TTM: Dale Weise

  Dale Weise is a rookie winger and team leader in fighting majors for the Vancouver Canucks.  Although according to hockeyfights.com, Weise has yet to win a fight this season.  But it is the thought that counts.  Weise brings some toughness to a team that was pushed around in the play-offs last season.  Weise had a spirited fight with Nathan Horton in the Canucks-Bruins re-match this season.
  Mr. Weise signed 2 of 2 and also signed and returned the extra copies of the pictures.  On the vertical picture, I hoped he would sign in the bottom box on top of the logo.  I find that it is about 50/50 that players will sign in a "signature box".  I might try adding post-its requesting a signature in a particular spot.  For the other picture, that is Mr. Weise, gleefully, celebrating his first career goal.  Perhaps not the most flattering picture for a tough guy, granted it puts him ahead of myself for career goals.  Request was sent c/o Vancouver Canucks.

Weise previously played for the New York Rangers, where he made the highlights with this malfunction.

TTM: Marc Tardif

Marc Tardif split his career between the WHA and the NHL.  While Tardif won two Stanley Cups as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, he had his best seasons with the Quebec Nordiques in the WHA. Tardif twice won the Scoring title and the MVP of the WHA.  He is also the leader in career goals and second in career points for the WHA.  Tardif's number 8 was retired by the Quebec Nordiques.  When the franchise moved to Colorado, his number 8 was un-retired.  Tardif signed two of two c/o his car dealership.

  

Tardif was the victim in one of the first incidents of on-ice violence that led to a police investigation and a guilty verdict or plea.  In a 1976 WHA play-off game between the Quebec Nordiques and the Calgary Cowboys, Tardif was hit by Rick Jodzio.  Tardif, who didn't wear a helmet before the incident, was knocked unconscious when his head hit the ice.  Jodzio jumped on Tardif and started punching him.  There is still much debate over the particulars of the incident.  Various reports of the incident include Jodzio throwing a clean hit; Jodzio viciously high-sticking Tardif, and the Jodzio taking a run that has ranged from 30 feet to 100 feet, depending on the source, to attack Tardif.  Jodzio claims it was a shoulder hit and he stopped punching Tardif as soon as he realized Tardif wasn't moving and then covered Tardif to protect him from the ensuing brawl; a brawl that supposedly went on until the local police took the ice.  Jodzio pled guilty to assault, in order to avoid a trail with a greater charge.  Tardif later sued Lodzio for pain and suffering caused by the injuries.  The resulting injuries caused Tardif to miss out on the 1976 Canada Cup.  The is no video evidence of the incident, but there is some of the brawl.

TTM: Mathieu Garon

Mathieu Garon has worked his way into the starting goalie gig in Tamp Bay this season.  The previous starter Dwayne Roloson will be a UFA this off-season, so whether the Lightning bring in competition for the job via free agency remains to be seen.  The Lightning is Garon's sixth NHL team and fourth in the past four seasons.  Aside from the teams pictured with the autographs, Garon has also been with the Oilers and also played 5 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008/09; good enough for a Stanley Cup ring.  Garon has played in two career play-offs games and has never been scored upon.   Mr Garon signed 3 cards and a picture.  He kept a copy of the picture as offered.  Thank you Mr. Garon.

My New Addiction

Hockey Quizzes at Sporacle

I was searching for some info for a TTM for Pierre Larouche.  I knew he was the first player to have a 50 goal season for two different franchises, but how many others have there been?  After finding that little quiz, I realized there were plenty more to be done.  Some of what you'd expect, such as 500 goal scorers, 1000 Point Club,  or Stanley Cup Winners.  But then there are also some quizzes that require more obscure answers such as 20 goals + 200 PIM seasons,  top 300 players with most points in a season, or the top ten playoff scorers for each year in the 1980s.

Except, doing them is not enough, I've been making quizzes as well.  Of course, the more common themes have all been taken so I had to go a bit more obscure.  Here are a few I have made so far;

50 Goals Seasons with a negative +/-

Goalies with 100 losses from 1990-2000

Goalies with 100 losses from 2000-2010

Players with 50+ points in their final season

Goalies with 10+ wins in their first season

I know I'll be adding more.  All my quizzes will be listed here.  Play a few, rate and comment.  

Also, add me as a friend on Sporacle, my name is JGBlargh.  It'll be great to compare scores.

TTM: Patrice Brisebois

  Patrice Brisebois played 1009 NHL games over an 18 year career, 16 of those years spent with the Montreal Canadiens, including a Stanley Cup in 1993.  In the early 2000s, Brisebois became the favourite whipping boy of Canadiens fans.  A situation that came to a head in 2003, when new GM, Bob Gainey spoke out about the booing calling the fans "a bunch of gutless bastards".  In 2005, Brisebois signed with the Colorado Avlanche for two seasons before returning to the Canadiens in 2007 for two seasons.  After retiring, Brisebois, has spoken about the tough years in Montreal and the bouts of depression brought on by those years.  Mr. Brisebois signed both of my cards and then added a card and a picture.  My request was sent to the Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame.

TTM: Scott Hartnell

  I am a big fan of Scott Hartnell.  He is a player who you either love or hate.  He gets under the opponent's skin but then backs it up, either with his fists or by putting the puck in the net, and sometimes both on the same play.  He has set career highs in goals and points this season while also making his first All-Star game appearance. Hartnell is active with social media with twitter, his own website for his Hartnell Down foundation, and being part of the NHLPA playbook program.

I sent Mr. Hartnell a card and 2 copies of a picture, with one being offered for him to keep.  He kept the card, a 2001-02 Pacific Titanium, but returned both copies of the picture signed.  

TTM: Mike Gartner

  Mike Gartner scored 30 goals or more in a record 15 consecutive seasons.  Gartner is one of 6 players to score over 700 goals in a career.  He finished his career with 708 goals and 1335 points, which helped him earned membership into the HHOF in 2001.  Gartner was never able to find post-season success.  The closest he got was 1994 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  The Leafs lost in the Stanley Cup semi-final.  Gartner was a trade deadline acquisition from the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the New York Rangers.  Mike Gartner holds the record for most career games played, 1432, without ever playing in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Today, Gartner is an active volunteer and owns a few hockey rinks in the Toronto area.

Mr. Gartner signed 3 of 3 c/o National Training Rinks in 37 days.  Thank you Mr. Gartner.

TTM: Pete Peeters

Pete Peeters had one of the greatest seasons by a goalie ever in 1982-83.  Peeters won 40 games, had 8 shutouts and a GAA of 2.36.  That's a 2.36 GAA during the highest scoring era of NHL history, and it is also the lowest GAA for a single season in the 1980s.  Peeters would finish in the top ten in GAA nine times in his 13 year career and lead the league twice.  Peeters finished his career with 246 career wins and a 3.08 GAA, which is a damn good number for a goalie from the 1980s.  Peeters played for Team Canada in the 1984 Canada Cup.  Unfortunately for Mr. Peeters he will live infamously through the highlight reel as Bobby Nystrom scores the Stanley Cup winning goal in overtime for the 1980 New York Islanders.

Mr. Peeters signed 4 of 4 in 30 days care of the Anahiem Ducks, where he is a goaltending coach.

TTM : Howie Meeker

Howie Meeker is a legend of hockey.  Meeker won four Stanley Cups, and a Calder Trophy, in 8 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, before being forced to retire due to a back injury.  His contributions to the game of hockey are much greater than his NHL playing career.  He revolutionized the role of the color commentator by providing more in-depth analysis and the use of the telestrator.   Meeker also gained popularity by providing honest commentary and calling it how he saw it.  Meeker has been very opinionated about the (lack of) hockey skills being taught to kids and hosted his own segment on Hockey Night in Canada called  Howie Meeker's Hockey School during the mid-1970s.  Howie was inducted to the HHOF in 1998.   Mr Meeker signed my card and added two pictures.  On the Parkhurst card, Howie first signed in black but then started going over it in blue.  A great return from a true legend of hockey.

TTM: Scott Clemmensen

When it comes to TTMs, Scott Clemmensen is consistent.  He's a solid signer and always uses the same faded marker.  All the returns I have seen from him in the past year, all are done with a fading marker.  I do find it odd that he cares enough to return the TTMs but keeps using a barely legible marker.  Unless this is his way to ensure that his fans get an auto and they don't end up on eBay.  Clemmensen signed 3 of 3 and also signed and returned the extra copy of the picture.

Clemmensen, drafted in 1997, started his career with the New Jersey Devils but was stuck behind future HHOF Martin Brodeur.  After a year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Clemmenen returned to the New Jersey Devils in 2008. An injury to Brodeur finally gave Clemmensen the chance to play.  His 40 games that season were more than his previous five years combined and he produced results, as he was in the top 10 in save percentage and GAA.

The following season he signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers.  Does Clemmensen hold a grudge against the New Jersey Devils?  He is a 4-0 career vs the Devils.  Each time besting Broedur.  Clemmensen will be a unrestricted free agent this off-season.  With Jose Theodore signed for another year and rookie Jakob Markstrom on the rise, Clemmensen will likely be on the move again.

88-89 OPC Tribute: Lupul and Kariya

  Joffrey Lupul is having a career year.  His 67 points this season, has already shattered his previous career high of 53, from 2005-05.  Unfortunately for Lupul, the career season might be over, after suffering a separated shoulder in last night's game.

#90 - Joffrey Lupul 

  After reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2003, Paul Kariya basically admitted that the Anahiem Ducks Cup run was a fluke when he, and Teemu Selanne, took pay cuts and signed as free agents with the Colorado Avalanche, believing that the Avalanche were Stanley Cup favourties for 2003-04.  Kariya, took a $8.8 million pay cut to sign with the Avalanche.  Kariya battled injuries that season, missing 31 regular season games and then all but one play-off game as the Avalanche lost in the Quart-finals.  The Ducks missed the play-offs that season.  

  After the lock-out, Kariya signed with the Nashville Predators, while the Duck reached the Stanley Cup semi-finals before winning the Stanley Cup the following year.  Kariya, whose career was hampered by injuries, was forced into retirement with post-concussion syndrome.  He finished with 989 points in 989 games.

#120 - Paul Kariya

  That completes the 132 cards 1988-89 OPC Tribute set.  There were some tough decision and some omissions along the way.  I found the best part of doing this was also the worst part.  I often dreaded doing a write-up for each player but sometimes it was the best part since I got to learn some interesting bits about each player.  If you want to view the set, there is a link on the right side of the blog under Projects  for 1988-89 OPC Tribute Checklist.  I hope to have another addition to the project soon that I think will end it on a high note.  I hope you enjoyed the set and keep your eyes open for the last update coming soon.

The Forgotten: Jamie Ram

On, Februay 6,1996, at the 12:51 mark of the second period, Colin Camplbell, coach of the New York Rangers, had finally seen enough.  He told the rookie netminder to get his helmet on.  The Colorado Avalanche had just scored their 7th goal of the game.  Normally, it'd be veteran Glenn Healy playing the back-up role, but starter Mike Richter had suffered a groin injury and it was Healy who had been facing the onslaught of the eventually Stanley Cup.  And so began the NHL career of Jamie Ram.

Jamie Ram's one and only NHL card

  After allowing 31 shots in the first 33 minutes, the Rangers only allowed 9 shots the rest of the game,  Jamie stopped all 9 shots.  At the end of the game, the final score was 7-1 for the Avalanche.  The end of the game would also mark the end of Jamie Ram's NHL career.  Mike Richter would return to the line-up a few games later and Jamie was sent to the minors.  Richter would re-injure the groin 11 minutes into his first game back.  Over the course of the 1996-96 season Richter would miss 23 games due to groin injuries.  Glenn Healy would play all but 27 minutes of those games.  In fact over a span of 4 seasons, 1993-97, Jamie Ram's 27 minutes were the only minutes not played by Richter or Healy for the New York Rangers.  Jamie was with the wrong team at the wrong time.
  Jamie Ram, originally drafted by the New Yrok Rangers in round 10 of the 1991 Entry Draft, would continue his quest of the NHL.  He was part of the San Jose Sharks and Anahiem Ducks franchises and in 2000, was the third goalie of Team Canada in the World Hockey Championship.  Jamie eventually took his equipment overseas and played seasons in Japan, Sweden, Finland and Russia before retiring in 2004.  In 2006, Jamie was signed a few times as an Emergency back-up by the Pheonix Roadrunners in the ECHL, but unlike his NHL call-up, he never got on the ice.

2003-04 Pacific Exhibit Box Break #2

I decided to get another box of 2003-04 Pacific Exhibit.  I was hoping to finish off the set and also get a Time Warp card that wasn't an expired redemption.  I was a bit disappointed in both regards.  I got 39 cards I needed, but I am still 40 cards away from the 200 base card set.  About 2/3rds of the base cards I pulled were doubles.  If you want a more detailed breakdown and review of the product, check out the first box break.

For inserts, I got bunch more yellow backs and my three blue backs, #/275, were Andrew Brunette, Rick DiPietro and Patrick Marleau.

3.5x5 Blue Backs, #/445 were Rick Nash and Nikolai Khabibulin.

I got more doubles with the inserts, as the Dany Heatley and Ed Belfour were pulled in the first box.

Martin Biron 3.5x5 jersey card.

I did get a Time Warp card in this box, but if I had ranked the Time Warp cards from 1-10, #10 would have been the Hull-Hull redemption, which I got in the 1st box, and #9 would have been the Sittler/Theodore, which I got in the second box.  

I still want to complete the set and I am debating buying another box.

TTM: Derek Dorsett

Derek Dorsett is best known for being Taylor Hall's dance partner in Hall's ill-advised, and season ending, first career NHL fight.  Dorsett is trying to shake the goon label.  He is helping his cause by scoring a career high 10 goals, but he is hurting it, by leading the league in PIM.   Mr. Dorsett signed 3 of 3 and also signed and returned the extra copy of the picture.