Robert Mayer: 4 Autographed Cards (Part 1)

Robert Mayer saw that there wasn't a future for him in the Montréal Canadiens' organization a few weeks ago and took a gutsy mid-season decision: signing in Switzerland for next season, making for a hectic half-week, between a win for his Hamilton Bulldogs, a call-up to the Habs, a demotion back to the AHL, and a Bulldogs game at the Bell Center to close the story.

Mayer is no fool: he knows it'll be nearly impossible to displace Carey Price as the Habs' top goalie, and instead of remaining buried in the organization, will play for the #1 spot with the HC Biel and maybe eventually get a real shot at the NHL.

So coming home to this 4-card return last night was great, as I might never get another chance to get his autograph. I'd sent these cards to him care of the Bulldogs on January 30th, so they came back in about a month, signed in black sharpie, each with the jersey number he's sporting on the card.

A (Swiss who happens to be a) native of the Czech Republic (although his first two cards say he's from Zurich, Switzerland), he came to North America to play Juniors, playing for the St. John Sea Dogs of the LHJMQ:

The card on the left is from In The Game's 2008-09 Between the Pipes set (card #42, the Future Stars sub-set) and sees him wearing the Sea Dogs' away jersey; the card on the right is from In The Game's 2007-08 Between the Pipes set (card #45, the Future Stars sub-set) and sees him in the team's white (home) uniform.

He was never drafted in the NHL, but the Canadiens signed him to a (minor league) free agent contract in 2008 and quickly threw him in the ECHL with their then-affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones, where he went 19-10-1 with a 2.81 GAA in 2009-10, earning him a promotion with the Bulldogs for the following season, which is where this card comes in:

From In The Game's 2010-11 Between the Pipes set (card #82, the Future Stars sub-set, sporting the Bulldogs' white jersey, taking control of the puck (possibly after play).

(continued in the next post)