My Personal Autograph Stories
Here are some stories that I have accumalated over the last couple of years. If you have any stories that you would like to have me post send me an email w/ your email address, your story, where your from, and your favorite NHL team. I will soon have a section completly dedicated to your stories. Thanks and enjoy the stories.
Phoenix Coyotes vs. Boston Bruins, Cambridge/Boston MA- Dec. 13 1999-
As usual I got tickets to head into the bruins/coyotes game because my uncle is friendly w/ Keith Tkachuk. I did not have school the day of the game so I decided to stay at my grandparents house in Cambridge, MA because the Coyotes were staying at the Grand Sonesta, a fancy hotel in the same city. I got there at about 9:30am hoping to get some guys as they were leaving for the morning skate. I sat inside the hotel directly across from where they were having breakfeast but did not bother them for any graphs inside the hotel. I heard Bobby Francis say that the bus would leave at 10:15am so I waited out infront of the bus withe one other hound. I picked up rookie Trevor Letowski, winger Greg Adams, and finnish d-man Teppo Numminen. I asked Rich Tochett for his auto but he just ignored me. Keith Tkachuk was not there and nor was JR. After the bus left I hung around and went into the mall across the street. At about 12:15 pm Rick Tocchet arrived back at the hotel in a Mercedes w/ someone else driving. He signed an authentic jersey for another collector and signed two cards for me. J.J. Daignault arrived in a cab but I did not have anything for him to sign. About 25 minutes later the bus arrived and I got Dallas Drake to sign two cards.
Then I headed home and waited to go to the game. The Bruins ended up winning 2-0 and I headed down to the area outside the locker room where the players (Deron Quint, Keith Tkachuk, Mike Sullivan) families were waiting. I picked up Robert Esche, Jyrki Lumme, Deron Quint, and Keith Tkachuk. JR was no where to be seen. I also could have gotten an from Mike Sullivan on phoenix but I didn't have any cards for him. I also had the oppurtunity to get some bruins autos as they walked right by us but I didn't have any of my bruins stuff. Don Sweeney, Hal Gill, Jason Allison, Jonathan Girard, Darren Van Impe, Rob Tallas, Rob DiMaio and a couple other bruins walked by. I got Joe Thornton to sign my ticket stub and he was very nice. Next year I will remember to bring my bruins stuff. Overall, I got 10 players to sign over 15 items. Keith Tkachuk signed a tv guide from the olympics with him on the cover and also signed a photo of himself and Eric Lindros holding each other. I bought it signed by Lindros and was lucky to get Keith to sign it.
Boston Bruins training camp, Wilmington MA- Sept.6 1999-
This year I decided to head up to training camp, missing it last year. I got there at about 7:00 in the morning right before the players started to arrive. To my disapoint and to about another 15 SERIOUS hounds they blocked off the door that the players walked in and out of. They also blocked off the area that they parked at. We got to watch the players drive in . Thornton in his Black Expedition, Cam. Mann in a PHAT jeep wrangler, and the rest of the players in the morning session in their new SUV's.
Having no succese outside I headed inside were I was late as well at getting some autographs. The players had to walk back and forth from where they walked in in the morning to the locker rooms w/ all the equipment. At one end of the rink was the players lounge, the trainers rooms, and the weight room. At the other end was the locker room. So they all had to walk across. I did manage to pick up two sigs. from Kyle McLaren who signed for all. I also got forward Aaron Downey who played with the Providence (AHL) Bruins Calder Cup team the year before. He led the AHL in penalty minutes and was extremely nice to all, even taking a few pics. with some fans.
I was lucky to get those two early in the morning when there were not that many people around. Eventually they got on the ice and to my suprise there were not that many veterans out there. Thornton and Samsonov where out there and they looked excellant as usual. Timander and Kyle McLaren both looked good on defense. Cameron Mann stood out as well on forward.Steve Heinze didnt look to sharp.
As the workout started to come to an end I headed outside hoping to get a look at some of the veterans come in for the second session. My dad saw Thorton leaving and him stop to talk w/ Anson Carter as he entered in his black mercedes.
I then went over and got in line at the autograph booth and got Heinze and Hulbig.
After gettin sick of all of the dumb ass so - called bruins fans asking where Byron Dafoe (unsigned) and Jason Allison (injured) were I snuck around back and waited in hopes of getting players trying to sneak away from the crowds. I got Cameron Mann their who was very nice. And I also got Jonathan Girard who looked very good later in the scrimmage. Although he was not the nicest guy he still signed which is all you can really ask for when a few hundred "so-called" bruins fans chase the players and surround them.
Then the high point of the day came. I waited about 50 yards from Sergei Samsonov's new Bmw. He walked out the back door and was in a rush. He signed for about 8 of us then took off. I only managed to get one autograph, but I still was happy.
As I walked inside the full rink (only seating about a thousand) I walked by Don Sweeney who wasnt signing. Then the scrimmage began and all of the bruins young guns looked great. And of course the ever powerful and remarkable Raymond Bourque looked awesome entering his 21st season in the NHL. As usual he was no where to be found during the event. He has got every thing figuired out after 21 seasons.
Overall, This years bruins camp was not good for serious autograph collectors. I will soon have a story up from the Rangers camp in Burlington VT. This was an easier oppurtunity to get some autographs because is was so far from NYC.
'99 NHL Draft, Boston MA- June 26 '99-
When I had heard that the 99' NHL entry draft was to be in Boston I was very happy and excited. I new it would be fun to see all of the future stars of the NHL in one building-and man I have to say I liked checking out a lot of there girlfriends too! But anyway I got together a bunch of cards of draft prospects and headed to the fleet center with my father. We got there very early and got seats right next to the section where all of the draft picks were sitting. Early on I got Mirko Murovic (went in the 4th round to toronto) to sign a UD card for me in a blue sharpie. He took his time and found a place on the card where the sig would show up nice and it did. Then right before the draft started my dad located where the Sedin twins were. There was a security guard next to them that was not letting many people get autographs. The guard saw that I had some cards to get signed so she let me go up to them. I only got one signed by each and that was all I could get. I considered my self very lucky to get both of the vancouver prospects. After the first round was over I spotted the six pick overall in the draft Brian Finley(Nashville Predators). I got two Bowman CHL cards signed by him-( he must have signed over 200 autos!)-great signer although he doesnt have the best signature. I also got Patrick Stefan but it did not come out good on my puck because my paint pen was dry so I just rubbed it off-thats a shame.
Overall I didn't get as many autographs as I had hoped. I could have gotten a lot more but I didnt have a lot of stuff for people to sign. I was happy with what I got and I would recommend for any serious hound to attend a draft if it is in your NHL city!
Bruins Camp Story- September '97-
A couple years ago the Bruins drafted both Joe Thornton (1st overall) and Sergei Samsonov(8th overall) in the first round. I was pretty excited so I headed up to Wilmington, MA, (the Bruins Practice Facility) to watch rookie camp with my father. We saw a little bit of the tryout. It was so packed because everybody wanted to see the Bruins new draft picks. After the tryout I headed out looking for the players and found where they all exited. There I picked up Shawn Bates and Sergei Samsonov. Everybody was waiting for Thornton. He opened the door and saw the crowd so he went back in. Then I noticed another door and I saw a car pull up. The door opened and Joe came out and jumped in the car. He jumped in and tryed to take off but there was a lot of traffic leaving the rink so they got stuck in it. I ran over and knocked on his window, he rolled the window down and signed my puck. What a day!
Boston vs. Phoenix, March 2 '99-
Good game! The Bruins beat the Coyotes 3 to 2 I believe. After the game I got to go down to the locker room area, because my uncle has got hook ups. I waited there and got a bunch of coyotes. I picked up 1 from Teppo Numminen, a canidate for the Norris Trophey. 2 from Keith Tkachuk. 2 from JR. 1 from Deron Quint. And 1 from a call up goalie from Springfield, Robert Esche. A good night overall.
Boston Bruins Wives Carnival, 1996/1997 season-
Every year the wives of the bruins hold a carnival in the fleet center to raise money for charity. I costs like 20 bucks to get in and you have to pay a little money to get graphs but it is worth it because it all goes to a good cause. I picked up almost the whole team. I got former Bruin great Cam Neely on a beckett cover. I tryed to get Adam Oates who was on the cover as well but he said he could not sign. Oh well. I got almost everyone else. It was fun!
Email: shaginlawf@aol.com
