Trip to the Local Hobby Shop, GARBAGE, Kinda...

My trip to my fav hobby shop yesterday made me realize a few things. The UD Sp Game Used is GARBAGE! Yes, many packs later, I have never pulled an auto from a pack. I bought 3 yesterday and this was my loot. GARBAGE! So walking around the store I came across these fine items to add to my collection. Brayden plays his junior in town so I flipped this over to see the COA was from the Saskatoon Blades. $40...Cool. The Rider mini-helmet was a little more cash but Andy Fantuz is now a Bear so these items are going to be tough to find very soon. Now the funny thing, collectors are competitive people but wow...A fellow in the hobby shop was shooting his mouth off about the Schenn brothers. They claimed they had the best Schenn collection in town. Hmm, want to compare Gretzky jerseys collections too buddy....I just laughed and walked away....

Brayden Schenn ITG

Notice the number, cool eh? I was watching today to see if Dean Lombardi would pull the trigger on a deal to see Brayden head to Edmonton. TSN said he's tearing up the WHL with Hamilton, why not make them teammates? But I was happy to see him stay a King. Trading him would be like the Oilers trading Hall or Eberle.

Lots, But No IP's

This one is on the trading block. Send me offers, Flames players!






We ended up getting free tickets to the Saskatoon Blades game last night and were heading in the the city so thought what the heck. The Blades were playing the Prince Albert Raiders, who sit in 7th spot in the WHL. Scott Hartnall is a Raider Alumni also so it's always fun to watch the 'DUB' Teams. The was no real chance for an autograph but after the game, the Blades always have a player profile who would come up and sign for people, last night was Duncan Siemans. The Blades will sell tickets for a game used jersey, I have come so close to Schenn's and Zahn's. I dropped $15 hoping I could get it signed after the game, missed it by 200 numbers...rats....I have a real interesting video of Lukas Sutter, son of Rich Sutter who was chirping another player prior to puck drop. Once a Sutter always a Sutter. Within a few minutes, the gloves were dropped and Sutter does what a Sutter does...He was like a pitbull on the ice. This is not his draft year but he will go to someone, either 2011 or 2012. My stash is from the mail two days ago. 4/4 from Brett Hull, sent a long time ago, actually gave up on them since I met him in Oct and got the puck and jersey signed. Schenn pic from the Blades game, $3, and the Panini cards from eBay. I had to get my hands on the Craig Conroy Heritage puck, signed before retirement. I will get the Schenn photo signed maybe TTM, here it would only take about 10 days if they're in town.

No Sakic Yet, But Two Blades

Today brought a very interesting day. In the morning we had a visit from our local WHL Team, the Saskatoon Blades. A very strong team, currently top 5 in the CHL. Mike Green's junior team, yah they're pretty good. This is where Brayden Schenn was traded to at the deadline last month. The kids were hoping Schenn would be one of the players but we were treated with two top notch talents. Chris Collins and Darian Dziurzynski spoke to the kids about drugs and making healthy choices. Players from the WHL have traveled to BC to speak with drug addicts and take the message back to their communities. I managed to snag a couple of autographs as they were leaving the building and they were more than happy to sign a few pucks. Collins even asked if the Flyers were my favorite team, I laughed and showed the retro side of the puck and said that was all I could find. The Blades should make a run at the Memorial Cup this year, so we'll keep our fingers crossed. Now, we looked for Joe Sakic tonight with no luck. Will try again tomorrow night, wish me luck!

Saskatoon VS Swift Current

A rather snowy night but another successful mission completed. We were a little late getting to the game and we knew tickets would not be an issue, CUC holds close to 15000 people and the Blades draw maybe 4-5000 per game. There was a buzz in the air as we stood in line and it was known that Schenn was a scratch with his shoulder. There was a ceremony for Schenn and Hamilton before the game and both the Team Canada players dropped the ceremonial puck for minor hockey players. Schenn was signing after the second period so we were able to watch most of the game. Walking around the arena after the first period, my head turned, yah there's Rich Sutter, Lukas Sutter's dad. I paused for a minute and thought 2 pucks last year and then no pucks for Brayden to sign. I really wanted to get Brayden on a Team Canada puck, and that's all I had with my jerseys. Oh well...
We were 20th in line behind many minor hockey players, we stood in line at the 12:00 min mark of the second period and they're were maybe 100 people in line within 15 mins or so. Brayden is Brayden, a down to earth, laid back, local kid. He spoke with the people, signed whatever they wanted and took some pictures. We got to the front and I asked Brayden to sign my jersey number and personalize it. He said,"Sure" and yet again, I got a "All the Best" inscription on my jersey number by the 2011 WLC MVP. My wife got the black signed of another Team Canada jersey with silver maker and my Team Canada puck. She asked him for a picture of him and he agreed. This easily could be misconstrued as a proof pic but he is who is is, cool. Another perk of the cute wife thing maybe too. Anyway, here's the loot.



Man, it was my wife's decision to get it signed in the black with silver instead of with black on the red, love it!

Brayden Schenn Is Now A Blade

The Saskatoon Blades acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings, Saskatoon native, Brayden Schenn this past week at the WHL's trade deadline. Brayden did hurt his shoulder at the WJC and is out of action for at least one more week. Now, he is the featured player at tonight's game vs the Swift Current Broncos. That means, he will be signing autographs during the second intermission and after the game. Check back tonight for the goods!

Blades Signed Pucks and Delaet Ball

Lots of guys had balls, gloves and bags for Graham to sign. This is a Taylor Made 77 ball from the Bourque breakfast last year.

Free little 5x7's they gave out.

Benson, Brent

Benson, Brent
This is neat, $10 a pick and you get a signed puck or a prize. The guy looked at me like I was mad I picked a signed puck. I liked it!

I bought the signed card off of eBay, Stephen Ames signed the front. If it was in person, I would have got the front side signed along with Ames. But it's still a Masters scorecard signed by an future star.

Now, any Sens fans want a treat? I have a signed puck from Cowen for $5 plus shipping. I can not stand the site of it so whoever wants it, it's yours. Signed at the WJC tryouts in Saskatoon 2 summers ago, before he was a big shot I guess....

A Weird Success and A New Jerk for the Files!

We went to the Saskatoon Blades game tonight, who were playing the Spokane Chiefs. The Dakota Dunes Casino was the title game sponsor so there was a guest at the game. Graham Delaet from the PGA Tour was in town and is sponsored by the Dunes so he signed autographs and took pictures with people. He's really down to earth and a local guy too. He just got his card for 2011-12 season so he was in good spirits. There was a $10 pick a puck table, where you could win about 10 prizes or an autographed Blades player puck. The prizes really did not appeal to me but the runner up prize was a signed Blades puck. I dropped the first $10 and pulled #28 Johnson, Braeden,. I decided to try it again hoping I did not win the prize but another puck, $10 dropped and I pulled #27 Benson, Brent. Young undrafted players so $20? Good in my books. Now for the JERK of the night, Jared Cowen, Ottawa Senators draft pick. The Chiefs won the game and he was the first off the ice, I asked him if he would sign a puck and he walked by and just said, "No". Now I realize the player always has the choice but he's a local kid from about 1 hour away, family at the game...Poor in my books, I had met him at the WJC in Saskatoon and he did not strike me as that type. Hmm, he was not played in the semis or finals and the WJC and was sent down to Junior this year when the Sens had room. I smell another JERK for the labels! Pics tomorrow!