90/91 Score Young Superstars # 13

# 13 Gord Murphy

Young--23 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 862    G 85  A  238   Pts 323   PIM 668

Playoffs

   GP  53    G  3    A  16      Pts. 19     PIM   35 

A ninth round pick, 189th overall in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. Despite being picked that low, he played 14 seasons in the NHL. Despite being a 6'2" 200 lbs, Gord was more of a finesse player. He relied on positioning, a poke check and wrapping up his opponent than using the body. He won the Barry Ashbee Trophy in the 89/90 season as the Flyers top defenceman. 

One of the times using his body.

I say not young and no superstar here.

Young   10/13      Superstar 5/13

Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour Dec 5-6

A couple of  weekends ago, the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour visited Brantford. It promised a weekend of free outdoor hockey activities culminating with an outdoor viewing of the Oilers vs Sabres game. Coincidentally, the annual NHL Alumni team vs local law enforcement team game was happening during the same weekend. This was an added bonus. And they raised $10000 for Special Olympics.

I already have autographs from all these guys ( Vaive, Daoust, Napier, Pelyk, Iafrate et al) but did get some signatures from one television personality.

Tara Slone, co-host of Hometown Hockey. She's led a varied life in the entertainment industry.

2002 Juno nominee while in the band Joydrop. I already had this band signed photo but she signed it in black on black. Had her sign again in blue sharpie.

Co-hosted Breakfast television in Calgary.

Have an extra one of this available.

Just Look pretty and sing

She has appearrd on television and on the big screen (Foolproof with Ryan Reynolds). Not many people recognized her so we were able to have a good chat.

So when the call went out for volunteers for this event, I was there like white on rice. 

Marty McSorley and Darryl Sittler were there signing autographs. I was working when they were signing so did not get any signatures. Also, I was not working this area.

Here's a complete list of the events for the weekend.

There were interactive experiences inside the Rogers truck. Wasn't working in this area either but did get these.

They had a list of players you could choose from to get a virtual autograph. You input your name and e-mail address and this gets sent to you. Can't argue with a Messier autograph.

You could also choose from a list of players to get a photo with.

I was hoping to get a plum job but as you can tell from the reflective vest, I ended up working parking and the fire pit and roasting marshmallows.
There was a KidsZone filled with hockey themed games,activities and skills and drills competitions.

You could get a hockey card done at the McDonald's booth. There was also free coffee and hot chocolate.
At one of McDonald sponsored activities, I met Captain Canada Tom Stewart. He's actually a Brantford native.. I helped him replace some netting on the nets. His story is pretty cool.

Here's his business card if anyone is interested.

Zamboni used at Air Canada Centre until 2000.

Talked to and received autograph from 3 tine Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Botterill.

 Talked to sportscaster and author Ken Reid. His book Hockey Card Stories is pretty good. He informed me that he just signed a contract for a second book in the series. I posted that tidbit in one of my Facebook groups. Bruce Dowbiggin, reporter, broadcaster had just interviewed Ken on this very subject.
Listen to it here.
And what better way to end things off than with Fireworks (in December) .

If you have an opportunity to visit this event when it's in your neighbourhood, I recommend it. Volunteer if you have a chance. I met a lot of new people which is not a bad thing. It's fun and you can help your city out. Can't wait for the next big event whatever and whenever that happens.

TTM Success

Ottawa Senators G.M. Bryan Murray

90/91 ProSet # 664 RC Coach--Sent 2 cards April 14 2015, received Dec 12015.

c/o Canadian Tire Centre

1000 Palladium Drive

Ottawa, Ontario 

K2V 1A5

Received these 2 black sharpie autographed cards back.

This is my second return of three I have sent out this year.

90/91 Score Young Superstars # 12

# 12 Dave Chyzowski

Young--19 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 126    G 15    A  16    Pts 31   PIM 144

Playoffs

    GP 2    G  0   A  0        Pts. 0      PIM  0

Chosen 2nd overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Islanders. Drafted behind only Mats Sundin but ahead of Bill Guerin, Stu Barnes and Bobby Holik in the first round. As attested to by his stats, he was no superstar. In fact, after the 94/95 season, the Islanders hockey writers were labelling him one of the biggest busts in team history. Not much else to say here. Young, no superstar.

And I'll leave you with this

Young   10/12   Superstar  5/12

90/91 Score Young Superstars # 11

# 11 Sean Burke

Young--26 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 820    W 324  L  341   T/O  110  SO 38  GAA   2.96

Playoffs

GP 38    W  12  L  23    T/O  0  SO  0  GAA 3.32

Selected second round 24th overall 1985 draft

3 x All-Star  1989 2001 2002

Sat out the 91/92 season in a contract dispute

My best memory of Burke

I say not young nor a superstar

Running Total

Young 9/11   Superstar 5/11

90/91 Score Young Superstars # 10

# 10 Joe Sakic




Young--22 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 1378   G 625  A  1016  Pts 1641   PIM 614

Playoffs

GP 172  G  84   A  104   Pts. 188  PIM  78

One of the few players to have won the Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal, gold in the World Cup of Hockey, gold at the World Championships and gold at the World Juniors.

Conn Smythe Trophy
Hart Trophy
Lady Byng
Lester B. Pearson
Bud Light Award
13 All-Star game selections

After watching his first NHL game between the Canucks and Flames at the age of 4, Joe decided he wanted to be a hockey player. Good call.

As a rookie in the WHL, he was on the Swift Current Broncos team bus which was in an accident that claimed the lives of four of his teammates.

Running Total of this set

Young 9/10    Superstar 5/10

Superstar yes. But I don't want him snowblowing my driveway

90/91 Score Young Superstars # 9

#9  Sergei Fedorov

Young--22 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 1248    G 483  A  696   Pts 1179   PIM 839

Playoffs

GP 183 G  52   A  124    Pts.176  PIM  133

NHL All-Rookie Team -1991
NHL All-Star Game-1992, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003
Winner of the Hart, Pearson and Selke Trophies
Stanley Cup-1997, 1998, 2002
HHOF-2015
First Russian born and trained to play 1000+games in the NHL

Highlights 1991-2003

. He was blessed with speed and skills along with a hockey mind. He made things look effortless and sometimes appeared disinterested.(see Frank Mahovlich). 

"It's not always how many times you score, it's what you do to help the team win. Stopping goals or creating opportunities is just as important as any goal you score" he once philosophized very accurately.

Even though I believe he hung on a bit too long, I still consider him a Superstar.

My running total

Young 8/9                            Superstar 4/9

90/91 Score Young Superstars # 8

#8  Glen Wesley

Young--22 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 1457    G 128  A  409   Pts 537   PIM 1045

Playoffs

GP 169   G  15   A  38    Pts. 53  PIM  141


Named to NHL All Rookie Team in 1998
Played in 1989 All Star Game

Stanley Cup Champ with Carolina Hurricanes 2006

Wesley was drafted third overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.

I hardly remember his 12 game stint with the Leafs (7 regular plus 5 playoff games). I hardly remember his 20 year career. I guess he played a workmanlike game but nothing to shout out Superstar.

My updated rankings 

Young   7/8                     Superstar  3/8

90/91 Score Young Superstars # 7

# 7   Mats Sundin

Young--22 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 1346    G 564  A  785   Pts 1349  PIM 1093 

Playoffs

GP 91   G 38   A  44    Pts. 82     PIM  74


In 1989 NHL Entry Draft, he was the first European-born player drafted first overall in NHL history He won three IIHF World Championships with Sweden in 1991, 1992 and 1998. He won Olympic Gold in 2006 in Turin. Named an All-Star every year  from 1996-2004..
With all these accolades, as a Leafs fan, here is my memory of Mats.

I guess being a Leafs fan has jaundiced me to his accomplishments. NO CUP. Looking back though, I'm going to have to say superstar.

The score (see what I did there) now reads
Young--6/7     Superstar  3/7

90/91 Score Young Superstars # 6

# 6   Theo Fleury

Young--22 years old  

Superstar--an exceptional talent, widely recognized and eagerly sought after for their services

Regular season

GP 1084    G 455  A  633   Pts 1088   PIM 1840

Playoffs

GP 77   G  34   A  45    Pts. 79  PIM  116

1989 Stanley Cup Champ

2002 Olympic Gold Medal

7 All-Star game appearances (91, 92, 96, 97, 98, 99, 01)

1991 Smythe Semi-Finals Game 6 OT  Winner

NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup Champ, Olympic Gold Medal

Best selling author-Playing with Fire and Conversations with a Rattlesnake

Healing Motivator

Person of great life experience

Knowledge in the field of relational trauma

Theo Fleury 14

In my books, also superstar.

Score is now (in my opinion), 5/6 for young and 2/6 for superstar.

Winning

Not Charlie Sheen

So my unannounced contest in the Garage Sale Goodies post garnered 86 views.

Those 86 views elicited 7 comments.

From those 7 comments, there was 1 winner.

Insert Drum roll here


And the winner, who correctly guessed I paid $25.00 
was

 The Chronicles of Fuji.

Mark, I'll try to customize a prize package for you. Can you e-mail me (akgonzolyn@gmail.com)

 your address? I had it somewhere but need to confirm.

I could probably make some money here if I sold this stuff. But it's going into my collection.

Garage Sale Goodies

I went to my third garage sale in two years and believe I did fairly well.

1997 McDonalds Team Canada Olympic Coins

All told, three complete sets and about 30 extra coins.

1998 Team Canada Olympic Valu-net Phonecards

$5.00 phone cards of Eric Lindros, Brendan Shanahan and Paul Kariya still in cellophane

1980 Star Profiles colouring book--uncoloured with all the pages

1970/71 Esso Power Player soft cover album

Complete with all 252 stamps.

2000 Wayne Gretzky Starting Lineup Toronto All-Star Game Edition.

I had to get this as this was the All-Star Game I worked at.

84/85 OPC # 48 Doug Wilson

90/91 Score # 428 Jaromir Jagr

I needed the Wilson for my 84/85 set and didn't have a Jagr.

1982/83 Wayne Gretzky Remex digital watch

No box but still in fantastic shape.

Now it you've read this far, you're probably wondering what I paid for these items. 

I'm going to turn this into a contest and here are the rules.

1) First person to guess the exact amount wins. 

2) If nobody guesses by the end of Canada Day (July 1), the first  one coming closest without going over will win.

3) If all the guesses are over, the one going over but the closest wins.

4) You can guess once per day.

I haven't picked out the prize package yet but will consist of some autographed hockey cards.

Good luck.

Trades, Freebies and PWE's (2x3)

I wanted to have a title to evoke Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I would showcase the different ways I have recently received cards in place of the different ways Steve Martin used to get home.  This is the best I could come up with.
There are also some weird connections between some of these transactions.

Back on April 11th, I posted that I wanted to expand my Blue Jays card collection. Lo and behold, same day, Richard @ tbjc blogged that he wanted to purge himself of Blue Jays cards and was concentrating on his Joe Carter player collection. I sent him an e-mail and he sent over some goodness. Now like a lot of collectors who weren't collecting or stopped during certain periods, there were a lot of cards from sets I didn't even know existed. He checked my want list on Zistle and completed some team sets.

Here is a look at the two boxes I received. 
There was a lot of goodness contained therein.

 Vintage, shiny oddball, it was here. I had no favourites as I needed them all.

Then my first Zistle trade with Ron (opierocks). He proposed a small trade of some of my Blue Jays wants for some of his hockey wants, I was okay with that as I had multiple copies of what he wanted that were available.

        

Here's what I received. Four more Jays of off of my want list.

Cue the music.

Now things get a little WEIRD. 

Jeff at 2 x 3 Heroes was giving away some hockey cards from the teams that didn't make the finals. My Leafs were still available and I grabbed them. The SUPER PWE arrived 

Nine pocket page cut into thirds and stuffed with 27 cards. Fits nicely into a PWE.

Some of the cards I had, some not.  Now the card in the top left hand corner. A 90/91 OPC Premier # 21 Vincent Damphousse.  I had 6 copies but sent one to Ron in my Zistle trade. Now, miraculously, I have six copies again. WHAATTTT. 
 The Leafs were also one of the teams that had a "hit", the Josh Leivo autograph.

So, getting caught up with my incoming packages. I just think of the weird coincidences that occurred. I guess that these were meant to be. 

Next post up, my finds from a garage sale that may, as they say, knock your socks off.

Conversations with a Rattlesnake

Last week in Brantford, a day long conference Understanding Health and Trauma: Creating a Community of Compassion and Resilience was held. It was about trauma and healing and benefited those who deal with trauma, from teachers to police officers to paramedics.

Theo Fleury and occupational therapist KIm Barthel, who co-authored Conversations with a Rattlesnake with Theo were the guest speakers. It was a day long conversation of healing and recovery. There were plenty of questions and stories. I could not attend but to the rescue was my friend Dennis. He said he would try and get some autographs for me.

Here's my haul.

90/91 UD # 47      89/90 OPC # 232 RC      90/91 UD # 478

Dennis had this picture printed for me and got it signed.

I also got these two laser wirephotos signed. 

The top photo shows Theo celebrating his first NHL goal. Dated Jan 7/89

Bottom photo. A bloddied Theo with Wayner dated March 23/89

Thanks to Dennis for getting these to add to my collection. My first Fleurys.

More info on Theo and his work can be found here