Don't go emptyhanded

One of the last things I do before heading out to hound a team is to check the American Hockey League transactions. It's a good way to find out whether some prospect has been sent down or called up.

And rather than pass on an opportunity to get an autograph on something other than an index card, I take the time to create cards like this one, for New York's Ivan Baranka, for the players to sign. Even better, the card, made using Microsoft's Word program (yes, that's right, Word) serves as a visual cheat-sheet for players I might not readily recognize.

Bottom line, kids, is that preparation and perspiration go a long way when it comes to hounding. It's all part of making an effort.