2010-2011 Panini Box Break, Yawn...

I stopped by my favorite hobby store last weekend and picked up a few things. I was really interested in the Panini box/pack. $114 for 8 cards. I knew what you are suppose to get and thought I'd give it a try. No blooming autographs, that sucked! I showed the owner and he offered me a pack of 2010-2011 UD GUA. I told him it wasn't his fault there was no autograph but he insisted I take a pack. I opened the first UD pack and pulled the Kane/Bufflin /25 (yes I know!) card, cool, seem to be jersey logos. All in all, I was not impressed, $114 PER PACK AND I pull a $20 Perry /19/25 card and Chara jersey card. The Hall card is /25 too. Not great...

Almost Done Another Frame, Eberle!

I am done with buying frames for my jerseys. This is the second one I finished on my own and I love it. It's not quite done yet, I need some matting done and then I will seal it up and put it on a wall. I won't tell you what the matting will have, but I can guarantee, you will love it. But, this is an Oiler frame, hmmm, my other homemade frame has another Oiler in it, hmmm. And I'm a Flames Fan? Yah, I have a double frame that just needs some glass which will hold a Regehr and Iggy jersey, that's next on the list. You collectors out there, the whole Oak frame cost me, $50 for the glass, $15 for the wood and $5 for the stain. These things sell for $500 in stores.

Craig Conroy for Calgary Mayor! Class Guy! Best of Luck To You Craig!

It sounds like they are fighting over him in certain capacities, TSN, Heat or Flames mgt. He will be missed but will resurface somewhere. Now let's make him Mayor! Sign the petition, he needs it!

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!

Oh CANADA!!!

Being witness to last year's Gold Medal game in Saskatoon, tonight was a great payback. I am not surprised at all the kids pulled it off against Team USA. The TSN guys all claimed and hinted the US had a better team and would win the game. The legacy this tourny has created is awesome, Crosby, Toews, Hall, Eberle, Gretzky, yah it all starts here. But no one from the TSN Crew mentioned one thing, we are Canadian and this is our game!

OH CANADA!!!! DOUGHTY JERSEY

SportChek had these for $49.99, had to jump at it quick. Notice the GOLD 2010 INSCR....Oh Yah!
This makes 3 Doughty jerseys now. I am glad he's a buddy of Stoll's, so maybe his JR team next year.

Ladies and Gentlemen, It's Authentic! Bower...

I spoke with Frozenpond again today and was treated with a pleasant surprise. The website that I sent the jersey to was legit. They asked Mr. Bower if he knew of that site and he did, saying he has worked with them a lot in the past. He was shown this picture and authenticated it for me, saying, "Yah, that looks good, that's my signature." The rep from Frozenpond continued to say when they were watching Mr. Bower sign, some of his "J's" look like this. Good thing I waited for this, I was about to rip the #1 off. Oh yah, I got them to get Mr. Bower to sign a #1 just in case, for $25, yah that will make 3 Bower Jerseys....

Looky What I Found.....Check it Out!

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I totally forgot about these, purchased from CSI Sports, a reputable dealer in Ontario.

Only in Canada

I had a plan about my Johnny Bower jersey. I called Frozen Pond yesterday and asked if I could get a #1 signed by Bower and out it on my 'fake' Bower jersey. I explained my situation and asked of they knew of the www.johnnybower.net site. They looked it up and it was not on the internet anymore. I knew that and assumed that helped with my question about the authenticity of the jersey (see below). The worker looked at the jersey from this blog and said it did look funny. He did say though, Bower signs almost every weekend so why would someone fake it when its actually an easy graph to get. Plus, the person sent a $150 jersey back for $35...Anyway, he took a copy of my jersey from this blog and said he will ask Bower if he knew of the site and if he can tell if that was his signature. Cool...I did not care about the $35 but really wanted to know if it was legit, this should help and for $30, I can replace if not.

Darian Durant and Lance Frazier IP

Forgot about this one. Durant and Frazier were in the local Rider store two weeks ago signing for fans. I scouted the place out long in advance, bought the 8x10 hours before, laughed at the poor saps lined up for an hour just before. NHL'ers are always great signers, WHL'ers sometimes, Cowen take a lesson here. Both Riders apologized for loosing in the Grey Cup last month. I was about 10th in line and heard all of the people comment that these players were classy players. I was able to tell Durant something I really wanted to say. I told him, "You were the only player who could have got out of that to even try the throw." He looked up at me and thanked me. He will win a few Cups before he is done. He's not 30 yet, 2 trips to the Cup as a starter, 3 in total. He will only get better. Now, Andy please come back!

Eric Nystrom

2005-2006 Upper Deck Glacial Graphs
I was really ticked when Calgary did not sign Eric. I know for a fact he wanted to stay, his dad told me so. Yes, Bob Nystrom told me Eric was happy in Calgary and wanted to renew his contract with them. Not so.....

Two of the Nicest Leafs, But I Need Some Help

Signed Colby Armstrong Leafs Puck

This is the jersey that I tried to get signed at the Pink Warrior classic last August with no luck. Johnny's website has a send in program, where you just pay for the item ($35 for a jersey)and shipping and they get him to sign it and return to you. Most players from that generation have that, Howe, Orr and at one time, Hull. But I need your help with this one. Once I looked at it, it did not look like Mr. Bower's signature. I have lots of items from him, a jersey from Frozen Pond, cards from UD and the items from the past summer. The Bower looks good but the 'J' doesn't. Please give me feedback, a real Bower signature or not?

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!