Sunday morning homily XXX

Now that I've dried off and got the water out of one of my ears following a mid-morning battle with super soakers (my Father's Day present) with Colin (that's him, on the right, with me at a Bolts game), it'll be much easier to share with you why, from my point of view, that Father's Day is, indeed, the best holiday of the year:

~ Fathers get to revel in the joy that they have helped to create. From skating backwards to fishing to sharing a recliner, spending time with your children is the best thing a father can do. Granted, most fathers I know, myself included, want to spend more time with their children and families. At least, though, we all have today.

~ Fathers get to pass along their experience, their love and their beliefs. From working hard at everything you do to remembering to look both ways when entering an intersection after the traffic light has turned green, it's our job, as a child's most important role model, to pass along the wisdom we've gained over the years.

~ If you're lucky (like I am), you'll get one of your better meals of the year today. For me, it'll be grilled steak, marinating for the past three days; twice-baked potatoes, including real bits of bacon and sour cream; and one of my favorite foods -- canned carrots. A slice of cake (or two or three) will top it off.

And though it was nice to open cards and unwrap presents on this day, the best gift I'll ever get is the one I receive every day from Colin -- a hug, a kiss and my favorite words: "I love you, Daddy."

To me, it just doesn't get any better than that.

Stoked, and stocked, for Stamkos

Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit here, but I can't wait for this Friday, when the 2008 NHL Entry Draft kicks off in Kanata, Ontario. If perception becomes reality, that is when the Tampa Bay Lightning, picking first overall, will draft Sarnia's Steven Stamkos, a talented center who many believe is NHL-ready.

Really, it's not that I'm the biggest Lightning fan down here in Humidity Bay. Sure, they're my most recent "hometown team," and I'll root for them to do well every season, but they reside a couple notches down the list.

No, what I'm waiting for is Stamkos' first public visit to Tampa. I'm certain the Lightning, given their "Seen Stamkos" campaign, will be more than happy to show off their latest star. Work schedule permitting, I plan on attending as many introductory events as I can.

Why? Another no-brainer. I have quite a few items -- three pucks, a couple of magazines, a few cards and a Team Canada jersey waiting to be signed. And that, my friends, is just the beginning.

Thanks, again and again and again

As I bring the final Sunday morning homily of the season to a close, I want to thank everyone who has taken time to stop by Hound Central 3.0. I know this blog is an acquired taste, focusing much more on autographs than hockey in general.

And while the summer always represents a slowdown in the hockey autograph cycle, I'm hoping that there's enough news -- within hockey and my hounding activities -- to offer, at the least, a weekly posting until training camps open in September.

As always, folks, I appreciate your support.

Name this logo XVIII

If you don't know what or who this is, you really shouldn't look in your stocking tomorrow morning.

Ribbons and bows (sorry, guys) go out to Drew and Brett, for knowing that last week's logo belonged to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League.

Remember, all answers must be left in the form of a comment.

Happy holidays!

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.

A fair trade

As we approach the holiday season, we're going to hear, and hopefully practice, the adage that it's better to give than receive.

When it comes to hounding, though, I'd always prefer to make a trade.

Regular visitors to Hound Central 3.0 might remember a picture showing Colin dressed in his street hockey goalie gear and wearing a Carolina Hurricanes jersey.

After telling the Goofy Dude that I'd be seeing the Hurricanes and one of his favorite goalies, Cam Ward, he asked for a favor. He wanted me to give Cam an autographed copy of that picture.

Yesterday morning, as Cam made his way to the team's morning skate, I delivered Colin's wishes. And, as you can see, Cam was more than willing to trade autographs.

Sunday morning homily VII

As we get ready to embark upon Colin's hockey journey, I figured that a little research would help us prepare for the road ahead. That's why we've started to visit Tampa Bay-area rinks.

For the most part, we've liked everything we have seen so far. The rinks are clean and the staffs are friendly. It's easy to grab a cup of coffee. And there are plenty of attention-grabbing alternatives to keep idle minds busy as they wait to take the ice.

Last night, though, we witnessed a couple of incidents at one of those rinks, the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar, that caused us to take off our rose-colored glasses:

~ Watching a team's hockey dads, in the presence of their charges, grab a couple of beers following a game. Besides what I believe to be sending an improper message to the children, I was also concerned about these "adults" later getting behind the wheel and driving, say, back to the Orlando area. One father apparently couldn't wait for the game to end to start drinking, ignoring a "no-alcohol" policy posted at the rink's door.

~ Hearing a parent loudly question, during the game and after, the rink's decision to cut short the third period by seven minutes to keep the games on-schedule. Though I know that hockey is an expensive sport, and ice time represents a major portion of those costs, I'm not sure that this form of selfish expression served as a positive message. Given that his son's team was getting smoked, 8-1, one would think he'd been grateful.

Now, the last thing I want to sound like is a prude. Lord knows, I've consumed my fair share of alcohol, though that took place 20 years ago. And, anyone who knows me will attest that I'm not afraid to express my opinions.

I'd like to believe, though, that there are better ways to be a role model, especially for your own children.

Say thanks

If you see a member of the armed forces, active or retired, in your community this week, thank them for the sacrifices that they and their families have made.

While hockey fans might think it brave for a player to dive headfirst to block a shot, it pales in comparison to what these truly brave men and women do every day they're in service.

And, while you're at it, say a prayer for our troops fighting terrorism throughout the world.

5 Big Sigs

With the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals coming to town later this week, I'm hoping to add these to the collection:

~ Carolina's Cam Ward on a 2006-07 Fleer Hockey tin cover;
~ Carolina's Eric Staal on a 2007-08 Upper Deck Series I jersey card;
~ Carolina's John Grahame on the American-born goalies stick;
~ Washington's Olaf Kolzig on Tri-City Americans and new-look Capitals pucks; and
~ Washington's Chris Bourque, the son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, on a Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, Mass.) puck.

Seeing the big picture

He had the audience and the opportunity. He had a right to be bitter, too. But Boston's Patrice Bergeron stayed true to form, even as he struggled with the aftereffects of a nasty hit, by taking the high road yesterday.

Bergeron, who sustained a pretty serious concussion, a broken nose and whiplash-type injuries after being hit from behind by Philadelphia's Randy Jones, spoke to the media for the first time since sustaining the near career-ending injury.

But rather than criticize Jones' punishment -- a two-game suspension -- Bergeron called on the league and his fellow players to crack down on these dangerous hits from behind. It's all about having respect for each other, he said.

Truer words, I believe, have never been spoken.

From peewees to the NHL, any player lining up an opponent needs to remember one thing -- would they want to receive the same dangerous check that they are about to deliver?

Granted, board-rattling hits are part of the game. And there's a great amount of risk involved within hockey. That doesn't mean, though, that gives anyone the right to seriously injure an opponent, intentional or not.

Let's hope that Bergeron's message resonates through every rink. If it doesn't, I'm afraid to think of what it would take to do so.

Get well soon, Patrice

As soon as Colin heard the news about Boston's Patrice Bergeron getting hurt, he knew what he had to do. So, we headed out after school Monday and bought his best Bruins buddy a get-well card.

It's going out in today's mail.

If you'd like to match Colin's efforts, send your get-well card to:

Patrice Bergeron
c/o Boston Bruins
TD Banknorth Garden
100 Legends Way
Boston, MA 02114

A sobering thought

What is it about Buffalo Sabres fans and alcohol? For the second game in a row down here in Tampa, I’ve seen Sabres fans staggering through an arena before the puck was even dropped.

Granted, it was a Saturday night game, affording plenty of time for pregame warm-ups, if you will. And, I’d never begrudge anyone’s choice of beverages during a game, though I have yet to taste any beer worth $7 a glass. But, to show up at a game stinking drunk, weaving carelessly through crowds and sliding down walls is, in a word, stupid.

Not only does it embarrass themselves (though, in that condition, they probably are incapable of noticing), but it also embarrasses other Sabres fans, as well as the team, city and region. It’s one thing to exult over an overtime road victory, but to be drunk and crass, especially in front of younger fans, does little to disassociate the loser tag that’s unfairly bestowed upon Buffalo.

If memory serves me correct, I remember an incident in Columbus, Ohio, last season when a handful of Sabres fans also perpetuated the negative image. Unfortunately, alcohol was a contributing factor. At that time, too, it was the actions of a few that, unfortunately, led to a wide brush of condemnation being applied to all Sabres fans.

As a native of western New York, specifically the dot-on-a-map town of Machias in Cattaraugus County, I won’t do that here. I know too many good-hearted, hard-working Sabres fans, back home and down here in Florida, who share in my embarrassment.

It’s just a shame, though, that there are people who don’t take enough pride in themselves, their teams and their hometown.

Enjoying Miller Time

It’s always a good day when you add a couple of autographs from Buffalo’s Ryan Miller. The Sabres’ top-shelf goaltender has always been pleasant to fans and hounds, taking the time to sign multiples for anyone who asked.

Not only did I get him on our American-born goalies stick (both at left) and a Sabres mini goalie mask, but he also signed a Sabres Street sign (above, on the Sabres’ logo) for Colin and a couple of cards for Lisa.

It’s understandable that some NHL stars, especially goalies within hours of a start, might avoid a crowd. Miller is proving to be the exception – he seems to like it.

Sunday morning homily V

It wasn't until after last night's game, when my hometown Sabres beat the Lightning 4-3 in overtime, did I learn of the news. And when I finally listened to a series of urgent messages from a friend back in New England, I was sick to my stomach.

Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins' star and one of Colin's best buds (that's them together, last October, in Tampa), had been hurt, driven head-first into the boards by Philadelphia's Randy Jones. Patrice had been knocked unconscious and had to be taken off the ice, his head and neck immobilized, on a stretcher.

Fortunately, and I say that with a great amount of dismay, Patrice suffered only a concussion and a broken nose. Until I read that information, though, I had feared the worst. That's why, for the first time in a very long time, I prayed for a long, long time.

Most of all, I prayed that he would survive. Then, I prayed that his injuries wouldn't be severe. But, if they were, I prayed that he would have the strength and faith to cope. I prayed for his family.

I worried, too, as we drove across a dark Tampa Bay, that I might have to explain something that our 6-year-old, soon embarking on his own hockey journey, would be better off not knowing about.

Now, I'm a firm believer that we all have guardian angels. There have been too many instances in my life where some form of unrequested intervention has arrived in the nick of time. And, for that, I thank my mother, grandparents and cousin, Suzanne. They're no longer with me here on earth, but I've always felt their presence.

Given our family's thoughts for Patrice, who we first met during his rookie season in Beantown, I'd like to believe that my angels, as well as a few others, watched over Patrice in those critical moments of injury and afterward. By doing so, they answered everyone's prayers.

Please keep Patrice, his family and the Bruins in your prayers.

Cool tie, great cause

Last night's game between the Sabres and Lightning was billed as a "Pink Out Night." Fans were encouraged to wear pink in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as part of the 10th anniversary of Hockey Fights Cancer.

Though I'm quite comfortable with my masculinity, I have very little pink in my wardrobe. As a result, I felt as though I wasn't doing my bit.

That changed, though, when I ponied up $50 for this tie. Granted, I probably could have found four to five ties for that amount, but the money is headed to a good cause. Besides, Halloween is a few days away and, because I'm a journalist with a literal bent, I plan on getting "dressed up" at work for the occasion.

5 Big Sigs

Though I didn't have the best week of hounding, I won't let it deter me from trying to add these to the collection, as only the Atlanta Thrashers come to town:

1.) Bobby Holik, finally, on the 1999 NHL All-Star Game helmet;
2.) Ilya Kovalchuk on the Young Guns stick;
3.) Marian Hossa on a McFarlane SportsPick base;
4.) Garnet Exelby, finally, on a Regina Pats puck; and
5.) Should the planets realign, and I remember to carry a Boston Bruins puck with me, hockey legend Phil Esposito, who works as a analyst/color commentator during radio broadcasts of Lightning games, as he walks out of one of the many side doors at the St. Pete Times Forum.

A thank-you note

Most times, when I make the trek over to Tampa, my sole goal is to add to the collection. Tomorrow, though, will be different.

Sure, I'll have two dozen pucks, a mini goalie mask, a stick and cards for the Philadelphia Flyers. Still, the one thing I want to come home with won't involve ink on anything.

What I hope to do before the Flyers' morning skate is to thank Danny Briere for what he brought to the Sabres during his time in Buffalo. While Chris Drury may have provided some grit and leadership, Briere brought hope and inspiration to a team and a city that needs it.

For the longest time, very few hockey minds believed Briere would amount to nothing more than a third- or fourth liner. He was too small. He didn't have the complete skills. He lacked the proper motivation.

What a bunch of hooey.

Given the Sabres' success last season (and the start they're slogging through now) as well as the Flyers' start this season (which, by the way, does not surprise me), I believe that Briere has proven those critics wrong.

Just like Dad

You don't have to be an Ottawa Senators fan to gain a mile-wide grin after watching rookie Nick Foligno, son of former NHL player and former Buffalo Sabre Mike Foligno, score his first NHL goal.

After scoring in red-hot Ottawa's 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens last night, Nick celebrated with a dead-on imitation of his father's well-known exultation.

I'm sure other hockey dads, even those who haven't played in the NHL, got a little teary-eyed with the son's tribute to his old man.

Giant goalie invades Florida!!!

Will you look at the size of this goalie? Dwarfs the net, doesn't he?

Actually, it's my son, Colin, imitating Carolina's Cam Ward.

And, no, that's not an official size (4-foot-by-6-foot) net.

They'll call it the 'O'Reena'

Wicked nice touch by Fredericton, New Brunswick, to name its new ice arena after Willie O'Ree, a hometown kid who, at 21, broke the racial barrier in the NHL with the Boston Bruins nearly 50 years ago.

For Mr. O'Ree, and the league, the historic moment came in January 1958 against the three-time defending Stanley Cup champion Canadiens at the Forum.