Jan 14--Fred Boimistruck

Fred Boimstruck

Selected by Toronto Maple Leafs round 3 #43 overall 1980 NHL Entry Draft.

Despite having one year of junior eligibility remaining, Boimistruck earned a roster spot with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs. In retrospect many of the young players such as Jim Benning and Gary Nylund were thrown into a similar situation as Boimistruck where they were expected to immediately improve a disastrous Maple Leafs team. Instead it ruined their careers, with far too much pressure placed on their young shoulders. Although Boimistruck played 57 games that first year, he was limited to just 26 the following season and was relegated to the minors for the rest of the year. He never again reached the NHL, his confidence totally gone. By their own admission many young players from that early 1980's Leafs' team later admitted they were too young to handle the unrealistic expectations placed upon them by team management.

Received this black sharpie signed card IP. I don't recall off hand but I believe it was at the NHL SloPitch tourney.

Jan 13--Cesare Maniago

Cesare Maniago

He first arrived in the big leagues via the Western Hockey League's Spokane Comets in 1960-61. He picked up seven games and a 2.57 goals-against average as a backup to future Hall of Famer Johnny Bower, the 1961 Vezina Trophy winner. Exit Maniago to the minors.

The following year, he was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens who had future Hall of Famer Jacques Plante, the 1962 Vezina Trophy holder. Exit Maniago to the minors-- again.

From his 14-game stint in Montreal, Maniago drifted in the minors with seven different clubs from 1963-65. It was at that time that the New York Rangers secured his rights and brought him to Broadway to serve as a backup to future Hall of Famer Eddie Giacomin. At least this time Maniago picked up 34 games before being claimed by the Minnesota North Stars in the Expansion Draft of 1967. He played nine seasons there. In 1976, Maniago was traded to Vancouver where he played out his final two seasons of pro hockey before retiring.

Did you know

He surrendered Boom Boom Geoffrion's 50th goal of the season in 1961 to make him only the second player to score 50 in a season.

Bobby Hull scored his 51st of the season against Maniago in 1966, thus marking the first time a player scored more than 50 goals in a single season.

Stan Mikita scored his 500th career goal against Maniago in 1977.

Received these blue ink signed cards TTM

Return envelope but can't read postmark. As with all my old TTM's, it would be from the 80's.

Jan12--Николай Константинович Борщевский

Nikolai Borschevsky

Toronto Maple Leafs drafted him 77th overall in the 1992 Entry Draft.

Borshevsky was an outstanding skater - lightning quick and slippery in crowds. Most defensemen had problems keeping him in check. Add to that his sniper's wrist shot, which was doubly scary because of his quick release, and Nikolai caught many goalies unprepared for his shot.
The spunky Borschevsky was not a stereotypical Russian in that he was quite chippy. Not a disturber in the classic sense, Nik nonetheless could get under his opponents skin.
He stepped right in to the Leafs lineup, and contributed 34 goals and 74 points! It looked like the Leafs found a gem, especially after scoring the over time series winning goal in game 7 of the playoffs series vs Detroit.

However Borschevsky's career took a sharp downturn in his sophomore season. Early in the season he ruptured his spleen. The spleen had to be removed in emergency surgery. Nik lost a lot of time in recovery and was never quite the same again.

Received these blue sharpie signed cards IP at Leaf training camp in Hamilton.

Jan 11--Dave Burrows

Dave Burrows

He spent two seasons in the service of the St. Catharines Blackhawks of the OHA before turning pro with the Dallas Blackhawks and the Portland Buckeroos in 1969-70. He remained in the minors until the Pittsburgh Penguins picked him up in the Intra-League Draft of 1971.

Most people will agree that Bobby Orr is the best defenseman ever. But how about the best pure defensive defenseman? While there are a lot of candidates, one of them would have to be the heavily underrated and under appreciated Dave Burrows.
Burrows wasn't a physically dominating, crease clearing blueliner. Instead he relied on a greater understanding of the game to be in perfect position no matter what scenario he was faced with. He was an expert shot blocker and above all else, was known as one of the best skaters of his time. He amazed many observers with his incredible speed and agility. Some felt he could skate faster backward than most could go forward.
Burrows retired from the National Hockey League in 1981. He scored just 29 goals in 724 games, but was one of the best in the league at his role.Burrows was inducted into the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame in 1996.

Received these blue ink signed cards TTM

Also included this blue ink signed postcard.

Business card and return envelope postmarked 1987.

Jan 10--Frank Mahovlich

Frank Mahovlich

Mahovlich entered the league in 1958 and won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, beating out another hotshot left winger named Bobby Hull.Frank Mahovlich is synonymous with the golden age of hockey. With his graceful skating, and powerful shots, the Big M led the Toronto Maple Leafs to four Stanley Cup victories. A fifteen time NHL All-Star, he was a natural choice for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981. Mahovlich is one of a very select few who would star with Canada's two most cherished sports franchises, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. He also starred with the Detroit Red Wings.
533 goals and 1103 points, 9 NHL All Star teams and 6 Stanley Cup rings tells you just how good he was.Frank Mahovlich was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981, and in 1998, in recognition of his years of class on the ice and off, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Having trouble uploading images tonight. Will add later.

UPDATE

Received these blue ink signed cards TTM.

Front and back of blue ink signed postcard he included. I believe that's Bobby Clarke's body there and an early Guy LaFleur before he abandoned the helmet.

Return envelope postmarked 1984.

Jan 9--Bruce Boudreau

Bruce Boudreau

Selected by Toronto Maple Leafs round 3 #42 overall 1975 NHL Amateur Draft

Selected by Minnesota Fighting Saints round 1 #14 overall 1974 WHA Amateur Draft

Boudreau could not agree with Toronto on a contract and joined the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA, making his professional debut in 1975. He was a talented offensive centre whose size worked against him getting the ice time he wanted in the NHL. The diminutive pivot signed on with the Leafs in 1976-77 and scored seven points in 15 games. He played most of his hockey that year with the Dallas Black Hawks and led the CHL with 37 goals. He played 40 games for Toronto as an injury replacement in 1977-78 but remained a farmhand through the 1982-83 playoffs. His best performance in the minors during this time came in 1981-82 when he scored 103 points in 63 games for the Cincinnati Tigers and was placed on the CHL second all-star team.

Boudreau played seven games for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1985-86 after signing as a free agent but was chiefly a minor league stalwart until retiring in 1992.

While playing for the Johnstown (Pa.) Jets in 1975, he appeared in first hockey scene of the movie Slap Shot, wearing No. 7 for visiting team, the Presidents. Paul Newman's apartment in the movie was actually Boudreau's real apartment, picked because it was the most dingy of all the players’ apartments.

CAREER NHL STATISTICS Years Teams GP G A TP PIM 1977-1985 Toronto, Chicago 141 28 42 70 46

CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS Years Teams GP G A TP PIM 1977-1983 Toronto 9 2 0 2 0

 

Received these blue ink signed cards IP at the NHL SloPitch tourney in Niagara Falls. I have a I think funny story about Gabby there but my wife says I shouldn't reveal it. Happy wife, happy life.



Jan 8--Wally Hergesheimer

Wally Hergesheimer

The odds against Wally Hergesheimer's success in hockey were as firmly stacked in place as sandbags against a flood. At the start of his pro career with the Minneapolis Millers in 1947, he stood 5' 8" and weighed only 145 pounds. He was also humourously known as "Fingers" because he'd lost his index and middle fingers up to the knuckles of his right hand in a punch-press accident.

"When I made it to the NHL," he recounted, "it was something I never really expected. It was little Wally this and little Wally that?but I just kept going and?everything seemed to fall into place."

By 1951, Hergesheimer was voted the AHL's most outstanding rookie on the strength of his 96 points in 82 games with the Cleveland Barons. The New Rangers brought him on board the following season. He quickly established a reputation for angling his way into the goal crease to cash rebounds into goals. His success earned him the nickname "Garbage Collector."

In 1956, Hergesheimer was traded to the Blackhawks where he played one year before heading to Buffalo of the AHL for a season. 1958 brought one final crack at the NHL that lasted only 22 games. He then played three seasons respectively with Buffalo of the AHL plus Calgary and Los Angeles of the WHL.

Received these blue ink signed cards TTM.

Return envelope postmarked 1988.