TTM Success: Steve Downie

  I was always a big Steve Downie fan.  I loved the way he played the game - with reckless abandon.  His career started out a bit too reckless as he was suspended for a vicious hit on Dean McAmmond in an exhibition game.  Downie was suspended 20 games before even playing an official NHL game.  The Flyers, who had drafted Downie in the 1st round in 2005, eventually tired of his act and sent him to Tampa in 2008.
  It was with the Tampa Bay Lightning that Downie, under the tutelage of Rick Tocchet, finally started to reel in his game and become a top 6 forward.  In 2009-10 Downie became the first player since 2002, to score 20 goals and get 200 PIM in the same season.  He also had a great post-season, helping the team make it to the semi-finals.  Downie wasn't able to build on that success and was traded to the Colorado Avanlache in 2012.  Downie finished the season strong with the Avs but was injured for almost the entire 2013 season.
  One of things I like about TTMing is learning about the players when you do research to make a kiss kick ass request letter.  Although sometimes you learn some things that aren't too flattering.  In junior, Downie attacked teammate Akim Aliu during a team practice. Downie, in his 3rd junior season, was upset that Aliu, a rookie, had refused to take part in a hazing incident, which involved being naked on the team bus. That's messed up.
  In the process of preparing a TTM, have you ever learned anything disagreeable about that player?

TTM Success: John Slaney

  John Slaney had a long professional career, albeit mostly in the AHL.  He played in 1124 games in 20 professional seasons, but he will best be remembered for a single moment before his pro career began; The Slaney Goal.  Before the influx of Eastern Bloc players in the early 1990s, it was only once every 4-5 years when the best players from Canada and Russia would face-off.  In between those years, it was at the World Juniors Hockey Championships where the two countries would battle for hockey supremacy.  January 4th, 1991, Canada versus Russia.  It was only a round robin game, but considering the standings, the winner would get Gold, or in Russia's case, a win or a tie for Gold.  With the score tied 2-2 and a little over 5 minutes remaining in the game, John Slaney picked off a clearing attempt at the blue line in the Russian zone and wired a slapshot past the Russian goalie.  The goal would clinch Canada's first ever back-to-back Gold medals in the tournament.  Slaney would go on to play 268 NHL games over 9 seasons with 7 different franchises.  He did find success in the AHL, setting a record for career points by a defenceman, since broken.  While Slaney never found the NHL success that was expected of him, he did have a very long pro career and will always be remembered for the Slaney Goal of 1991.

TTM Success: David Harlock

  David Harlock was a member of Team Canada in the 1991 World Junior Hockey Championship.  Team Canada won the Gold with a thrilling victory over the USSR.  It took a long time for Harlock to find a regular spot in the NHL.  Before the 1998-99 NHL season Harlock had appeared in 14 career NHL games spread over five years.  In 98-99 Harlock would be a regular for the New York Islanders, scoring both of his career goals wgile playing for New York.   In the offseason, Harlock would be selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the expansion draft.  He would play 128 games with Atlanta before spending the rest of his career in the AHL.  Harlock did not have a great NHL career, but we was an important part of a great team and Canadian hockey moment during the 1992 WJHC.
 

TTM: Pierre Sevigny

  With the World Juniors in full swing, let's post a return from '91 WJC grad, Pierre Sevigny.  Pierre was a fan favourite from the 1992 Team Canada squad.  A gritty player who could put the puck in the net and the man through the boards.  He made the QMJHL All-star team three years in a row, and in the 89/90 season he finished 9th in league scoring while also receiving 207 PIM.  At the 1991 WJC, Pierre scored 6 points in 7 games, including a goal in the pivotal Canada vs USSR match-up.  While he enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in the minor leagues, he was never able to secure a permanent roster spot with a NHL team.  In 4 seasons, he scored 9 points in 78 games.  He would retire from professional hockey in 2008.  Pierre started planning for life after hockey early.  Even before he played a NHL game, he owned, and still owns, a Tim Horton franchise in Quebec City.

TTM Success: Sean Burke

  Sean Burke played 820 NHL over 18 NHL seasons.  He also played in two Olympics,earning a Silver medal in 1992.  Burke bursted onto the scene in 1988.  After helping Team Canada win a Silver medal at the Olympics, Burke would create a major buzz in the NHL while playing for the New Jersey Devils.  At the time, the Devils had only made the play-offs once in the franchise's existence.  An existence that included 2 seasons as the Kansas City Scouts and six as the Colorado Rockies.  As  Wayne Gretzky once said, they are "running a Mickey-Mouse operation on the ice." But things were looking up for the New Jersey Devils in 1987-88.  They had just come off a franchise record of 64 points the season before, and they were still in the play-off race in March.  Cue Sean Burke.  Burke went 10-1-1 in 13 games for the Devils.  Burke would win his final 7 starts, including two against the Pittsburgh Penguins and one against the New York Rangers, teams they were chasing in the standings.  On April 3rd, 1988, the Rangers beat the Quebec Nordiques, forcing the Devils to either win or watch the playoffs on tv.  The Devils played the Chicago Black Hawks and the regular season ended in a dramatic fashion.  John MacLean nets the winner in over time and the Devils were going to the play-offs.  A playoff run that would bring the Devils all the way to the Stanley Cup semi-finals before being bowing out to the Boston Bruins.  While Burke would go onto a lengthy career, he never did live up to the expectation set as a rookie. 

  Mr. Burke signed 5 of 4.  He signed and returned the extra copy of the Team Canada picture.  He personalized every card, but he did it with care.  Sometimes personalizations push the actually auto off of prime real estate, but in each of these cards, they share the limelight, with the personaliztion, never overpowering the auto.  I really liked how the Ice card turned out.  I was worried it wouldn't hold the auto, but it looks killer in person.

TTM: Jonathan Huberdeau

The Florida Panthers used thier 3rd overall pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft to select forward Jonathan Huberdeau.  Huberdeau helped led the St. John Seadogs to win the 2011 Memorial Cup, and was selected as the tournament's MVP.  After a strong preseason with the Panthers, Huberdeau was sent back to the QMJHL to continue his development.  2011-12 was an injury plagued season for Huberdeau, but he still managed to score 72 points in only 37 games.  The Panthers are loaded with top prospects and the future is bright in Florida.  Mr. Huberdeau signed 2 of 2, plus signed the extra copy of each photo, via the St. John Seadogs.

TTM: Al MacInnis

Al MacInnis was inducted into the HHOF in 2007.  Renowned for his blistering slapshot, MacInnis is one of 5 defenceman to ever score 100 points in a single season.  For his career, MacInnis scored 1274 points, 3rd best amongst defencemen.  His numbers could have been even better if an eye injury didn't cut his career short at 23 seasons.  In his final full season, he was a Norris finalist and a 1st Team All-Star.

Mr. MacInnis signed 4 of 4 and kept a copy of each picture as offered.  Cards were sent to the St. Louis Blues.

TTM Success: Dale Hawerchuk

  Excellent return from Dale Hawerchuk.  I sent Mr. Hawerchuk 2 cards and a picture to sign.  I sent an extra copy of the picture for him to keep if he wished, but instead he signed it and returned it.  So I ended up 2 cards and 2 pics signs.
  I sent the letter care of The Barrie Colts on October 11th.  I received the cards on November 4th.