Saturday, February 22, 2020

Shawn Horcoff Autograph Card

Upon retiring after the 2015-16 season that had him sign with the Anaheim Ducks and suspended by the NHL for 20 games for a performance-enhancing drug violation - essentially for using human-growth hormones to heal from an injury quicker - he was named the Detroit Red Wings' Director of Player Development, and was promoted to Director of Player Personnel last summer.

You may find it bizarre that a 13-year member of the Edmonton Oilers didn't join the team in some capacity, but they're trying to steer clear of their perceived Old Boys Club mentality and are looking outside the organization for help nowadays.

And Team Canada is hoping NHLers will be going to the next Olympics, so they're saving their key positions for NHL GMs and coaches instead of alumni who have won two gold medals (2003 and 2004) and one silver (2009) at World Championships.

So why Detroit? Well, for starters, his wife is from Michigan, and after following her husband around for 15 years, it was time for him to help her settle down where her roots lay. He met her while playing for the Michigan State University Spartans, where he was named CCHA Defensive Player Of The Year and a Hobey Baker finalist.

This is how I remember him best, wearing the Oilers' white turn-of-the-millennium uniform:
That's card #TS-HO from Upper Deck's 2006-07 Trilogy collection and Trilogy Scripts sub-set, featuring a blue-sharpied on-sticker autograph.

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