Justin Mercier Autograph Card

A sixth-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche (168th overall) in 2005, Justin Mercier only once in his life was a point-per-game player: in his third of four seasons in the CCHA/NCAA for the Miami University Redhawks (though he was the first player in school history to amass over 100 points and take part in over 100 wins). Other wise, in the NHL and AHL, his pace is closer to once-per-four games.

He is 1-1-2 in 9 career NHL games with the Avs, but is currently in the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads, though he did get called up to the AHL's Iowa Wild recently.

I got this card of him sporting the Avs' burgundy (home) uniform in a pack of Panini's 2010-11 Score (card #508, the Hot Rookies sub-set), although I forget if it was actually in the pack or a redemption:

It's signed in blue sharpie on a sticker that was apposed to the card.

Rob Ramage Autographed Card

I figure I should get it out of the way as soon as possible: yes, Rob Ramage was found guilty of impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death (doing the same thing, which should be one offense, really) that killed former NHLer Keith Magnusson. In an odd turn of events, the Magnusson family had forgiven him and wanted to have him speak to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving rather than serve prison time (he would get 4 years - the harshest penalty ever in Canada for someone with no previous record of drinking and driving, possibly because he was a celebrity), but were granted over 9 million dollars in a civil case against both Ramage and the car rental company (National Car Rental Of Canada)...

Ramage was granted parole in 2011. In December, he was made assistant coach of the OHL's London Knights as Dale Hunter went on a short coaching stint with the Washington Capitals.

Before all of that, he was considered a terrific team player who got 48 points in 80 WHA games, and 564 points (139 of them goals) in 1044 regular-season NHL games to go with 50 more points in 84 playoff games and two Stanley Cups, one in which he played a large role (1988-89 with the Calgary Flames) and one in which he did very little (1992-93 with the Montréal Canadiens).

He captained two teams: the Colorado Rockies (he was, in fact, their last captain before they became the New Jersey Devils) and the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1989 until 1991. and it's representing the Leafs with the 'C'' on his chest on this 1990-91 Bowman card from Topps (card #162 in the set) that I had him sign in blue sharpie:

It was signed in the late 1990s or early 2000s at a team function with several retired members of the 1993 Habs, and shows him wearing the Leaf's blue (then-away) uniform. Ironically, the Habs are the Leafs' biggest rivals; the feeling is not mutual, though, as Montréal has a much more intense rivalry with the Boston Bruins, which probably explains why the Leafs usually massacre the Habs when they play on national telecasts on Saturdays.

Nick Bonino Autograph Card

After Saku Koivu yesterday, here's another Anaheim Ducks player, this year's revelation, Nick Bonino. As of today, he has 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 56 games, which is more than he had in his first 4 seasons in the NHL (11 goals, 22 assists and 33 points in 112 games).

A former draft pick of the San Jose Sharks (6th round, 173rd overall) in 2007, the Ducks acquired him with Timo Pielmeier for Travis Moen and Kent Huskins.

I got this card as a redemption in a pack of Panini's 2010-11 Score (card #523, part of the Hot Rookies sub-set), which features an on-sticker, blue sharpie autograph:

It shows him wearing the Ducks' black (home) uniform. Of note, he's wearing his rookie number in the picture (63), and now wears jersey #13.

Saku Koivu Jersey Card

It's hard to believe Saku Koivu is already in his fifth season with the Anaheim Ducks, since he was such a huge part of the Montréal Canadiens from his rookie season in 1995-96 until the team's Centennial in 2008-09, often the lone bright spot on offense (and the only Habs player not afraid of the mid-to-end-90s Philadelphia Flyers).

How much of a leader is he? He was the Habs' first European captain for one, but also Team Finland's captain from 1998 until 2010 despite the team counting among its ranks such veterans as Teemu Selanne (the whole time) and Jari Kurri (at first), then Jere Lehtinen. Also, he would have made the team again for the Olympics this year, but withdrew his candidacy days before the roster was announced, having just recovered from a concussion and taking one for the team so it can choose a better-prepared replacement.

While noble, it's still a blow to the team, considering he has led Finland to no less than four Olympic medals (bronze in 1994, 1998 and 2010 and silver in 2002), one World Cup silver (2004) and four top-three finishes at the World Championships (gold in 1995, silver in 1994 and 1999, and bronze in 2008), usually on will power alone.

I think I would name my first-born Saku in is honour.

Which is why I cherish all of my memorabilia of him, including this card from Topps' 2000-01 Heritage set (card #OSJ-SK of the The Original Six Relics, Authentic Player-Worn Jersey insert sub-set) showing him wearing the Habs' legendary red (then-away) jersey, with the matching swatch :

I wrote to him in 2011 to get some cards signed and almost included this one in the lot; I'm kind of glad I didn't, since I never heard back.

Luke Richardson Autographed Card

Luke Richardson was chosen in the first round (7th overall) of the 1987 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, ahead of Joe Sakic (15th), Andrew Cassels (17th), John LeClair (33rd), Jeff Hackett (34th), Éric Desjardins (38th), Mathieu Schneider (44th), Guy Hebert (159th), and Theoren Fleury (166th).

Sarcastic people might say that explains why the Leafs were so bad for so long, foregoing such quality offensive leaders and steady #1 goaltenders in favour of a defensive defenseman, but not only was Richardson one of their better picks of the late 1980s, he was also a true leader, having even captained the Columbus Blue Jackets later in his career.

He played for an astonishing 21 NHL Seasons (surprising not just because it proves his value on the blue line and in the dressing room, but also because of his tough and bruising style of play), during which he played 1417 regular-season games (201 points, 2055 penalty minutes) and 69 playoff games (8 assists, 130 PIMs), during which he came close to a Stanley Cup championship, losing in the Finals, in 1999-2000 with the Philadelphia Flyers.

I got him to sign this card (and another one I can't seem to find at the moment) during the 2007-08 season when he was with the Ottawa Senators, from Upper Deck's 2005-06 Parkhurst set (card #463), signed in blue sharpie, representing him with the Leafs' white uniform:

Famously physically tough, he overcame a terrible Dino Ciccarelli clubbing to the head in his rookie season - one which earned Ciccarelli some prison time - but it's his mental toughness and resilience that has shown of late, particularly when his daughter committed suicide in late 2010, which I'm only mentioning to show this video, at a time when mental illness is at the forefront of many social discussions in Québec, Canada, and the U.S.:


Now the head coach of the Binghamton Senators, he is the one mostly responsible for Ottawa's quality NHL youngsters, which he not only helps become better hockey players, but better people, and good human beings. (I really like the string of kids making their way to the Sens' line-up these past couple of years).

Jeff O'Neill Autograph Card

Jeff O'Neill played for 11 seasons in the NHL, starting off with the Hartford Whalers (who had chosen him 5th overall in the 1994 draft) in 1995-96, moving along with the team as they became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997-98, and ending with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006-07 under his long-time head coach Paul Maurice, who has coached him in all three uniforms.

All told, he played 821 regular-season games (237 goals, 496 points) and 34 playoff games (9 goals, 17 points), never hitting the point-per-game mark, but with three straight terrific goal-scoring seasons in 2000-01 (41), 2001-02 (31) and 2002-03 (30).

He had had an exceptional junior career with the Guelph Storm, going from 79 points in 65 games in 1992-93 to 126 (in 66 games) the next year and 124 points in only 57 games in 1994-95, which led to his being chosen for All-Star games, such as the one pictured here, pitting the OHL All-Stars versus those of the Québec league (LHJMQ):

Both teams are wearing uniforms inspired by those of the New Jersey Devils. The card is from Classic's 1993-94 4 Sport set, signed in blue sharpie, and numbered #1716/3000.

Brian Rolston Autograph Card

Last April, one of the most complete forwards of his time - though never a star per se, despite his one All-Star Game appearance and multiple Team USA nominations - announced his retirement: Brian Rolston.

Rolston has a Stanley Cup (in 1994-95 with the New Jersey Devils) and a World Cup (1996) to go with World Junior bronze (1992), World Championship bronze (1996) and Olympic silver (2002). He was near the point-per-game plateau only once (in 2005-06 with the Minnesota Wild, where he tallied 79 points in 81 games) but reached the 30-goal plateau 4 times in six seasons between 2001-02 and 2007-08.

A fine team player, he captained the Wild four times back when they would rotate the title.

I really like this card, from In The Game's 1998-99 Be A Player set (card #230 in silver foil), signed on-card in black sharpie:

It depicts him wearing the Devils' white then-home uniform, ready to accept a pass in the offensive zone.

Rob Blake Jersey Card

At the turn of the century, there was a proliferation of brands making hockey cards and each one had their gimmick to entice you, and jersey card inserts were the norm, so much so that any type of jersey became a fall-back when game-worn ones weren't available, such as this Paul Kariya practice jersey card I featured in 2010...

This time, it's a Rob Blake jersey card, from a very specific type of practice:

Yes, it's from Team Canada's pre-Olympic summer orientation camp, before their 2002 Salt Lake City gold medal win. Then why did they show Blake wearing the Colorado Avalanche's blue and burgundy away uniform on the front of the card?

The card is from In The Game's 2003-04 Be A Player Memorabilia set (card #PMP-6 of the Practice Makes Perfect sub-set).

I have no doubt Blake will be inducted in the Hall Of Fame next year, as the former Triple Gold Club (Olympic gold, World Championship gold, Stanley Cup), Norris winner, who has played in 6 All-Star Games and been on 4 end-of-season All-Star teams - one First Team, three Second Team - as well as captained two different teams, has a resume many currently in the Hall could only aspire to.

Darren Daulton Autographed Card

Darren Daulton was the Philadelphia Phillies' starting catcher from 1989 to 1995, though he started his career with them in 1983. He represented the team in three All-Star Games: in 1992, 1993 and 1995.

Starting in 1994, however, injuries became a constant in his career, and the Phillies sent him to the Florida Marlins in 1997, with whom he won the World Series, then announced his retirement.

He has had his problems with the law, often being found guilty of DUI, refusing to take breathalizer tests and driving without a license. He also faced domestic violence charges with his second wife, who has since divorced him.

He had two tumors removed from his brain last summer, and it looks like he'll be alright.

I got him to sign this card from me in blue sharpie, probably in 1995 or 1996 (I only carried black ones or pens before then):

It's from Fleer's 1991 Fleer set (card #393), a simple yet effective design, and shows him wearing the Phillies' grey (away) uniform, in a standing position, throwing the ball back to his pitcher after an out or a walk I was always impressed with how neat and airy his signature is..

Jake Deadmarsh Autograph Card

A seventh-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks (164th overall in 1996), Jake Deadmarsh didn't have the most impressive junior career, even for a defenseman, with 2 goals, 12 assists (14 points) and 159 penalty minutes in 95 games over 4 seasons with three different teams in the WHL.

This card, from Signature Rookies' 1995-96 Draft Day insert set of autographed cards (card #9 in the set) found in a re-packaged box and ''limited'' to 4500 (it's card #572 in that line), shows him wearing the Seattle Thunderbirds' blue (away) uniform, though their logo has been airbrushed out for copyrights issues:

If you're curious, here's what their logo looks like (yes, it's pretty much a copy of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks...)

The Thunderbirds have been steady providers of professional hockey talent through the years, though, counting among their alumni such players as Glenn Anderson and Ken Daneyko (back when the team was called the Seattle Breakers), Glen Goodall, Petr Nedved, Patrick Marleau, Brooks Laich, Jan Hrdina, Shawn Chambers, Brent Fedyk, Wade Flaherty, Jon Klemm, Chris Osgood, Mark Parrish, Oleg Saprykin, Cory Sarich, Corey Schwab, and Brendan Witt.