Orion IP Autograph Log

[Orion]

A little about me first, I guess. 19 years old and live in Buffalo, New York. First season graphing hockey and football, although I have a little bit of baseball experience. One of my good friends is really good and knowledgeable at IP graphing so I decided to give it a try for a little while. Anyway I usually do most teams I have cards/balls for that visit the area or surrounding areas so hopefully I have a fair bit of success from now until the end of the year. I'll try to be as informative as possible.

[Orion]

October 9th, 2010:

New York Rangers: NHL (went before practice and after practice, not game-time)

Marian Gaborik 0/4 cards, 1/1 puck
Marc Staal 1/8 cards, did not try for puck
Ryan Callahan, 0/8 cards (signs everything, just missed him)
Chris Drury 0/4 cards, 1/1 puck
Martin Biron 1/1 cards, did not try for puck
Sean Avery 0/6 cards, did not try puck (although he signed for some)
Henrik Lundqvist 0/8 cards, 0/1 puck (although he signed at game-time)
Michael Del Zotto 0/1 puck (did not even come close to him)
Alexander Frolov 0/1 puck (although he signed at game-time)
Todd White 1/1 cards (got him for my friend, he was a newbie)
Michael Sauer 0/1 puck (although he signed at game-time)
Tim Kennedy 0/1 puck (although he signed at game-time)
John Tortorella 1/1 puck (was really cool, nice guy to meet)

So that wasn't very successful, but I have heard that the Rangers aren't very good for IP autographs. I gave up after my second run through them wasn't very successful. I accidentally brought my Callahan cards to Girardi and by the time he told me it wasn't him, Callahan had stopped signing. Such is life. Afterwards, I went to a different hotel to try to catch the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars: NFL (hoped to catch them on their way out to dinner)

None... I went to the wrong hotel! Waited outside for two hours. Sucks, but now I know where they are so hopefully tomorrow morning is a different story. Hoping for MJD, Sims-Walker, Alualu, and a few others. Wish me luck!

[Orion]

October 10th, 2010:

Jacksonville Jaguars: NFL (bus boarding)

Went to do the Jaguars again today. Kassim Osgood was a really great signer, and then there were some other 2nd-stringers who were pretty good. Ernest Byner asked for money at first but eventually signed for free. I didn't get anyone (everyone I wanted hadn't come out yet) and then I had to leave for work. My buddy called me and told me the only high-profile Jaguar to sign was Mike Sims-Walker. Oh well... would have liked him, but whatever. Might try for the Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow.

[Orion]

October 11th, 2010:

Chicago Blackhawks: NHL (bus boarding)

Went downtown to try for some Blackhawks today. I only brought 5 pucks with me figuring I could get at least 2 or 3. The weather didn't really cooperate, however. It started pissing rain a little bit after I got down there. It would go off and on for about an hour and a half (progressively getting stronger each time). Everyone that was there began to lose hope but we stood around anyway. When it was all said and doe, every single player waved us off. The only puck I got signed was by coach Joel Quenneville.

Joel Quenneville 1/1 puck (seemed indifferent to sign, just glad I got something)

So overall that was pretty lame and a waste of time. Wednesday the Devils have a game here, and Friday the Canadiens are here. I have the day off on Friday, so hopefully both days are moderately successful.

[Orion]

October 12th, 2010:

New Jersey Devils: NHL (the night before the game)

Went to the team hotel to try to catch the guys as they were coming back in from their night out. Closed at work and made it down and ran into the group. Shot the breeze for a few minutes until Zach Parise's car pulled up and he stepped out. Got him on a puck in gold paint pen, looks really great. About a haf hour later, the coachers were brought back in from their dinner. There, I got coach Larry Robinson and coach Adam Oates on some pucks. So that was awesome, Oates was a really cool guy. So then it started to get later and later and the group of Devils players who had walked downtown had yet to return... and people were starting to leave. I copped a puck from my buddy and waited... and waited... and waited until about two hours later when we spotted the group walking back. There, I saw Martin Brodeur in the flesh. He signed my Devils logo puck in gold paint pen without batting an eyelash. Behind him, Ilya Kovalchuk walked with another group of players. He was happy to sign my puck. What a great night, makes me love the hobby so much. Tomorrow, Montreal is here. I have a funeral to attend but maybe after the services, I will be able to go try for some Habs.

Larry Robinson 1/1 puck (cool guy, indifferent to sign)
Adam Oates 1/1 puck (AMAZING guy, perfect autograph, best success so far)
Zach Parise 1/1 puck (didn't say a word to me, somewhat sloppy autograph)
Martin Brodeur 1/1 Devils logo puck (soooo happy I got this!)
Ilya Kovalchuk 1/1 puck (smiled at me, signed, didn't say anything though)

What a successful night! This was my best outing yet and it makes me love the hobby.

[Orion]

Decided to skip Montreal today. Picked up 15 more pucks but had funeral services to attend and it's a generally ™™™™ty day weather-wise outside. All is well because they come back here next month. No more autographs until next Thursday night/Friday morning when the Senators visit us. Wish me luck!

[Carnage38]

if you need mike sims walker i can get him during the offseason. he lives in town here and i see him a lot.

[24redsfan]

oh boy how did i miss this thread? REALLY NICE Brodeur! are you gonna do 50/50's? :)

Boston D.

[Orion]

if you need mike sims walker i can get him during the offseason. he lives in town here and i see him a lot.

I'd like him a lot, just on some cards. Maybe we could work out some sort of deal?

oh boy how did i miss this thread? REALLY NICE Brodeur! are you gonna do 50/50's? :)

Boston D.

No 50/50s. I have all the cards I need and really don't need the added trips to and from the post office. Maybe in the future but I don't anticipate it.

[Orion]

October 22th, 2010:

Ottawa Senators: NHL (game-time)

Got down to the hotel around 3:00, saw a group of some of my friends waiting so I joined the party. After about an hour or so, Clouston came out and signed a few things for the guys. I skipped him because I didn't have anything for him and I wouldn't have liked getting the puck signed. About 10 minutes after that, Daniel Alfredsson came out and signed EVERYTHING! Got him on a puck. After that, players slowly started to come out together, most declining our requests. I did catch Denis Potvin on his way to a taxi cab, where I got a pretty nice card. I finished up by getting Robyn Lehner and Chris Neil. Others waved us off, like Alex Kovalev, Milan Michalek, and Nick Foligno. Brian Elliott did some, but decided to leave right when I got to the head of the line. Such is life.

Daniel Alfredsson: 1/1 puck (cool guy, did a lot for everyone, congrats on 1000 points!)
Chris Neil: 1/1 card (heard this guy was a dick but was cool to me)
Robyn Lehner: 1/1 puck (really nice guy, was respectful to us and did everything)
Denis Potvin: 1/1 card (awesome dude, had a little convo with us and did everything once we ran over)