notre Dame, he joined the Canadiens and went on to win 3 Stanley Cups in just 3 seasons before retiring to study law. He returned to the NHL 4 years later for his 4th and final season, this time with the Minnesota North Stars. He was only 43 when he died from cancer.
Paul Nicholson (d. 2011)
From 1974 to 1977 Paul Nicholson played 62 NHL games with the Washington Capitals.
George Morrison (d. 2008)
George Morrison spent 2 seasons in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues then spent 5 seasons in the WHA, playing for the Minnesota Fighting Saints and Calgary Cowboys. He scored 40 goals for the 73/74 Fighting Saints.
Don Martineau (d. 2006)
From 1973 to 1977 Don Martineau played 90 games in the NHL between the Atlanta Flames, Minnesota North Stars and Detroit Red Wings.
Bill Knibbs (d. 2006)
Bill Knibbs spent 1 season in the NHL, scoring 7 goals and 17 points in 53 games with the 1964/65 Boston Bruins.
Roger Lafreniere (d. 2009)
Defenseman Roger Lafreniere played 3 games in the NHL with the 1962/63 Detroit Red Wings. He spent a full decade in the minors before playing another 10 NHL games with the 1972/73 St. Louis Blues. His son, Jason, also played in the NHL.
Pete Laframboise (d. 2011)
During the 1970s Pete Laframboise played over 200 games in the NHL between the California Golden Seals, Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also played 17 games in the WHA with the 1976/77 Edmonton Oilers.
Danny Lawson (d. 2008)
During the late 1960s and early 70s Danny Lawson played over 200 NHL games between the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars and Buffalo Sabres. He later played nearly 400 games in the WHA, where he excelled. Lawson scored 61 goals and 106 points in just 78 games with the 1972/73 Philadelphia Blazers.
Brian Marchinko (d. 2014)
From 1970 to 1974 Brian Marchinko played 47 games in the NHL between the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders.
Gary Rissling
From 1978 to 1985 Gary Rissling played 221 games in the NHL between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored 53 points and put up over 1000 penalty minutes.
Gord Laxton
Drafted 13th overall by Pittsburgh in 1975, Gord Laxton played 17 career NHL games with the Penguins.
Roberto Romano
From 1982 to 1987 Roberto Romano played over 120 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also played a game for the Boston Bruins at the end of the 1986/87 season. Romano then spent a few years in Italy before returning to Pittsburgh for a final stint in the NHL, playing 2 games with the 1993/94 Penguins.
Jim Hamilton
From 1977 to 1985 Jim Hamilton scored 14 goals and 32 points in 95 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jacques Cossette
From 1975 to 1979 Jacques Cossette scored 8 goals and 14 points in 64 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Mike Rowe
From 1984 to 1987 defenseman Mike Rowe played 11 games in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dave Goertz
Dave Goertz played 2 NHL games with the 1987/88 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Norm Schmidt
From 1983 to 1988 defenseman Norm Schmidt played 125 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Jim McGeough
From 1981 to 1987 Jim McGeough scored 7 goals and 17 points in 57 NHL games between the Capitals and Penguins. McGeough continued playing professional hockey in North America up until 2001.
J. Bob Kelly
During the 1970s, two Bob Kellys starred in the NHL. Known as J. Bob "Battleship" Kelly, this one played for the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. He had two consecutive 25+ goal seasons Penguins.
Ed Gilbert
From 1974 to 1977 Ed Gilbert played 166 NHL games between the Kansas City Scouts and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also spent a season in the WHA with the Cincinnati Stingers.
Richard Scott
A tough customer, Richard Scott played 10 games in the NHL with the New York Rangers between 2001 and 2004. He didn't record any points but did rack up 28 minutes in penalties, including 4 fights.
Justin Holl
Originally drafted in the 2nd round by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, defenseman Justin Holl went to the University of Minnesota. He made his NHL debut with the 2017/18 Maple Leafs and is in his first season as a full time member of Toronto's blueline.
Alex Tuch
The Minnesota Wild drafted Alex Tuch 18th overall in 2014. He played 8 NHL games with the Wild in 2016/17 before being traded to the new Vegas Golden Knights. He's in his third season as a productive NHLer with Vegas.
Andreas Johnsson
Swedish forward Andreas Johnsson is in his second season as a full time member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored 20 goals as a rookie with the 2018/19 Leafs. He won the Calder Cup in 2018 with the Marlies and in 2014 he won a Silver at the World Juniors.
Mitch Reinke
An undrafted defenseman who spent a couple years at Michigan Tech, Reinke played 1 NHL game for the St. Louis Blues at the very end of the 2017/18 season.
Jacob Larsson
The Anaheim Ducks drafted Jacob Larsson 27th overall in 2015. The Swedish defenseman has since played over 100 NHL games with the Ducks.-------------------------------
From 1967 to 1974 Wren Blair was General Manager of the Minnesota North Stars. He also spent time as head coach of the team. He later became part-owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins and spent a season, 1975/76, as the team's GM. Blair spent a lifetime in hockey and is also known for signing Bobby Orr while he was a scout with the Boston Bruins.
Ann-Sophie Bettez
Ann-Sophie Bettez represented Canada at the 2019 World Championships, brining home a bronze medal. This goes with my Women of Hockey in Autographs collection.
Micah Zandee-Hart
Micah Hart is in her fourth season of NCAA hockey with Cornell. She represented Canada at the 2019 World Championships.
Evan Rutckyj
As noted on this card, Rutckyj was a strong hockey player and was even drafted by the OHL's Barrie Colts. This and the next few go into my baseball-hockey autograph collection.
Jamie Romak
This card notes that Romak, "Played junior hockey until 2001." He was a childhood teammate of future NHL star Jeff Carter.
This baseball card mentions that Schwab was also a 'hockey star.'
Jake Cronenworth
The card mentions that Cronenworth "starred in hockey in high school."
Tim Burke
The card I display with this recently acquired Tim Burke autograph notes "an entusiastic fan of the Montreal Canadiens, Tim was once featured in an intreview pulished in a hockey magazine. A later card actually notes that Burke later named one of his kids after his friend, NHL player Ryan Walter.
Ryne Sandberg
Ryne Sandberg signed this custom card that notes a hockey background as well as a picture of him with a Hawks jersey.
Scott Sabo never played in the MLB but he did play professional baseball and is notable for having also played NCAA hockey at the University of Wisconsin. His brother took the opposite route and became a pro hockey player. This goes with my hockey-baseball autograph collection.
Jim Otto is a former NFL player who grew up playing a couple years of hockey as a goalie. This goes with my hockey-football autograph collection.
Former NFLer Tony Mandarich, a Canadian, grew up playing hockey.
A long time member of the Dallas Cowboys, Ladouceur grew up playing hockey.
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