Told you so

As promised, hockey fans should begin seeing NHL replica jerseys popping up in retail establishments. With the league's move to the RBK Edge uniform system, last year's styles are, shall we say, old-school relics.

Over the weekend, I added these jerseys to the collection:

~ New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur road adult replica (embroidered name and numbers): $75
~ New Jersey Devils Martin Brodeur home child replica (embroidered name and numbers): $50
~ Colorado Avalanche home adult replica: $42.50
~ Montreal Canadiens home adult replica: $42.50

But rather than assign these jerseys to the darkest corners of a closet, why not add them to your autograph stock.

I have no doubt that Brodeur will sign his jersey(s). And with Colorado and Montreal visiting Tampa Bay this season, I'll use them, in highly selective fashion, to snag some top-shelf players, say Saku Koivu and, if I'm particularly lucky, Joey Sakic.

A fitting honour

I could write 5,000 words tonight on just how important Kenneth Wayne Dryden was to the Montreal Canadiens and, still, it wouldn't be enough.

Yet, if I could use only one word to describe him, it would be "brilliant."

All that needs to be said, though, is that the Le Club de Hockey Canadien, the team he backstopped to six Stanley Cups, raised his No. 29 to the rafters of the Bell Centre in Montreal earlier tonight.

Do yourself a favor, too. Read his book.

P.S.: Say a prayer for Gump as well.

Unfulfilled expectations

Though I was pretty psyched to be hounding the Montreal Canadiens yesterday, the thrill quickly evaporated upon learning that the Seattle Seahawks, today’s opponents for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, were staying in the same hotel as the team.

Toss in college football fans, in town for Monday’s Outback Bowl featuring Penn State and Tennessee, as well as a wedding or two, and you have a recipe for gigantic and an exasperating cluster-you-know-what.

It’s not so much all the people walking into the hotel; it was the group of ignorant football hounds that made the outing more of an effort than it really needed to be. I can understand their unwillingness to give up ground, but when they "congratulated" a bride in a jeering fashion, it showed a true lack of respect.

Not surprisingly, they quickly backed down when confronted about their actions, huddling together for safety like a school of bait fish, and kept their silence only until a certain hockey hound called it a disappointing day.

Having said that, though, they day wasn’t a total loss. We added to our collections, including Colin’s team sheet (shown above), though not as much (eight cards and four pucks) as I had hoped for. Going forward, I’ll be better prepared should this "perfect storm" of annoyances converge again.

Three from Guy

As much as I might complain about a less-than-stellar outing for the Canadiens yesterday, I did walk away with one notable achievement – a hat trick of pucks (shown above) from Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau.

Though one might expect Carbonneau to sign multiples in Montreal, Dallas or St. Louis, he must have signed for 10 minutes yesterday in Tampa, making sure that everyone, dealers included, got an autograph.

Wouldn't it be nice if more players followed his lead?

A true role model

There are many reasons to get autographs. It can be a souvenir from a favorite player. It can be an addition to a collection. And, unfortunately, there are those who simply view it as a little more money in their pockets.

In this case, though, getting Montreal’s Saku Koivu to sign this oversized 2004 Pacific Exhibit card will serve as a constant reminder of determination, perseverance and, quite honestly, sheer intestinal fortitude.

Having survived cancer, a nasty eye injury and serving as captain of the Canadiens in hockey-crazed Montreal shows a will that I believe is unmatched in the National Hockey League. The lessons to be learned from Saku Koivu should appeal to young and old alike.

Scotty, ahem, wouldn’t sign

I guess it should come as no surprise, but the esteemed Scotty Bowman yet again did not honor requests for autographs.

I guess we’ll have to keep on holding these Scotty Bowman Autograph nights until he relents or the season ends, whatever comes first. The next one is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2007. Remember, he's in the press box, right behind Section 314 of the St. Pete Times Forum.

I'm also wondering why he's at the Lightning's home games. Is he acting as a consultant to the team or is he compiling mental notes should be become Tampa Bay's next general manager and/or coach.

It's always an honor

Maybe it's been the two weeks between attending games. Then again, it could be wanting to end 2006 on positive note. And then there's always the fact that it's an Original 6 team.

For whatever reason, though, there's something about hounding the Les Habitants de Montreal. The team's storied and glorious history. The timeless uniforms, crisp and colorful. The countless number of hockey gods: Howie Morenz, Maurice "The Rocket" Richard, Jean Beliveau, Ken Dryden, Bob Gainey (shown above), Saku Koivu.

And while it's easy to grow tired of hounding some teams (the Thrashers, Capitals, Islanders and Devils, to name a few), the opportunity to add pieces of hockey history to our collection never grows old.

I'm sure they'll be a crowd tomorrow for the Canadiens. It happens every time. But, you know what? It doesn't matter. We'll all line up and wait our turn. Complaints, I'll bet, will be few.

And, as the bus pulls away on its trip to the St. Pete Times Forum tomorrow, we'll be satisfied. The Canadiens, the Le Bleu-Blanc-et-Rouge, are in town.

P.S. Don't forget that Saturday is Get Scotty Bowman's Autograph night. See you there.

Get Scotty's Bowman's autograph!

Intense behind-the-scenes negotiations, involving deep-pocketed corporate partners and the highest level of the law, have taken place for the unauthorized Get Scotty Bowman's Autograph night one week from tonight, Saturday, Jan. 30, when the Tampa Bay Lightning play host to the Montreal Canadiens at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Why? He's won 10 Stanley Cups. Only Henri Richard, with 11 as a member of the Le Bleu-Blanc-et-Rouge, has more. And, as long as you're not selling it, why should he say no? Besides, he has a sweet signature.

At the beginning of the first intermission, participants should gather near the entryway of Section 305. Assembling peacefully, those seeking a signed item from the Hall of Fame hockey coach will stroll, under the cover of beer-spilling and hotdog-munching hockey fans to Section 314.

From there, we'll ascend to the front row of the pressbox where we'll politely request Mr. Bowman's presence. Given the Canadiens, one of his former teams, will be playing the Lightning that evening, conditions exist for the hockey legend's appearance.

Though index cards and Sharpies will be made available, bring whatever you have -- photos, pucks, jerseys, hockey cards, game program, ticket stubs, whatever. Me? I'm bringing a Canadiens puck.

Should he duck away during the first intermission, we'll try again during the second intermission.

Just for the record: This event has no official endorsement of the NHL, Tampa Bay Lightning or Mr. Bowman.

Want Scotty Bowman's autograph?

Midway through the second intermission of tonight's Carolina-Tampa Bay game, I recognized a famous face at the St. Pete Times Forum. It was none other than hockey coaching legend Scotty Bowman.

And, from what I understand, the nine-time Stanley Cup winner, including five with the Montreal Canadiens, has become something of a fixture there.

In seconds, I was making my way over to the press box, where Bowman was perched in the top row, with a game program and a blue Sharpie in hand.

He acknowledged my presence and request for an autograph, saying he'd sign after finishing a telephone call. And yet when the call ended, he walked away from his seat. He returned with two minutes remaining in the break, but feigned indifference at my two additional requests.

Now, it's neither the first, not will it be the last, time that some hockey player or coach has played this game. In fact, I almost expected it. Bowman was downright rude to hounds, as well as hotel security guard who let us within 100 yards of the team bus, when he served as coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

Maybe, next time, I'll enlist the help of some people who sit around us. I certainly can bring enough index cards and Sharpies for our section. And I certainly can tell everyone, with this blog as the medium, that Bowman can easily be approached, and is certainly within earshot, from the top row of Section 314 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Maybe, next time, when there's a group of 20 or so, it'll be harder for Bowman,a Hall of Famer, to feign ignorance or indifference. Then again, maybe the ignorance just comes too easily. And, to think, all I wanted was a single autograph.

Sunday morning homily III

Of all the emotional moments during the retiring of Montreal legend Serge Savard's number 18 last night at the Bell Centre, mine came during the national anthems. Rather than bring a singer to the ice, a video showing the late tenor Roger Doucet was played.

I don't know about you or the fans attending the game, but to hear his strong voice once again singing a bilingual "O Canada" sent shivers along my spine. I just closed my eyes and pretended I was there, in Montreal, listening to who I believe is the greatest anthem singer in hockey's history.

It was nice, too, that Savard, known as "The Senator" and for his "Spinarama" move, was honored for his service to the Canadiens. In becoming only the second defenseman (the late Doug Harvey, who wore No. 2, had his retired on Oct. 26, 1985) to have his number retired in Montreal, it was a tribute to the Hall of Famer's eight Stanley Cup rings as either a player or general manager for the club.

~ Though it would have been fitting, New York's Jaromir Jagr did not score the 600th goal of his NHL career against the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. Instead, he mustered only three shots against the team that he played for when he scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 7, 1980.

Jagr gets another chance tonight, at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning, to become the 16th NHL player to reach that unbelievable plateau.

~ After beginning the season with a 10-0-0 record on the road, the Buffalo Sabres lost their first away game last night, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Ottawa Senators at the Scotiabank Place. It was the second time in four days that the Sabres have lost to the Senators.

I'll have to channel my newfound ill will toward the Senators next Sunday, when they play the Lightning in Tampa. Seeing that Ottawa bounced the Bolts from the playoffs last year, one would think that the atmosphere, on the ice and in the stands, will be, shall we say, electrified?

~ In further proof that Boston's Patrice Bergeron is carrying the Bruins on his back, he assisted on Glen Murray's game-winner in overtime last night against Washington. It was the fourth straight game that Bergeron has factored into the Bruins' winning goal (two game-winning goals in regulation as well as one in a shootout).