Ayuh, I've been to Maine

With Team USA and Sweden opening training camps in and around Portland, Maine, later this week (April 24-30) for the upcoming World Championships, I'm going through a rather severe case of hockey homesickness. And it's not just because of the missed hounding opportunities.

No, I'm a big fan of Portland. It's a cool city. Old, brick and granite buildings. Lots of 'em. Commercial Street separates a working waterfront and a bustling downtown. Expect trendy gift shops and the requisite prices. The restaurants could be better, but there are some brew pubs, namely Three Dollar Deweys, worth visiting, too.

My favorite thing to do in Portland, and this should come as no great surprise, was hockey hounding. Many a winter's night, after making the 45-minute, mostly back-road ride to Portland to take in the game, I stood outside the Cumberland County Civic Center, snagging autographs from then-AHL stars Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Jason Spezza and Eric Staal.

Portland is, by far, the easiest place I've ever collected autographs. The players' entrance fronts Spring Street. At game time, most walk down from the hotel or parking garage. Post-game, the bus parks right outside the doors.

Who's worth hounding? How about these players?

Team USA: Buffalo's Jason Pominville and Drew Stafford, Carolina's Tim Gleason, Chicago's Patrick Kane, Edmonton's Tom Gilbert, Los Angeles' Dustin Brown and Patrick O'Sullivan, New Jersey's Zach Parise and Phoenix's Peter Mueller and Keith Ballard.

Team Sweden: Ex-Islander Kenny Jonsson, Los Angeles' Erik Ersberg and Vancouver's Alexander Edler. It's too bad such players as Vancouver's Markus Naslund and the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik declined their invitations.

Even though I can't be there, here's hoping that someone takes advantage of this opportunity. I'll bet that some of Boston's hounding crew will be there. If not, they'll miss out.

Go with what you know

There's something to be said for routines. And after an abbreviated hounding session Tuesday, I'll try to stick to mine from now on.

Usually, I try to catch NHL teams before morning skates. The crowds are thinner. Players tend to be a little less-focused than at game time. Most of all, though, the time fits into my schedule.

I had to deviate from the norm, however, when a colleague asked for a ride to work. With his car at the shop and my owing him a favor or two, I couldn't say no. Rather than hound the Islanders before the morning skate, I went after the session.

Let's just say that I really have no reason to complain. Though I picked up only eight autographs, including a pair of pucks (above) from Islanders captain Bill Guerin, it wasn't my best effort.

Unfortunately, in my haste to rustle up a few Lightning items for recently acquired players (who are staying at the same hotel as the Islanders), I left my Islanders card book sitting on the breakfast bar at home. I didn't discover my error until I was in Tampa.

I could only say hello as I watched Islander and Islander walk past. If I had it, I'd like to think I would've added another dozen cards to the collection. All I can do, though, is chalk it up to experience -- routines are made to stay intact.

Making amends

When he was with Tampa Bay, the Islanders' Ruslan Fedotenko was my favorite player. He had skills, was amicable toward fans and, most importantly, has his place secured in Lightning history.

By scoring the eventual game-winner against Calgary in Game 7 of the 2004 Stanley Cup finals, the Lightning were able to secure hockey's Holy Grail.

Because professional hockey is a business, Fedotenko moved on last summer, ending up on Long Island, becoming one of the Islanders free-agent signings.

Before he left, though, he signed a Stanley Cup Game 7 puck for me. To me, the silver ink was hard to read on the puck's multi-colored, but light, background. As a result, and with a considerable amount of trepidation, I removed the signature, with the hopes of getting it resigned in a different color.

Earlier this week, with the Islanders in town to play the Lightning, I was able to accomplish that objective. If you ask me, it looks considerably better now. The Islanders puck? I has him sign that, just for good measure.

Making his mark

If you're keeping score at home, please add the Islanders' Miroslav Satan to the Slovakian team jersey. Yes, I know it looks like a scribble by a 2-year-old, but I swear that's how he signs. At least his number, 81, is somewhat easy to read.

Showing his concern

Who says that today's professional athlete isn't concerned about the welfare of fans, even if they are autograph hounds? The Islanders' Richard Park did his bit coming back from Tuesday's morning skate:

Puckhound: Richard, do you have time to sign a puck?

Park: You know, there's a virus going around our team. It's best that I don't sign for you.

Puckhound: Excuse me?

Park: We have a few guys on the team who have a virus. You know, they're sick. They missed the skate this morning.

Puckhound: Really? I haven't heard that one before. That's pretty original.

Sunday morning homily XXIII

Technically, this is a few minutes late. It's Sunday afternoon already, not morning. It's like time, an hour in this case, has slipped away. In a sense, today typifies this season here in the Tampa Bay area.

Last September, during training camp, ambition and hopes ran high. Preparations had been made. Lofty goals were set. Confidence, as it usually is during that time of the season, was secure.

As the season wore on, though, so did the incumbent trials. There were peaks. There were valleys. Highlights and low-water marks. Rays of sunshine blocked by clouds. Like a slow-moving stream, this season has meandered, creating hockey's version of an oxbow lake.

And, now, as we enter the homestretch, there is the realization that yet another campaign is nearing an end. Setbacks, I'm afraid, maintain a slight edge over any steps forward. The aches and pains are getting a little too hard to ignore. Sadly, too, the motivation level seems to have taken a precipitous dip.

Before you start forming an opinion that I'm talking about the Tampa Bay Lightning's frustrating 2007-08 season, I'll have to let you in on a little secret. Though it would be easy to draw a parallel from the previous passages (something that truly was my intent), I was relating what this season of hounding has been like.

There were great days, like having the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators all to myself. Loading up on autographs from the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. Getting 50 autographs from a single session with the Montreal Canadiens.

There have been down days as well. Realizing that a serious concussion would keep Patrice Bergeron in Boston all season. My own health issues sending me to the sidelines for the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild. And I still haven't gotten Sidney Crosby to sign Colin's Penguins jersey.

Three weeks and a day from today, the Lightning will play Atlanta in their final home game of the 2007-08 campaign. Between now and then, with another five teams coming to town, there's an opportunity to end the season on a strong note, setting the stage for the 2008-09 campaign.

Disappointments, I hope, will be few.

5 Big Sigs

Trust me, I can appreciate your doubts that any of these will be fulfilled. Given the past few attempts at this feature, I haven't had the best track record over the past few weeks. But with the New York Islanders and Rangers headed south (in a geographical sense), I'm hoping to add these to the collection:

~ The Isles' Bill Guerin on Blues and Devils pucks;
~ Former Lightning winger Ruslan Fedotenko on an Islanders puck;
~ The Isles' Miroslav Satan on the Slovakian team jersey;
~ The Rangers' Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka on the 1999 NHL All Star Game helmet; and
~ Goalie Henrik Lundqvist on a Rangers puck and a McFarlane base.

Fish sticks, anyone?

Sure, it may be the ugliest logo ever to appear in the NHL, but I'm glad that Montreal assistant coach Kirk Muller signed this New York Islanders' infamous Gorton's fisherman logo puck.

I was a bit surprised, too, that Muller, a fairly chatty person, offered no commentary.

Some things, I suppose, are better left unsaid.

Bad boys

I suppose when your name makes the headlines only because you tried to hurt someone, there's a really good chance that Santa won't be smiling at you. Just ask Chris Simon, the New York Islanders forward who recently got dope-slapped with a 30-game suspension.

It seems that Simon, fresh off a 25-game sidelining for two-handing the Rangers' Ryan Hollweg last season, didn't learn his lesson -- attempting to injure Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu by stepping on his skate. Pretty scary, in both instances.

Now, we all know hockey is a hard-hitting game. To some, myself included, there's little that's more exciting that a well-placed, legal hit that doesn't injure an opponent. However, Simon's recent actions, as well as those delivered by the other players listed, have no business in the game.

Let's hope that all players, not just Simon and the NHL's motley crew of thugs, goons and knuckle-draggers, get the message.

For the record, here are the results:

Question: Who's getting a lump of coal from Santa?

NYI's Chris Simon: 9 out of 14 votes cast (64.3 percent)
All of the above: 3 out of 14 (21.4 percent)
Philly's Randy Jones: 2 out of 14 (14.3 percent)
Philly's Jesse Boulerice: 0 votes
Phily's Steve Downie: 0 votes
Vancouver's Mattias Ohlund: 0 votes

A huge draw

I don't know what it it about New York's hockey teams, but they certainly draw a crowd whenever they come to Tampa to play the Lightning. It doesn't matter whether it's the Sabres, Rangers or Islanders, either. These teams bring out their fans.

It was the Islanders' turn this past Saturday. Having heard stories, from fellow hounds and a player, that the morning session was pretty brutal, I figured the game time session could be just as bad. And though there were more people than normal (say about 20-25 people, compared with an average dozen to 15), it was pretty manageable.


How manageable? Well, we added 58 autographs, including 29 cards alone. Besides cards from Sean Bergenheim and Bruno Gervais, Lisa got five different players to sign four cards each, too.

Colin worked two team sheets, getting 18 players, coaches and team staff to sign.

As usual, I brought up the rear, getting seven pucks, including the four shown above, clockwise from top left, by Bryan Berard, Gerard Gallant, Josef Vasicek and Richard Park. Islanders captain Bill Guerin also signed a puck.

Rick DiPietro, Mike Dunham and Islanders general manager Garth Snow all signed the American-born goalies stick.

Kid's play

When it comes to Colin getting autographs, nothing works better than these homemade team sheets. They're easy for everyone involved. The fact that they're unique, even down to the date, only enhances collectibility.

Colin put these to good use Saturday afternoon, getting 18 players, coaches and team staff to sign the sheets.

Players who signed the top sheet include Chris Campoli, Bruno Gervais, Bill Guerin, Ted Nolan and Brendan Witt.

General manager Garth Snow and Miroslav Satan were among those who signed the bottom sheet.

In fact, about the only issue I have with these sheets is whether to use one of two. I like the idea of two, not just because I made two, but because they are so simple to use.

I need to remember, though, to limit the first sheet to say 10-11 autographs, rather than the 14. Adding another three to four to the second sheet would help fill it out.

Exhibit A

Earlier this season, when I wrote about improving the quality of the collection, this puck, from Islanders captain Bill Guerin, was what I had in mind.

Having him sign this card, as well as Colin's team sheet, were a couple nice Christmas bonuses.

I was a bit surprised, though, that he signed the Dallas puck over an Islanders puck. I hope I'm not reading too much into this.

Second gear

From what I heard, New York's Freddy Meyer got mobbed Saturday morning, being one of the first players to head out for the morning skate. It explains why he took a little time to stop later that afternoon and sign this wallpaper image from the Islanders Web site.

It didn't hurt, too, that I told him ("You're telling me that a Rochester kid won't sign for another Rochester kid?") he and Colin were from the same New Hampshire city. He stopped, was introduced to Colin, signed the photo and posed for a picture.

After the morning he had, and he did share the morning bombardment, that was a pretty solid move. Thanks, Freddy.

5 x 4 = 20

Up until Saturday, I don't believe we've ever gotten Andy Sutton's autograph. We saw him a couple times with Atlanta. Unfortunately, he wasn't the, shall we say, most agreeable person.

That all changed Saturday. With the players' fathers along for the ride, Sutton, now with the Islanders, was one of five players to each sign four cards before the game.

The other four? How about Mike Dunham, Jeff Tambellini, Josef Vasicek and Brendan Witt?

Sunday morning homily X

As much as I like watching the Boston Bruins play, especially when the team is down here in Tampa Bay, I didn't enjoy last night's game as much as I thought I would. Sadly, it had nothing to do with Bruins' 4-1 loss to the Lightning.

No, what really tempered my enthusiasm was the fact that Boston's Patrice Bergeron -- a favorite of the Hound Central 3.0 household -- understandably didn't make the trip as he recovers from the serious concussion he sustained earlier this season.

For the past three years, Patrice and Colin, our 6-year-old son, have become buddies. From training camps in Wilmington, Mass., to catching up outside the team's hotel here in Tampa, we've watched as the two bonded.

Over the years, Patrice has been gracious enough to sign many items for Colin. As a result, his room is full of Bergeron items -- cards, photos, a jersey and one very special stick. Our most valuable items, measured in something far greater than money, are the memories from their visits:

~ How Colin called him a heart-warming "Ka-trice," rather than Patrice, in their earliest visits;
~ The one rainy day in Wilmington, just after Christmas, when Colin stopped Patrice, on a dime, with a request to sign the game-used stick that Santaopolous brought him only days before;
~ The instant recognition and mile-wide smiles, as well as the looks on others' faces, when Patrice greeted Colin, by name, during a signing session at a Bruins Wives Carnival; and
~ The near-tear-inducing hug that Colin gave Patrice last October, the first time we saw the Bruins down here in Florida. For Colin, Patrice brought a sense of familiarity to a place that is, in more ways than anyone could imagine, so, so far away from New England.

Despite a chance meeting last night with Patrice's Uncle Vern (an usher at the St. Pete Times Forum), who wanted to meet the little boy wearing a Bruins #37 jersey and carrying a "Patrice: Get Well Soon! Your buddy, Colin" sign, it just didn't feel the same.

Godspeed, Patrice. Take your time and get healthy. We hope to see you again. But, if that doesn't happen, and you rightfully place your well-being and future above the game, we want to thank you for everything. Especially the memories.

We won't boo this guy -- anymore

Over the years, Colin has been the recipient of many pucks from players, either at practices or pre-game warm-ups. Last night, he added to his collection. But rather than getting a puck from a player, the latest addition came from someone other than a player.

As we waited outside the St. Pete Times Forum after the game, the officiating crew started to walk past. One of them stopped, though, dropping his shoulder bag to the ground. He fished around the bag, and a few seconds later, produced this official, and slightly frozen, Tampa Bay Lightning game puck.

"Here you go, buddy," said Stephane Auger, an NHL referee, as he handed the puck to Colin.

Pretty nice gesture, if you ask me.

5 Big Sigs

With three teams coming to Tampa this week -- the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders -- I'm hoping that quality far exceeds quantity as we add these to the collection:

~ Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza on new-look Senators pucks;
~ Carolina's Rod Brind'Amour on a Philadelphia Flyers puck;
~ The Isles' Rick DiPietro on the American-born goalie stick;
~ The Isles' Billy Guerin on Islanders and Dallas Stars pucks; and
~ getting former Lightning player Ruslan Fedotenko, now playing for the Islanders, to re-sign a 2004 Stanley Cup Game 7 puck, this time with a blue paint pen. Fedotenko, you might recall, scored Tampa Bay's Cup-winning goal.

Take that, Torts

I don't know about you, but I find it amusing that Ruslan Fedotenko, who scored Tampa Bay's Stanley Cup-winning goal in 2004, scored a pivotal goal last night against his former team in the New York Islanders' 4-0 drubbing of the Bolts.

Given his harsh treatment last season by Lightning coach John Tortorella, who has a penchant for throwing players under the bus, I'm sure Rusty played with a little extra motivation.

As for the Lightning, they continue to be nothing more than roadkill, losing their sixth-straight away game.