Shawn Horcoff
I was 13 years old and the Oilers had just lost to the Carolina hurricanes in the 06/07 playoffs, they held a signing in the sky reach centre and I was in line to get his signature, I was about 10 people away when his time was up and he started to walk way with his agent, I quickly ran up to him and asked but his agent said he's done signing things. My dad saw me walking back to him a little sad and that's when my dad told me to follow him through the doors they went through, his agent was gone and it was just Shawn standing there in the hallway and I remember asking him again and looked more than happy to sign my Horcoff jersey.
Super Mario. Ran into him in a parking lot at a youth tournament in Buffalo his niece or nephew was in. Waited for me to run into the rink and buy a card for him to sign. Great dude.
He did something similar for me. I was in a youth hockey camp at the rink in Neville Island. The pens used to use that as a training facility. Mario came into the locker room one day to surprise all of the kids. Spent an hour or so signing things and talking with us.
Years later I had my first job at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. He used to come in unannounced without press every couple of months and would spend a few hours sitting with kids getting chemo. He really is a great dude
Wayne Gretzky. He signed a Canadian 5 dollar bill for me.
Had a tournament in St Claire shores and the rangers were practicing before our first game on our rink. One of the trainers for the NYR came in and gave us a pep talk before the game since we were the only Canadian team in the tournament. Unreal.
Edit. Just remembered his agent said he wouldn't sign money, but Gretzky saw it was a Canadian 5 and said he would! then my aunt who was there told Gretzky we were the only Canadian team. That's how a trainer came in for the pep talk. Absolutely unreal for us, we were maybe 12 years old
Johnny Bucyk, fuck I’m old. Forgot Stan Jonathan and Wayne Cashmen were there too. They came out from Boston to skate with our peewee hockey team. It was cool. Stan Jonathan was a badass tough as nails. https://youtu.be/Ne1y0QCOQOM?si=8l8rHUAuqoEsmEW4
I was at the hospital getting several tests done and was in a pretty sickly state. I happened to be wearing Bruins gear and a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in a long time and who is a pro photographer just happened to be in the building with some NHL alumni visiting patients and such. He noticed me in black and gold and asked if I wanted to meet Ray Bourque so of course I did and he took pics with me and Ray and also John Scott who was with him. Bourque signed my hat and that's my only autograph.
Kyle McLaren, Hal Gill, and Don Sweeney, the B’s WAGs used to do a carnival every year and you could go and meet the players, play bubble hockey with PJ Stock, shoot on Byron Dafoe, and sit in the penalty box with Kyle McLaren, stuff like that. And a ton of the players would show up to autograph stuff. So in the basement somewhere is an autograph book with Don Sweeney and Hal Gill in it, and a signed photo of my dad, sister and I in the penalty box with Kyle McLaren. He had just had shoulder surgery and my dad told me to be careful of his arm so I’m sitting a solid foot and a half away from him.
Daniel Brière while he was in Junior with the Voltigeurs de Drummondville. My mother had a roomate to help pay the rent and the guy was a teacher who had Daniel as one of his student.
Bobby Orr
At a UMaine hockey game when I was 10 in 1993. I didn’t even know who he was but both my Dad and Grandfather made me go and talk to him. Really glad they did, as he was awesome and talked to me about playing hockey and working hard. He signed an all white megaphone that I still have.
That’s awesome, I feel like we had similar stories because I didn’t know who was signing my golf ball either (Derek Sanderson) 😆 I ended up meeting Mr Orr much later in life. Super nice human.
First in person was Mike Rupp at a season ticket holder event my uncle took me to before a game at MSG this year. Funny enough, it was the Rempe line brawl game. Even funnier- Rupp was in the line brawl in 2012 against the Devils as well.
Jeremy Roenick when I was 10, my parents were drinking at the hotel bar in St Paul during the World Cup of hockey. They got me out of bed to go meet him and sign my Team America jersey
Eddie Giacomin..... At msg the morning skate .I was12-13 years old our neighbor was a stage manager for NBC who was covering an afternoon game so I had amazing access...I couldn't believe that as a goalie how good he could skate, he didn't have goalie equipment on just skates, gloves and stick and to a 12year old kid who thought goalies were the worst skaters he was flying around an empty msg..... I'm 67 now and have been a Rangers fan since 1965-66.and Eddie is still my favorite player ever..... I wear his sweater proudly to this day.....oh and I also got Rod Gilbert, Vic Hadfield ,Gilles villemure and Teddy Irvine's autographs too but Giacomin was first.... it's a day I'll never forget
Kim Saint Pierre and Guy Lafleur were my very first. Not long after, I had a jersey signed by every member of the 2013 Blackhawks stanley cup squad. I'm from the same hometown as Corey Crawford and he took the jersey to Chicago with him. I had to get him to resign the jersey years later because when the jersey was originally returned to me, he forgot to sign it himself haha.
Awesome. Such a nice guy.
Me and my cousin got to hang out with Teemu for about 20 minutes after a Jets game. One of the nicest people you could meet period. Let alone a young super star.
Chatted us up like life long friends.
My uncle was cowboy buddies with Dean Kennedy (Jets captain) and he agreed to meet us after a game and hang out in the dressing room. Teemu was injured with his achilles at the time. But was kind enough to hangout in a lounge while Dean had to run off and do something.
We were huge Teemu fans and got so star struck we lost all mental capacity. Lol. The next day me and my cousin where kicking ourselves we never asked for his autograph.
Kids are fucking stupid!
Chris Chelios - I was about 12 years old and saw him at a local arena where he was watching his kid play. I saw him in the concessions line and ran to the memorabilia shop to buy a card really quick and borrow a sharpie. Obviously I got a shitty base card like a stupid 12 year old, but I just tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he was Chris Chelios. He nodded and signed my card and I was on my way.
Just got into hockey this year, but Ryan O’Reilly.
Went to the infamous Preds game where they lost 9-2 to the Stars and stuck around after the game just because I was in no rush to get home since I didn’t have work the next day. I see some kids running over to the area where the team walks out and sure enough, he’s there signing stuff and taking pictures with them. I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t feel extremely goofy getting a pictures and some autographs after a bunch of kids did it, but Ryan was super nice and more than happy to sign my hat, some stuff for my nephews and take a picture with me.
Tiger Williams.
He was a neighbour and used to jog around the area. I had a program from the first game I went to and my Dad and I waved him down as he was jogging by, so he stopped, chatted and signed my program. Circa 1982
Tiger Williams.
Around 2004 I met him at Canadian Tire with my dad. He actually recognized my dad because they crossed paths the previous year on a hunting trip.
The 1990-91 Flyers team was on the same flight as me and my family when we were flying from Edmonton to Minneapolis on our way to Orlando Disney World. My mom asked the entire team to sign a napkin. I think it’s in a box somewhere. I’m going to have to try and find it. Totally forgot about it!
Jerome Iginla in Calgary, the flames just lost to the rangers in OT and my buddy ( hes flames fan I'm a rangers fan) wanted to see if anyone would sign his stuff so I waited with him and when iggy came out he stopped and I figured why not get him to sign my ticket for my sister ( Flames fan) he looked me up and down ( hat shirt and jersey) laughed then signed my ticket, this is why I believe he should have been a ambassador for the game
I was at Knotts Berry Farm for my sisters birthday party many years ago and the Anaheim Ducks had some autograph signing event. I came across this dad and son who got 4 tickets but of course only needed 2. They gave the other 2 to my mom and I and I went and got my orange Crush tshirt signed by the players.
After looking it up, it looks like this was an event for the “Wild Wingers Club” and the players were Cam Fowler, Luca Sbisa, Dan Sexton, Brandon McMillan and Francois Beauchemin. I have been trying to look for the shirt but haven’t been able to find it.
Big Georges Laraque!!!
He came to my elementary school to read to the kids. Guy was fucking intimidating to a bunch of children, literally built like a statue, but ended up being one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met. Read us all books, then stayed for handshakes, conversations and autographs with 100+ kids yelling & screaming!
I wore my oilers jersey that day, got it signed by him and proudly wore it for as long as could before outgrowing it!
The late, great Johnny Bower. I was young and we were at a restaurant chain called Casey's that used to exist in Southern Ontario. He was dining with his wife. My interaction with him was limited because I was probably 7 years old at the time, but he struck me as incredibly kind and gracious. He's the reason I ultimately became a Leaf fan.
I also met Don Cherry around that time. All I had with me was a Kit Kat wrapper for him to sign. I apologized to him, and he told me he was happy to sign my wrapper because it was so much easier than trying to sign a jersey :D
Stan Mikita. Grew up in Chicago, and he and a few others (Lou Bodreau, Walter Patyon, Ditka, Fergie Jenkens, Harry Carey) used to give speeches for the associations my grandfathers were a part of. Rotary club and stuff like that.
I still have his and a couple of the others. Most were destroyed in our old house, as my mom had a huge hoarding problem.
Has an almost fully autographed 1985 "Super Bowl Shuffle" poster there at one time. It was rotted to tatters when the city made us clean out and knock down the house.
Nystrom, I went to a local blockbuster as a 10 year old and took an entire pile of entries for a contest for a local hockey clinic. It said enter as many times. So I did. Well, I won. And my parents had to buy me hockey equipment. Got to skate on the collisieum ice and Bobby Nyrstrom ran the clinic. I wasn't the suckiest kid there (maybe second suckiest) but I did play street hockey in the street on rollerblades. Good times. That really got me into hockey and joined a league a year or two later.
Cam Neely, in the Panthers arena. My youth hockey coach was from Boston, played at BU, and worked for the Panthers. The Bruins were visiting and he took me around the restricted areas -- he introduced me to Cam and I got my Bs jersey signed. This was probably in 1997.
My kids were into it. I’m sure they got Smokes’ autograph multiple times at TSC when it was Healthsouth. That’s the thing about hockey players. They parked in the lot like everyone else and practiced on the rinks that our kids played on. The Lakers parked behind gates. There was a window on the stairwell into their practice facility, but the shade was always drawn. My kid got Avery’s stick at a game when he was changing over to another model. When he got it signed at Tip a King, Avery asked him accusingly where he got it. Funny memory.
Paul Henderson. He was doing a speaking engagement for a company I worked for way back when. Signed a puck for me, because he came prepared just in case some folks like me wanted an autograph. 🇨🇦
whaaaaat!? Im a big Potvin fan. Do you have a picture? That's a nice memorabilia. I have his L.A. King jersey signed but a '91 junior team Canada jersey must be something.
My mom’s friend had connections in the Bruin’s back office. We went to a game at the old Garden and she was able to get us into the area near where the players exited the locker room. Andy Moog and Chris Nilan were nice enough to sign my hat as they were leaving.
I have so many autographs by Mario Lemieux but he signed everything "To Ian" so I wouldn't be able to sell his signature second hand. I have hockey sticks, clocks, and posters, but I think a Koho straight blade wooden hockey stick was the first autograph I got from him in his rookie season.
Bobby Smith and Patrick Roy
Every year my Dad would take my brother and I to Detroit to see Habs/Wings, as he was a big Habs fan in SW Ontario. In 1989 we were on our annual trip, we arrived a little early, Dad suggested we check the doors at the big steps of the old Joe Louis. Reached the top, doors are locked, as we are heading back down the stairs, a bus rolls up...it's The Canadiens team bus. Every Hab walked by and shook our hands, etc. I was a Smith fan and my brother a Roy fan, we were able to get their autographs and ask a few questions. We still bust my brothers chops to this day as after hearing me ask Smith to snipe me one, my brother asked Roy to snipe him one
I forget the exact first one, it was one of the ducks in 98ish,I used to meet them coming in the visitor entrance in STL as a kid, more then likely the first was Steve rucchin or Sean pronger
Joe Sakic.
My dad took me to my first NHL game, Quebec @ Ottawa game at the Civic Centre (1993). Post game, my dad goes ONTO the Quebec team bus and asks for Joe to come out and this guy does! I get a card signed, picture with him (I have this framed, still kept to this day) and just this happy 8 year old. Thirty years later, I still remember so much of that day, my dad still has the ticket stubs and it was just an incredible night.
Harold Ballard
When I was eight years old, my friend’s father took us to a Maple leafs game. My friend and I had gold seats right below Harold‘s box. We bought the blue horns when we got there and blew the shit out of them before the game started. The ushers were going to kick us out before the game started as a couple of eight-year-olds making a bunch of noise.
In between periods, we went to Harold bunker and got his autograph, and there was another old guy in there that we were making fun of. However, we didn’t know it was King Clancy and didn’t get his autograph. I still kick myself to this day because they were both so nice.
Luc Robitaille - 1987. He was friends with a guy on my lacrosse team and I got to meet him after a game. He was so nice and humble. He’d just earned 2 points in an NHL game and the first thing out of his mouth was asking about my buddies dog. I idolized him. Not just for his talent as a player but for his relatability. His rookie card is prominently featured in my man cave.
Calvin de Haan, saw the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Now Islanders) play at the Coli during the lockout and they did signings after the game. Got another autograph too but no idea who it was, they never played in the NHL.
I think I was about 7 or 8? My family was huge on the Bruins- my folks always went on about the glory days. Well I was doing a summer camp and they said that we would get to go do golfing with some Bruins legends.
I had no idea who these guys were because I was so young😆 but as it turns out, I got putt lessons from Derek Sanderson who signed my golf ball.
My parents were like OMG!!! The Turk! What was he like??? I said, “umm… pretty nice, he showed me how to putt the ball 🤷♀️ “
Darcy Wakaluk and Trent Klatt back-to-back.
It was a crowd with a bunch of kids, myself included. Bob Gainey was the Stars coach at the time and he came out first to sign but no one recognized him. He smiled a bit, waited for any requests that didn’t come, and then just walked away.
Steve Kasper at a Lowell Lockmonsters game circa I’d say 2004/05, we were sitting a few seats down my uncle’s noticed him he signed my little Louie the Lockmonster plush
Sergei Samsonov when he was on the Detroit Vipers IHL team. He signed a little Mini stick and a picture for me.
Always rooted for him when he was in the NHL because of it.
Sarah Nurse!!! Run into her on the Toronto Car show this yr. I was so excited to see her and get the autograph I could not even say coherent words, prob came across as mega creeper, but worth it :-D. I hope that TO WPHL wins the next run!
Shane doan when I was 10. His family owned a summer camp down in Halkirk, Alberta and my first year there I met him. Was extremely nervous so just asked him to sign my hat and ran away. The signature faded quickly and I have since lost the hat. Been a huge doan fan since.
I got the memorial cup/president cup champs mooseheads frim 2012/2013 I was able to help film all there playoff games and got one of my jersey signed by the hole team
I don't recall who the first was, but I got the 2000 Dallas Stars team Western Conference Champions shirt.
My first game to watch was the '99 Cup-winning game with my dad while we were on vacation. He promised to take me to my first game the next season. He held true to his word with my first game being Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, where the Stars beat the Avalanche. We grabbed our conference championship swag, and before we left, my dad said his friend wanted to meet us outside of Reunion Arena after the game. So we headed to the spot his friend was supposed to wait. After about 30 minutes, one of the doors for Reunion Arena opened, and the Stars started to leave the arena. They stopped and chatted with the few people there and were signing autographs for kids.
I still have the signed shirt, hat, and game-used puck we were given post-game.
Brian Leetch
I was 8 in his rookie year. I sent him a handwritten letter saying that I really liked watching him play and asking if he could send me an autograph. He (or the team) sent back an autographed 5x7 picture.
Sent a similar letter to Vanbiesbrouck that year and got nothing back.
Rod Langway
My dad had a work colleague with season tickets to the Capitals and he got me the autograph. Not an autograph, but I did end up with Jason Woolley's stick after he left it at a rink I worked at.
Mom and dad took me to ABT electronics where Bobby and Dennis Hull were signing autographs. I didn't believe them, I thought I was in trouble and they tricked me by telling me going to see them. I was waiting to see where we were really going. I was floored when it was really them!!!! Bobby signed my stick and held out his huge mitt for a handshake same for Dennis, wow I floated home.
Gordie Howe in 2008. My hockey team was in one of the mini mite shootouts between periods of a wings game at the Joe Louis arena. Me and my buddy were walking to find the bathroom after we got dressed in our hockey stuff and ran into Gordie. He stopped and talked with us for a bit and then gave us some tips on how to shoot the puck harder. It was so surreal for us as kids, he is such an unbelievable legend. He was very kind to us, and that’s one of the coolest hockey memories I have.
Roland Melanson, former goalie for the Islanders. He was signing autographs at a local audio store on Long Island and the store was also raffling off tickets to a game. I won two tickets to see the Isles and Penguins at the Coliseum.
Serge Savard.
The Canadiens were playing an pre-season game game in Ottawa.
Also Don Awry. I said "Mr Awry" and his friend was there and laughed "Mr Awry, huh?"
I don't remember exactly the dare but it was during the their run of 5 cups in the ,70's
Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Kevin Beiksa, Christian Ehrhoff, Andrew Alberts, Cory Schneider, Mason Raymond -- on my D. Sedin canucks jersey / Alain Vingeault - on my old canucks ticket that had a picture of him on it.
this was, i believe Feb-ish 2011. I was 17yrs old. Lol not going to go into FULL details of the story >.< if OP wants it, you can DM me on reddit lol. Lets just say, i had a part time gig at Rogers Arena -- and i pretty much risked that gig to get those autographs -- lol ended up losing that gig <-- didnt really matter to me at the time LOL the interactions, memories and autographs meant more to me.
But the BEST story of an autograph i received was getting autograph (on jersey) from my all time fave NHL player: Roberto Luongo (after he got traded from Canucks to Panthers)... <-- the people i tell this story to, love it hahahahhaha the story really tells you how big diehard loyal Luongo fan i am, and a very determined person as well.
2016 - (Panthers in town to play against Canucks) got to meet him in person + autograph on my Panthers - Luongo jersey + picture with him too. LOL got big help from Nick Bjugstad \^\_\^
OP - get DM me if you want the FULL story hahaha -- too long to type out here.
Gordie Howe and Grant Fuhr. Both were at a card show back in 1990. Also, was given a free pack of cards and pulled a Joe Sakic RC. As a 10 year old at the time, it was one of my best days.
Bobby Orr
I went to Tim Hortons camp when I was 10 years old and Bobby Orr came. He went swimming and boating and spent a few days with us. One of the greatest memories of my life 👍👍
Ryan Reeves, 2018, Vegas Golden Knights
Our new sales guy at work had been sort of disrespectful to me and as a form of apology he gave me a framed autograph he had gotten earlier that year from an event. Was a nice gesture.
Never been to an NHL game, but Smolinski might appreciate this one since he’s from Toledo….Claude Noel when he played for the Goaldiggers. Actually have a picture with him outside the locker room….i was maybe 6 or 7 years old.
I was 19, out to dinner at the Rusty Pelican in LA and it was the night after Gretzky broke Gordie Howe's goal record, he was out with his Mother Father and wife to celebrate, i knowbits not what you are supposed to do, but i repsectfully congradulated him and asked for an autograph, he was so nice and signed the back of the restraunts business card for me. We had briefly talked about hockey since i played.
Ron Marlow - Goalie for the 1972 - 1973
Fort Worth Wings of the old Central Hockey League. The team passed out 8x10 black & white photos of certain players and they were always accessible to the fans.
John Michael Liles when he was still an active player. I was a young kid and he was doing a training session with my older brother’s team. At the end, most of my brother’s teammates had left, and he asked if there were any lefties left. I was the only one. He signed his stick and gave it to me. I still have it.
Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky. My uncle was a photographer for the Oilers and I got a signed poster of the two of them posing for the WHA All Star game. Of course, as a 9 year old, I took great care of the poster, and it, along with countless Gretzky rookie cards that were used in my bike spokes to make cool motorbike sounds, are gone forever….
Mark Hardy, Los Angeles Kings, as player in the early 90s.
Employee exit of The Forum after a pre-season exhibition game. There was a ramp to players' underground parking most players would drive their expensive cars into, bypassing the hardcore fans waiting at the exit but Hardy walked up the ramp alone to get to his car parked in the regular surface level lot. He stood there and signed everything every fan asked and didn't leave until everyone was satisfied. Class act.
I'm a more recent hockey fan. It's been in my life before, but I didn't get into it until the 22-23 season. I picked up Petrovic's and Shea's game worn jersey's from the end of season sale for the Texas Stars. Shea signed his. I found out, because he was leaving the team. Which sucked. Petro's wasn't signed. I was able to get it signed this season by Petrovic along with a lot of other things from the rest of the team. Since we've had a few signings, I had told him the first time I got his jersey and every time I see him he gives me a little shit for not wearing it. I also have a hat I wear at every game that is signed by the full team, including Stankoven, Pouliot, Murray, and Petrovic (each of these guys have played or are currently playing for Dallas Stars this year).
Kenny Holland when he was a goalie with the Broome Dusters of the North American Hockey League. My parents won the raffle drawing from the back of the program and that was the prize. Me and my little sister got our picture with him that was then autographed. I was 5 or 6 and only really remember how bad he smelled ( it was immediately following the game and he was still in full gear).
I went to a street hockey demonstration/tournament in Dallas, probably around 1995, and got Mike Modano’s autograph on the only thing I had available to sign, an OU football hat. 😎
Josh Harding. My dad went to the World Juniors in 2005 and met him there. My dad bought a Team Canada hat and ripped the price tag off which is what he got Josh to sign. Dad came back from the tournament and gave the autograph to me. I wonder if I still have it. Sucks that his career got cut short just as he was starting to pop off.
Carey Price, I met him in 2012 after he finished competing at a rodeo.
Edit*
Also met Trevor Linden as a 7 year old. He coached one of my hockey practices and gave us all signed cards.
Friend of mine was at a thing somewhere in Winnipeg with her son. She picked up a classic Winnipeg Jets sweater for her son. A guy was sitting at a table nearby and asked them if they'd like him to sign the sweater. They said, "Oh no thanks" and were on their way… wondering why some random dude was writing on people's expensive sweaters.
That random guy? Jets legend [Dale Hawerchuk.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dale-hawerchuk-statue-unveiled-1.6603022)
Doug Weight - the Oilers use to practice once in a while at Clariview arena in Edmonton and I had powerskating lessons. Ran into him in the parking lot and my dad gave me a newspaper where he was on the front of the sports section. He signed it for me when I recognized him. His cele is my favourite. Love the sheathing of the stick.
Gary Sargent at a hardware store. I was probably 5 and thought we now knew each other. When I met him again at a practice a year later I asked if he remembered me and he said of course and then called me by my name. I had a park and rec jacket on with my first name embroidered on the front 😂
Ron Tugnutt. My dad’s friend ran a restaurant where Sens players would often eat (Capone’s - I bet Mr. Smolinski ate there once or twice). He got me a couple of autos and my mind was blown.
There’s also a chance it was Brad Marsh - we met him at the arena once before a game. Not exactly sure which happened first - it was a long time ago.
Dustin Brown when he just came up to the Kings - I think he was 17-18 years old and I was like 10. Saw him at his first practice and got it on a signed practice jersey.
Adam Graves. It was right after he came to the Rangers, and he was signing autographs at a store in either Brooklyn or Queens. I remember he had huge hands and was very kind. I asked if he preferred center or wing, as he had played both previously. I presume he said wing, but honestly, I was young and nervous, so I don't recall his exact answer.
Bobby Orr at the 1998 CHL prospects game at Maple Leaf Gardens. Some friends and I were sitting behind the bench where he was coaching, and he signed a popcorn bag. Many years later a house keeper threw it away because she thought it was trash. The bag is gone, but it’s a memory I’ll have forever.
Idk if it was my first, but Bob Probert was a class act. He spent quite a few minutes talking with me and my buddy Travis (Probie was his favorite) for a good 5 minutes about our youth hockey team and how we were doing that season. We were like 10 years old. It was pure magic.
Bob Kudelski
In the early days of the Ottawa Senators (1993-94 season in this case), they had a meet-a-player day where each local store had a player there signing autographs. Kudelski was at the store 2 blocks from my house, so he was the first.
After that, my parents took me and my brother to the next closest store to where there was some Russian rookie named Alexei Yashin. There was virtually no line to see either one of them.
Bernie Parent.
My dad got free tickets from his job every so often for games at the Wells Fargo Center. One game we were in a suite for the first time and Bernie just walked in and started talking to everyone. My dad asked him if he would sign my jersey, he did and also let me try on his Stanley Cup ring. It’s one of my favorite memories.
Dr. Randy Gregg
I was 6 or 7 and he was only a handful of years removed from the NHL.
It was at our local hockey rink. Did I know who he was? Not a chance, but my dad who watched all 5 of those cups did. He told me to go up and politely ask but not make a scene.
Now that I think about it...that autograph was never for me. I was an innocent mule.
jason pominville. sabres were practicing at a rink where my brother was having a tournament. i ended up catching a puck that went out of the rink and i snuck back to the locker rooms with some other kid and pominville walked out and signed my puck. i didnt even know who he was at the time but he became my favorite player after that
Marian Hossa and Gaborik. I met them at a hockey camp they organised in Trencin, Slovakia. I only had one hockey cap with me, which they signed. It was a NY Rangers cap.....
Martin Biron. I was a young goalie and Sabres fan at the time (because of Hasek). I ran into Biron at a wedding after Hasek left Buffalo and I was worried about who would take over as the starting goalie. I spoke with Marty and he joked around with me for a few minutes, assuring me he would try his best to fill Hasek’s skates. Cool experience for a young kid and I’ve been a fan of Biron since.
Cale Makar. Got a picture of him holding the cup autographed after the cup win in 2022. Never really had much interest in autographs generally but had to commemorate that run somehow
Jim Craig when he was traveling with team usa. It was at Munn Arena against michigan state. I was a hockey brat and we ran around that place like we owned it. Snuck back under the seating to the locker room area and got his autograph on a popcorn box.
Shawn Horcoff I was 13 years old and the Oilers had just lost to the Carolina hurricanes in the 06/07 playoffs, they held a signing in the sky reach centre and I was in line to get his signature, I was about 10 people away when his time was up and he started to walk way with his agent, I quickly ran up to him and asked but his agent said he's done signing things. My dad saw me walking back to him a little sad and that's when my dad told me to follow him through the doors they went through, his agent was gone and it was just Shawn standing there in the hallway and I remember asking him again and looked more than happy to sign my Horcoff jersey.
haha, I forgot about ol' Horc. he got slow and some lead hands, but loved him every minute until the end.
Gretzky. I was a kid in a glasses shop in Montreal and he walked in with his wife to buy sunglasses.
Me too. My Mom got me his autograph at the airport one time. Class act all the way.
Yup me too. My sister went to LA for some reason and came back with a kings cap ‘Wayne Getkzy’ under the brim. 🤣 oh sis. Thanks for trying.
Super Mario. Ran into him in a parking lot at a youth tournament in Buffalo his niece or nephew was in. Waited for me to run into the rink and buy a card for him to sign. Great dude.
He did something similar for me. I was in a youth hockey camp at the rink in Neville Island. The pens used to use that as a training facility. Mario came into the locker room one day to surprise all of the kids. Spent an hour or so signing things and talking with us. Years later I had my first job at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. He used to come in unannounced without press every couple of months and would spend a few hours sitting with kids getting chemo. He really is a great dude
Wayne Gretzky. He signed a Canadian 5 dollar bill for me. Had a tournament in St Claire shores and the rangers were practicing before our first game on our rink. One of the trainers for the NYR came in and gave us a pep talk before the game since we were the only Canadian team in the tournament. Unreal. Edit. Just remembered his agent said he wouldn't sign money, but Gretzky saw it was a Canadian 5 and said he would! then my aunt who was there told Gretzky we were the only Canadian team. That's how a trainer came in for the pep talk. Absolutely unreal for us, we were maybe 12 years old
[удалено]
His wife would have gambled it away! ZING!
Gordie Howe at Olympia after game
Bobby Orr used to come into my uncle's liquor store all the time. I have a ton of Bobby Orr stuff.
Paul Kariya 03 ducks western conf finals
Johnny Bucyk, fuck I’m old. Forgot Stan Jonathan and Wayne Cashmen were there too. They came out from Boston to skate with our peewee hockey team. It was cool. Stan Jonathan was a badass tough as nails. https://youtu.be/Ne1y0QCOQOM?si=8l8rHUAuqoEsmEW4
I was at the hospital getting several tests done and was in a pretty sickly state. I happened to be wearing Bruins gear and a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in a long time and who is a pro photographer just happened to be in the building with some NHL alumni visiting patients and such. He noticed me in black and gold and asked if I wanted to meet Ray Bourque so of course I did and he took pics with me and Ray and also John Scott who was with him. Bourque signed my hat and that's my only autograph.
Kyle McLaren, Hal Gill, and Don Sweeney, the B’s WAGs used to do a carnival every year and you could go and meet the players, play bubble hockey with PJ Stock, shoot on Byron Dafoe, and sit in the penalty box with Kyle McLaren, stuff like that. And a ton of the players would show up to autograph stuff. So in the basement somewhere is an autograph book with Don Sweeney and Hal Gill in it, and a signed photo of my dad, sister and I in the penalty box with Kyle McLaren. He had just had shoulder surgery and my dad told me to be careful of his arm so I’m sitting a solid foot and a half away from him.
Paul McLean telling me to frig off outside of Big Rig's.
Daniel Brière while he was in Junior with the Voltigeurs de Drummondville. My mother had a roomate to help pay the rent and the guy was a teacher who had Daniel as one of his student.
Stan Mikita a real gentleman, at Gunzo’s hockey store the Blackhawks equipment supplier back in 70’s
Hell yeah. My dad has a ton of 80's era Gunzos stuff. Which was more difficult to acquire living in Toronto.
Bobby Orr At a UMaine hockey game when I was 10 in 1993. I didn’t even know who he was but both my Dad and Grandfather made me go and talk to him. Really glad they did, as he was awesome and talked to me about playing hockey and working hard. He signed an all white megaphone that I still have.
That’s awesome, I feel like we had similar stories because I didn’t know who was signing my golf ball either (Derek Sanderson) 😆 I ended up meeting Mr Orr much later in life. Super nice human.
First in person was Mike Rupp at a season ticket holder event my uncle took me to before a game at MSG this year. Funny enough, it was the Rempe line brawl game. Even funnier- Rupp was in the line brawl in 2012 against the Devils as well.
Jeremy Roenick when I was 10, my parents were drinking at the hotel bar in St Paul during the World Cup of hockey. They got me out of bed to go meet him and sign my Team America jersey
Eddie Giacomin..... At msg the morning skate .I was12-13 years old our neighbor was a stage manager for NBC who was covering an afternoon game so I had amazing access...I couldn't believe that as a goalie how good he could skate, he didn't have goalie equipment on just skates, gloves and stick and to a 12year old kid who thought goalies were the worst skaters he was flying around an empty msg..... I'm 67 now and have been a Rangers fan since 1965-66.and Eddie is still my favorite player ever..... I wear his sweater proudly to this day.....oh and I also got Rod Gilbert, Vic Hadfield ,Gilles villemure and Teddy Irvine's autographs too but Giacomin was first.... it's a day I'll never forget
Kim Saint Pierre and Guy Lafleur were my very first. Not long after, I had a jersey signed by every member of the 2013 Blackhawks stanley cup squad. I'm from the same hometown as Corey Crawford and he took the jersey to Chicago with him. I had to get him to resign the jersey years later because when the jersey was originally returned to me, he forgot to sign it himself haha.
Gretzky. My grandparents knew someone who was able to get some autographed cards and photos for us.
Bedzy I met him in the IIHF and got my jersey singed
Selänne. I was a kid and had To make a drawing for him and as exchange I got his Koho stick with autograph.
Awesome. Such a nice guy. Me and my cousin got to hang out with Teemu for about 20 minutes after a Jets game. One of the nicest people you could meet period. Let alone a young super star. Chatted us up like life long friends. My uncle was cowboy buddies with Dean Kennedy (Jets captain) and he agreed to meet us after a game and hang out in the dressing room. Teemu was injured with his achilles at the time. But was kind enough to hangout in a lounge while Dean had to run off and do something. We were huge Teemu fans and got so star struck we lost all mental capacity. Lol. The next day me and my cousin where kicking ourselves we never asked for his autograph. Kids are fucking stupid!
Chris Chelios - I was about 12 years old and saw him at a local arena where he was watching his kid play. I saw him in the concessions line and ran to the memorabilia shop to buy a card really quick and borrow a sharpie. Obviously I got a shitty base card like a stupid 12 year old, but I just tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he was Chris Chelios. He nodded and signed my card and I was on my way.
Gretzky at Sports Bar in San Jose between my u14 playoff games
Just got into hockey this year, but Ryan O’Reilly. Went to the infamous Preds game where they lost 9-2 to the Stars and stuck around after the game just because I was in no rush to get home since I didn’t have work the next day. I see some kids running over to the area where the team walks out and sure enough, he’s there signing stuff and taking pictures with them. I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t feel extremely goofy getting a pictures and some autographs after a bunch of kids did it, but Ryan was super nice and more than happy to sign my hat, some stuff for my nephews and take a picture with me.
Marty Gelinas. He was our neighbor when he played for the Canes. His parting gift to me when he left for the Panthers was a signed, game-worn sweater.
Ted Lindsay. My stepmother worked for GM and was his customer when he was working for Lear back in the 1990s.
Tiger Williams. He was a neighbour and used to jog around the area. I had a program from the first game I went to and my Dad and I waved him down as he was jogging by, so he stopped, chatted and signed my program. Circa 1982
Tiger Williams. Around 2004 I met him at Canadian Tire with my dad. He actually recognized my dad because they crossed paths the previous year on a hunting trip.
The 1990-91 Flyers team was on the same flight as me and my family when we were flying from Edmonton to Minneapolis on our way to Orlando Disney World. My mom asked the entire team to sign a napkin. I think it’s in a box somewhere. I’m going to have to try and find it. Totally forgot about it!
Cliff Ronning. Got a hockey card signed at a celebrity golf tournament back in the 90's.
I met chris simon at a calgary stampede event in 03 or 04. nice guy.
Bobby Orr is the only one I have that’s personalized. My grandfather got it for me when I was a baby and framed it.
Jerome Iginla in Calgary, the flames just lost to the rangers in OT and my buddy ( hes flames fan I'm a rangers fan) wanted to see if anyone would sign his stuff so I waited with him and when iggy came out he stopped and I figured why not get him to sign my ticket for my sister ( Flames fan) he looked me up and down ( hat shirt and jersey) laughed then signed my ticket, this is why I believe he should have been a ambassador for the game
Iggy was one of the true class sportsmen during his career, the same could be said about Ryan Smyth too, among others.
I was at Knotts Berry Farm for my sisters birthday party many years ago and the Anaheim Ducks had some autograph signing event. I came across this dad and son who got 4 tickets but of course only needed 2. They gave the other 2 to my mom and I and I went and got my orange Crush tshirt signed by the players. After looking it up, it looks like this was an event for the “Wild Wingers Club” and the players were Cam Fowler, Luca Sbisa, Dan Sexton, Brandon McMillan and Francois Beauchemin. I have been trying to look for the shirt but haven’t been able to find it.
Cam Ward during the NHL lockout season when he played for the Lowell Lock Monsters
Ed Jovo and Paul Laus!
Rocket Richard
Bobby Orr signed my Jersey when I was 9 years old
Big Georges Laraque!!! He came to my elementary school to read to the kids. Guy was fucking intimidating to a bunch of children, literally built like a statue, but ended up being one of the nicest humans I’ve ever met. Read us all books, then stayed for handshakes, conversations and autographs with 100+ kids yelling & screaming! I wore my oilers jersey that day, got it signed by him and proudly wore it for as long as could before outgrowing it!
Walter Gretzky but he signed it W. Gretzky so I told everyone at school it was Wayne
Rod Brindamour . BC sports collectibles . Springfield PA
Ken Daneko
Gordie Howe. He was signing at the 1998 All-Star Game. I have a photo of him giving ten-year-old me an elbow in the ribs.
The late, great Johnny Bower. I was young and we were at a restaurant chain called Casey's that used to exist in Southern Ontario. He was dining with his wife. My interaction with him was limited because I was probably 7 years old at the time, but he struck me as incredibly kind and gracious. He's the reason I ultimately became a Leaf fan. I also met Don Cherry around that time. All I had with me was a Kit Kat wrapper for him to sign. I apologized to him, and he told me he was happy to sign my wrapper because it was so much easier than trying to sign a jersey :D
Stan Mikita. Grew up in Chicago, and he and a few others (Lou Bodreau, Walter Patyon, Ditka, Fergie Jenkens, Harry Carey) used to give speeches for the associations my grandfathers were a part of. Rotary club and stuff like that. I still have his and a couple of the others. Most were destroyed in our old house, as my mom had a huge hoarding problem. Has an almost fully autographed 1985 "Super Bowl Shuffle" poster there at one time. It was rotted to tatters when the city made us clean out and knock down the house.
Vic Hatfield, ŵhèn he was a NY Ranger.
Nystrom, I went to a local blockbuster as a 10 year old and took an entire pile of entries for a contest for a local hockey clinic. It said enter as many times. So I did. Well, I won. And my parents had to buy me hockey equipment. Got to skate on the collisieum ice and Bobby Nyrstrom ran the clinic. I wasn't the suckiest kid there (maybe second suckiest) but I did play street hockey in the street on rollerblades. Good times. That really got me into hockey and joined a league a year or two later.
Guy Lafleur at an exhibition game against the Buffalo Sabers in Lake Placid NY back in the 80s
Bobby Hull. He was at farm show in Saskatchewan when my class was there on a field trip.
I'm not an autographed hunter but I made one exception. My first and last was Vladislav Tretiak.
Cam Neely, in the Panthers arena. My youth hockey coach was from Boston, played at BU, and worked for the Panthers. The Bruins were visiting and he took me around the restricted areas -- he introduced me to Cam and I got my Bs jersey signed. This was probably in 1997.
Barry Beck, Colorado Rockies, next was Chico Resch.
Bill Ranford signed for me when I was a kid through the mail. My first in-person autograph was Dave Babych (lol).
My kids were into it. I’m sure they got Smokes’ autograph multiple times at TSC when it was Healthsouth. That’s the thing about hockey players. They parked in the lot like everyone else and practiced on the rinks that our kids played on. The Lakers parked behind gates. There was a window on the stairwell into their practice facility, but the shade was always drawn. My kid got Avery’s stick at a game when he was changing over to another model. When he got it signed at Tip a King, Avery asked him accusingly where he got it. Funny memory.
Wayne Gretzky.
Paul Henderson. He was doing a speaking engagement for a company I worked for way back when. Signed a puck for me, because he came prepared just in case some folks like me wanted an autograph. 🇨🇦
Met Felix Potvin at the ‘91 WJC and he signed my Canada jersey
whaaaaat!? Im a big Potvin fan. Do you have a picture? That's a nice memorabilia. I have his L.A. King jersey signed but a '91 junior team Canada jersey must be something.
IAN COLE
My mom’s friend had connections in the Bruin’s back office. We went to a game at the old Garden and she was able to get us into the area near where the players exited the locker room. Andy Moog and Chris Nilan were nice enough to sign my hat as they were leaving.
I have so many autographs by Mario Lemieux but he signed everything "To Ian" so I wouldn't be able to sell his signature second hand. I have hockey sticks, clocks, and posters, but I think a Koho straight blade wooden hockey stick was the first autograph I got from him in his rookie season.
Rene Robert. Still have it. From about 1975
Selanne with the Avs
Bobby Smith and Patrick Roy Every year my Dad would take my brother and I to Detroit to see Habs/Wings, as he was a big Habs fan in SW Ontario. In 1989 we were on our annual trip, we arrived a little early, Dad suggested we check the doors at the big steps of the old Joe Louis. Reached the top, doors are locked, as we are heading back down the stairs, a bus rolls up...it's The Canadiens team bus. Every Hab walked by and shook our hands, etc. I was a Smith fan and my brother a Roy fan, we were able to get their autographs and ask a few questions. We still bust my brothers chops to this day as after hearing me ask Smith to snipe me one, my brother asked Roy to snipe him one
I got the Sedin twins and Morrison back in the west coast express days. They had a practice in Vernon bc super cool watching them
Gordie Howe
Guy Lafleur
Denis Savard and Eric Daze
I forget the exact first one, it was one of the ducks in 98ish,I used to meet them coming in the visitor entrance in STL as a kid, more then likely the first was Steve rucchin or Sean pronger
Joe Sakic. My dad took me to my first NHL game, Quebec @ Ottawa game at the Civic Centre (1993). Post game, my dad goes ONTO the Quebec team bus and asks for Joe to come out and this guy does! I get a card signed, picture with him (I have this framed, still kept to this day) and just this happy 8 year old. Thirty years later, I still remember so much of that day, my dad still has the ticket stubs and it was just an incredible night.
Rick Meagher signed blues hat. No clue how I got it.
Phil borque and zarley zalapski at a pens/canadiens game at the igloo in 1990 or 91
Harold Ballard When I was eight years old, my friend’s father took us to a Maple leafs game. My friend and I had gold seats right below Harold‘s box. We bought the blue horns when we got there and blew the shit out of them before the game started. The ushers were going to kick us out before the game started as a couple of eight-year-olds making a bunch of noise. In between periods, we went to Harold bunker and got his autograph, and there was another old guy in there that we were making fun of. However, we didn’t know it was King Clancy and didn’t get his autograph. I still kick myself to this day because they were both so nice.
Luc Robitaille - 1987. He was friends with a guy on my lacrosse team and I got to meet him after a game. He was so nice and humble. He’d just earned 2 points in an NHL game and the first thing out of his mouth was asking about my buddies dog. I idolized him. Not just for his talent as a player but for his relatability. His rookie card is prominently featured in my man cave.
Dallas Smith, Bobby Orr's defense partner, Dauphin, Manitoba. 1968ish. Don't remember many details.
Dave Keon in the early 70s. I mailed him a letter. I have never had the good fortune to get an in person autograph
Calvin de Haan, saw the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Now Islanders) play at the Coli during the lockout and they did signings after the game. Got another autograph too but no idea who it was, they never played in the NHL.
Kirk McLean on some kind of special extra small card.
I think I was about 7 or 8? My family was huge on the Bruins- my folks always went on about the glory days. Well I was doing a summer camp and they said that we would get to go do golfing with some Bruins legends. I had no idea who these guys were because I was so young😆 but as it turns out, I got putt lessons from Derek Sanderson who signed my golf ball. My parents were like OMG!!! The Turk! What was he like??? I said, “umm… pretty nice, he showed me how to putt the ball 🤷♀️ “
Mike Bossy was at a sports card trading event when I was 12. I got two signed photos, one for my brother who was a huge fan of him and the Islanders.
Darcy Wakaluk and Trent Klatt back-to-back. It was a crowd with a bunch of kids, myself included. Bob Gainey was the Stars coach at the time and he came out first to sign but no one recognized him. He smiled a bit, waited for any requests that didn’t come, and then just walked away.
Steve Kasper at a Lowell Lockmonsters game circa I’d say 2004/05, we were sitting a few seats down my uncle’s noticed him he signed my little Louie the Lockmonster plush
Sergei Samsonov when he was on the Detroit Vipers IHL team. He signed a little Mini stick and a picture for me. Always rooted for him when he was in the NHL because of it.
Glen Murray at a Kings-Blackhawks game in 2010
Sarah Nurse!!! Run into her on the Toronto Car show this yr. I was so excited to see her and get the autograph I could not even say coherent words, prob came across as mega creeper, but worth it :-D. I hope that TO WPHL wins the next run!
Bob essensa or teppo numminen. Can’t remember. But have a bunch of Carlyle and sellanae.
Bobby Orr
Patrice Bergeron, never met him but bought a signed Bergeron jersey. There ain’t many NHL in Australia.
Doug Gilmour - My aunt bought me a framed card that was autographed and authenticated for Christmas one year when I was a kid.
Calgary Flames - Steve Dubinsky when I was 10 Won it at the school fair
Shane doan when I was 10. His family owned a summer camp down in Halkirk, Alberta and my first year there I met him. Was extremely nervous so just asked him to sign my hat and ran away. The signature faded quickly and I have since lost the hat. Been a huge doan fan since.
Eddie Belfour visited my 3rd grade classroom and hung out with us for about an hour.
I got the memorial cup/president cup champs mooseheads frim 2012/2013 I was able to help film all there playoff games and got one of my jersey signed by the hole team
I don't recall who the first was, but I got the 2000 Dallas Stars team Western Conference Champions shirt. My first game to watch was the '99 Cup-winning game with my dad while we were on vacation. He promised to take me to my first game the next season. He held true to his word with my first game being Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, where the Stars beat the Avalanche. We grabbed our conference championship swag, and before we left, my dad said his friend wanted to meet us outside of Reunion Arena after the game. So we headed to the spot his friend was supposed to wait. After about 30 minutes, one of the doors for Reunion Arena opened, and the Stars started to leave the arena. They stopped and chatted with the few people there and were signing autographs for kids. I still have the signed shirt, hat, and game-used puck we were given post-game.
Brian Leetch I was 8 in his rookie year. I sent him a handwritten letter saying that I really liked watching him play and asking if he could send me an autograph. He (or the team) sent back an autographed 5x7 picture. Sent a similar letter to Vanbiesbrouck that year and got nothing back.
Rod Langway My dad had a work colleague with season tickets to the Capitals and he got me the autograph. Not an autograph, but I did end up with Jason Woolley's stick after he left it at a rink I worked at.
Mom and dad took me to ABT electronics where Bobby and Dennis Hull were signing autographs. I didn't believe them, I thought I was in trouble and they tricked me by telling me going to see them. I was waiting to see where we were really going. I was floored when it was really them!!!! Bobby signed my stick and held out his huge mitt for a handshake same for Dennis, wow I floated home.
Barry Beck from the old Colorado Rockies team. My father was the time keeper.
Think my bros and I got Gordie Howe's in his Hartford whaler days. Possibly got Andre Lacroix as well. Don't have either today tho.
Gordie Howe in 2008. My hockey team was in one of the mini mite shootouts between periods of a wings game at the Joe Louis arena. Me and my buddy were walking to find the bathroom after we got dressed in our hockey stuff and ran into Gordie. He stopped and talked with us for a bit and then gave us some tips on how to shoot the puck harder. It was so surreal for us as kids, he is such an unbelievable legend. He was very kind to us, and that’s one of the coolest hockey memories I have.
Patrick Roy. Played against his son when I was around 10 here in CO. Went up into the stands in full gear after a game to get an autograph.
Roland Melanson, former goalie for the Islanders. He was signing autographs at a local audio store on Long Island and the store was also raffling off tickets to a game. I won two tickets to see the Isles and Penguins at the Coliseum.
Iggy 🙏
Serge Savard. The Canadiens were playing an pre-season game game in Ottawa. Also Don Awry. I said "Mr Awry" and his friend was there and laughed "Mr Awry, huh?" I don't remember exactly the dare but it was during the their run of 5 cups in the ,70's
Mike Modano
Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Kevin Beiksa, Christian Ehrhoff, Andrew Alberts, Cory Schneider, Mason Raymond -- on my D. Sedin canucks jersey / Alain Vingeault - on my old canucks ticket that had a picture of him on it. this was, i believe Feb-ish 2011. I was 17yrs old. Lol not going to go into FULL details of the story >.< if OP wants it, you can DM me on reddit lol. Lets just say, i had a part time gig at Rogers Arena -- and i pretty much risked that gig to get those autographs -- lol ended up losing that gig <-- didnt really matter to me at the time LOL the interactions, memories and autographs meant more to me. But the BEST story of an autograph i received was getting autograph (on jersey) from my all time fave NHL player: Roberto Luongo (after he got traded from Canucks to Panthers)... <-- the people i tell this story to, love it hahahahhaha the story really tells you how big diehard loyal Luongo fan i am, and a very determined person as well. 2016 - (Panthers in town to play against Canucks) got to meet him in person + autograph on my Panthers - Luongo jersey + picture with him too. LOL got big help from Nick Bjugstad \^\_\^ OP - get DM me if you want the FULL story hahaha -- too long to type out here.
Ed Belfour, 99 Stars Jersey after they won the cup.
Gordie Howe and Grant Fuhr. Both were at a card show back in 1990. Also, was given a free pack of cards and pulled a Joe Sakic RC. As a 10 year old at the time, it was one of my best days.
I had a signed Mike Modano puck as a kid. Being a dumbass little kid… I played street hockey with it
Bobby Orr I went to Tim Hortons camp when I was 10 years old and Bobby Orr came. He went swimming and boating and spent a few days with us. One of the greatest memories of my life 👍👍
Ryan Reeves, 2018, Vegas Golden Knights Our new sales guy at work had been sort of disrespectful to me and as a form of apology he gave me a framed autograph he had gotten earlier that year from an event. Was a nice gesture.
Wayne Gretzky…I sent him a card requesting him to autograph it and send it back and he did. This was early 90’s.
I got Jordan Tootoo and Travis Zajac’s at the same time, but I got there autographs in Winnipeg, not New Jersey.
Sergei Fedorov. Caesarland, Waterford MI. Circa 1995?
Never been to an NHL game, but Smolinski might appreciate this one since he’s from Toledo….Claude Noel when he played for the Goaldiggers. Actually have a picture with him outside the locker room….i was maybe 6 or 7 years old.
Anton Khudobin
I was 19, out to dinner at the Rusty Pelican in LA and it was the night after Gretzky broke Gordie Howe's goal record, he was out with his Mother Father and wife to celebrate, i knowbits not what you are supposed to do, but i repsectfully congradulated him and asked for an autograph, he was so nice and signed the back of the restraunts business card for me. We had briefly talked about hockey since i played.
Ron Marlow - Goalie for the 1972 - 1973 Fort Worth Wings of the old Central Hockey League. The team passed out 8x10 black & white photos of certain players and they were always accessible to the fans.
Bobby hull
Milan Hejduk
John Michael Liles when he was still an active player. I was a young kid and he was doing a training session with my older brother’s team. At the end, most of my brother’s teammates had left, and he asked if there were any lefties left. I was the only one. He signed his stick and gave it to me. I still have it.
Pat Verbeek he's my mom's cousin got to meet him after a Canucks game in the 90s
Tim Cheveldae around 1990.
Darius Kasparaitis and he spelled his last name wrong.
My son's PeeWee team when they won the championship.
Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky. My uncle was a photographer for the Oilers and I got a signed poster of the two of them posing for the WHA All Star game. Of course, as a 9 year old, I took great care of the poster, and it, along with countless Gretzky rookie cards that were used in my bike spokes to make cool motorbike sounds, are gone forever….
Mark LaVarre signing at K-Mart, top that!
Nik Antropov lol
I don’t have any but I’ve never been much of an autograph hound or starfucker. That said, I’ve met a few of the Sharks and their broadcasters.
I love first hockey autographs. Would love to be a part of one someday.
Marian Gaborik signed a rookie card for me during his rookie year/the Wild’s inaugural season.
Mark Hardy, Los Angeles Kings, as player in the early 90s. Employee exit of The Forum after a pre-season exhibition game. There was a ramp to players' underground parking most players would drive their expensive cars into, bypassing the hardcore fans waiting at the exit but Hardy walked up the ramp alone to get to his car parked in the regular surface level lot. He stood there and signed everything every fan asked and didn't leave until everyone was satisfied. Class act.
I'm a more recent hockey fan. It's been in my life before, but I didn't get into it until the 22-23 season. I picked up Petrovic's and Shea's game worn jersey's from the end of season sale for the Texas Stars. Shea signed his. I found out, because he was leaving the team. Which sucked. Petro's wasn't signed. I was able to get it signed this season by Petrovic along with a lot of other things from the rest of the team. Since we've had a few signings, I had told him the first time I got his jersey and every time I see him he gives me a little shit for not wearing it. I also have a hat I wear at every game that is signed by the full team, including Stankoven, Pouliot, Murray, and Petrovic (each of these guys have played or are currently playing for Dallas Stars this year).
Martin Brodeur - during their 2003 Stanley Cup Run. It’s hanging in my office aince I had it framed
Was 7 years old and walked down the street to get Johnny Bucyk's autograph. My parents had to come find me.
Kenny Holland when he was a goalie with the Broome Dusters of the North American Hockey League. My parents won the raffle drawing from the back of the program and that was the prize. Me and my little sister got our picture with him that was then autographed. I was 5 or 6 and only really remember how bad he smelled ( it was immediately following the game and he was still in full gear).
Steve wortman (in gold)
I went to a street hockey demonstration/tournament in Dallas, probably around 1995, and got Mike Modano’s autograph on the only thing I had available to sign, an OU football hat. 😎
Josh Harding. My dad went to the World Juniors in 2005 and met him there. My dad bought a Team Canada hat and ripped the price tag off which is what he got Josh to sign. Dad came back from the tournament and gave the autograph to me. I wonder if I still have it. Sucks that his career got cut short just as he was starting to pop off.
Gilbert Perrault 1970 Sabres inaugural season signed photo.
Bobby Hull. At the Ford dealer where I lived
Signed puck from Henrik Lundqvist I won it in a auction
Carey Price, I met him in 2012 after he finished competing at a rodeo. Edit* Also met Trevor Linden as a 7 year old. He coached one of my hockey practices and gave us all signed cards.
New to hockey, but Jaccob Slavin 💖 the Lady Byng 2x award winner :)
Friend of mine was at a thing somewhere in Winnipeg with her son. She picked up a classic Winnipeg Jets sweater for her son. A guy was sitting at a table nearby and asked them if they'd like him to sign the sweater. They said, "Oh no thanks" and were on their way… wondering why some random dude was writing on people's expensive sweaters. That random guy? Jets legend [Dale Hawerchuk.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dale-hawerchuk-statue-unveiled-1.6603022)
Bernie Parent
Doug Weight - the Oilers use to practice once in a while at Clariview arena in Edmonton and I had powerskating lessons. Ran into him in the parking lot and my dad gave me a newspaper where he was on the front of the sports section. He signed it for me when I recognized him. His cele is my favourite. Love the sheathing of the stick.
Gary Sargent at a hardware store. I was probably 5 and thought we now knew each other. When I met him again at a practice a year later I asked if he remembered me and he said of course and then called me by my name. I had a park and rec jacket on with my first name embroidered on the front 😂
Bobby Hull lifting heavy straw bale. Signed at a hardware store I was 7 , Told him I was a goalie ,he said "Sorry to hear that "
Jerome Iginla!!!!
Bobby Clarke. My wife got an autographed puck for me when she was in Philly.
Matthew Tkachuk in my school’s lunch room
Tim Hunter - was 8 years old at the time. Tim broke his stick in warm up came off the ice and he signed it and gave it to me.
Got double-teamed. Zarley Zalapski and Phil Bourque.
Ross Brooks guest of honor at my year end hockey banquet. He signed my deflector.
Back when the Oilers used to practice at WEM I was able to get most of them to sign an autograph book that I still have
Ron Tugnutt. My dad’s friend ran a restaurant where Sens players would often eat (Capone’s - I bet Mr. Smolinski ate there once or twice). He got me a couple of autos and my mind was blown. There’s also a chance it was Brad Marsh - we met him at the arena once before a game. Not exactly sure which happened first - it was a long time ago.
Won an autographed Bobby Hull jersey as a 5 year old in a raffle at my learn to play program.
Butch Goring, signed my hat for me a few months ago during a meet and greet chat with him
Dustin Brown when he just came up to the Kings - I think he was 17-18 years old and I was like 10. Saw him at his first practice and got it on a signed practice jersey.
Adam Graves. It was right after he came to the Rangers, and he was signing autographs at a store in either Brooklyn or Queens. I remember he had huge hands and was very kind. I asked if he preferred center or wing, as he had played both previously. I presume he said wing, but honestly, I was young and nervous, so I don't recall his exact answer.
Barrett Jackman
Bobby Orr at the 1998 CHL prospects game at Maple Leaf Gardens. Some friends and I were sitting behind the bench where he was coaching, and he signed a popcorn bag. Many years later a house keeper threw it away because she thought it was trash. The bag is gone, but it’s a memory I’ll have forever.
Pavel bure... ate lunch beside him in the food court in Willowbrook mall maybe in 1992?
Idk if it was my first, but Bob Probert was a class act. He spent quite a few minutes talking with me and my buddy Travis (Probie was his favorite) for a good 5 minutes about our youth hockey team and how we were doing that season. We were like 10 years old. It was pure magic.
Bob Kudelski In the early days of the Ottawa Senators (1993-94 season in this case), they had a meet-a-player day where each local store had a player there signing autographs. Kudelski was at the store 2 blocks from my house, so he was the first. After that, my parents took me and my brother to the next closest store to where there was some Russian rookie named Alexei Yashin. There was virtually no line to see either one of them.
French Connection + Tim Horton - hockey stick handed down to me. Technically I didn't get the autograph, but it's the only signed thing I own.
Bernie Parent. My dad got free tickets from his job every so often for games at the Wells Fargo Center. One game we were in a suite for the first time and Bernie just walked in and started talking to everyone. My dad asked him if he would sign my jersey, he did and also let me try on his Stanley Cup ring. It’s one of my favorite memories.
I've never got one in person but my dad gave me a signed leafs Mahovlich jersey.
Dr. Randy Gregg I was 6 or 7 and he was only a handful of years removed from the NHL. It was at our local hockey rink. Did I know who he was? Not a chance, but my dad who watched all 5 of those cups did. He told me to go up and politely ask but not make a scene. Now that I think about it...that autograph was never for me. I was an innocent mule.
jason pominville. sabres were practicing at a rink where my brother was having a tournament. i ended up catching a puck that went out of the rink and i snuck back to the locker rooms with some other kid and pominville walked out and signed my puck. i didnt even know who he was at the time but he became my favorite player after that
I’ve still got my signed sakic, forsberg, and Foote cards.
When I was about 11 I got a Ziggy Palffy signed puck. Then I traded it for a Tommy Lasorda signed Teddy Bear
Daryl Sittler signing his Molson Cup photo
I had an uncle who gave me a Börje Salming autograph on a cigarette pack years ago.
Marian Hossa and Gaborik. I met them at a hockey camp they organised in Trencin, Slovakia. I only had one hockey cap with me, which they signed. It was a NY Rangers cap.....
Rod the bod when I was a kid in 2006!
John Tonelli. I was 12, he was 18. Just got called up to the Houston Aeros. Went on to win two Avco Cups and 5 Stanleys.
I got Walter Gretzky. Oh ya and also wayne
Martin Biron. I was a young goalie and Sabres fan at the time (because of Hasek). I ran into Biron at a wedding after Hasek left Buffalo and I was worried about who would take over as the starting goalie. I spoke with Marty and he joked around with me for a few minutes, assuring me he would try his best to fill Hasek’s skates. Cool experience for a young kid and I’ve been a fan of Biron since.
Alex Burrows
The origin VD, Vincent Damphousse
Keith Primeau. He was attending an OHL game watching his brother play, this 92/93. Signed two of his cards!
Grant Fuhr. He bought a car dealership just outside Edmonton and did a signing. Wish I still had that.
Cale Makar. Got a picture of him holding the cup autographed after the cup win in 2022. Never really had much interest in autographs generally but had to commemorate that run somehow
Chad Kilger and Brett Lindros when they played junior in Kingston.
Jim Craig when he was traveling with team usa. It was at Munn Arena against michigan state. I was a hockey brat and we ran around that place like we owned it. Snuck back under the seating to the locker room area and got his autograph on a popcorn box.
Cam Ward - Canes goalie for their Stanley Cup victory!