hockeypopa braves todays snowstorm in Burlington

Today we are getting hammered with a snowstorm.

About time!!!!

I go for walks all the time through Burlington and I love them.

I get so many memories back when I take these walks.

Today's was a dozzy.

I parked outside my old house on St. Louis St. and walked for about 3 miles around downtown before I got the brilliant idea to run up the College St. Hill.

It was a good run.

I really could not get any speed going up the hill and even if there was not any snow I I could not get the speed going anyway.

But it was a nice run.

I got to the top of the hill and jog some til I got down the Henry St. Hill.

Then I walked back to my car.

Probably 5 miles or so total.

But watching the snow pile up brought back so many memories from my childhood.

I remember getting up on mornings like this to do my paper route.

It was awesome to walk with those papers so early in the AM.

It was so peaceful.

I would get home and a few hours later I would grab a shovel and go out and start shoveling.

School would more than likely have been canceled today because back then we all walked and the sidewalks would have been a disaster.

I would start at our next door neighbors The Kimball's, then The Dusablon's, cross Roosevelt Park to the other side of St. Louis St. and do Nana's, my Uncle Clifford's house next door, my Aunt Yvonne next to him, and so and so and so on for hours.

When I finished I would do our driveway.

It was not long but when you got to the backyard it was wide and sometimes took hours just to do that.

When I was done, I would eat count the money I had and of course trudge to the nearest corner store(which back then were everywhere and some still are) and load up on hockey cards.

It was incredible how much I could make in one day.

Once that was done all of my friends and I would head over to Roosevelt Park with our shovels and clear off the rink.

We would lace up the skates and play hockey for the rest of the day and into the evening.

It did not matter if we school or not the next day.

Boy that was something.

At night I would spend hours looking at the cards I got and then turn on my little Philco radio and hopefully pick up the Bruins game on the radio.

Could not get the Habs.

I would fall asleep listening to the voice of Fred Cuisak.

Oh those days I wish my daughter and son could just have one day like that so they really could appreciate how much we could have without computers, cell phones or video games.

The pictures in my post today include my old house on St. Louis St., the driveway I shoveled 1000's of times, Roosevelt Park I spent many a days there in my youth, HO Wheeler School my grammer school, Dot's Market where I spent lots of my money on Hockey Cards, St. Joesph's school where I went to Middle School, St. Joesph's Church, and the playground at St. Joesph's and of course some the cards I collected back then.

the hockeymonkey collects womens hockey stuff

With only a few days before the Gold Medal game in Womens hockey at Vancouver I wanted to talk some about someone that keeps me collecting.

the hockeymonkey.

She really started collecting autographs of womens hockey players right out of the gate.

Her first one was Cammi Granato.
Cammi had won the Gold Medal with her team in 1998 in Nagano Japan.

She was a guest with some of her teammates at a game at The University of Vermont in 1999.

The Cats were playing a game vs. The Russian Womens National team.

the hockeymonkey met Cammi and at the age of 5 instantly became probably the biggest collector of womens hockey autographs around.

She would go to the rest of the Cats games that season and even started playing hockey a day after she met Cammi.

She would get autographs of every player on UVM and the visiting teams.

This was a practice she kept going for many years expanding from pucks, programs, hats, jersey's whatever.

She still has every single piece.

She has amassed a collection of well over 400+ college hockey media guides many of which are signed by entire teams.

Not having an older brother who played because of his brain tumor and many surgeries she looked up to all these girls and they all took her in as a little sister.

Because of her borther she never really had the chance to be a little sister.

The college girls were awesome with her the would write her letters and some even went to watch her play.

One team even had a birthday party for her.

The players and staff always made her feel welcomed wherever she went.

What amazed me more was how the women on the national Teams from The US, Canada, Sweden, Finland and even the Russian and German teams also were always so nice with her.

The summer after she had met Cammi I brought her for what was one of her many trips to Lake Placid to see some of her soon to be heroes.

She got to talk to many of the girls who had won the Gold.

Angela Ruggiero, Shelly Lonney, Chris Bailey, AJ Mlezcko, Sara Decosta, Sarah Tueting, Jenny Potter, Tricia Dunn, Katie King, Tara Mounsey everyone including many girls that were hoping to make the next national team.

These girls had just won a Gold Medal I never expected them to have the time to stop and talk with her and sign her mini sticks and jersey and whatever else she had.

She spent that whole day watching them play.

The next winter we went to Lake Placid again and this time Team USA was playing in a Holiday Tournament with the Beatrice Aeroes, Dartmouth College and the German National Team.

That is when the hockeymonkey met one of her all time favorite USA players Andrea Kilbourne.

They wore the same numbers #9 so they were linked by that.

the hockeymonkey stayed in touch with Andrea over the years and Andrea even wrote her a letter from Salt Lake City.

She still has that.

Over the years trips to Lake Placid trips became the summer event.

The Four Nations Cup tournament was held there and the hockeymonkey would come with jersey's and program's for all the girls to sign.

Before some games it would not be a surprise to see the hockeymonkey sitting in the stands talking with players from Finland, Sweden or Canada.

She would talk in the stands with Ben Smith and Melody Davidson.

She would have coversations sitting with Natalie Darwitz as to why she collected all this stuff or Margot Page to find out how some of her friends from Niagara were?

She traded her Essex Sting pins with Nora Tallus of Finland and Maria Roth of Sweden.

She hung out with Haley Wickenheiser, Becky Keller, Jennifer Botterill and Danielle Goyette before a Four Nations Cup game at UVM.

The Burlington Free Press even did a story with her.

She was even lucky enough to be stick girl at The University of Vermont for a game between Team USA and Team Canada U22's.

She was on the same bench as her heroes Natalie Darwitz, Kelly Stephens, and so many more.

She got to watch some of her friends from Canada on the other side right from the bench.

Shelly Looney was one of the coaches with Alana Blahoski and funny enough the hockeymonkey had Alana's game used gloves from Team USA and Shelly's skully cap from Nagano.

They were sent to her from a friend who used to have an incredible USA Women's Hockey website.

In the summer of 2005 was one the last chances we really had to go to Lake Placid for a Team USA event. The tryouts for the 2006 Olympic team.

the hockeymonkey and I spent two days watching the team.

She had drawn a picture for every single player that was trying out.

It turns out that the players all hung those drawings in the entrance to their locker rooms.

One of the equipment guys snuck her into the locker rooms to see them.

These girls with so much going on all appreciated what she had done.

The day before the team was announced we had to come home.

She had tears in her eyes all the way home.

She wanted to be there when the team was announced.

She had spent the past few days taking 100's of pictures and doing her own evaluations she wanted to see how everything would play out.

When we got the hockeymomma decided to take her back so she could be there for the announcement.

When she got back to Lake Placid hockeymomma bought her a brand new USA jersey and when she got back to the rink everyone was so happy she was back.

The rink staff even set up a table for her to get her jersey and other stuff signed.

After the team was picked she seemed pleased with the picks and was hoping that the US would bring home the gold.

She even brought home Kathleen Kauth's stick.
Kathleen was one of the last players cut from the 2002 team and the hockeymonkey had built a little bond with her while she was playing for Brown.

That did not happened but the hockeymonkey was a little sad because she knew that Sweden beating the US made her sad but she knew how important it was for womens hockey.

the hockeymonkey's last trip to Lake Placid was the Frozen Four in 2007.

We had been to three other Frozen Four's: UNH twice and Providence each time with some incredible memories.

Krissy Wendell even gave the hockeymonkey her stick after a game at UNH.

Jody Horak geve her the game used goalie stick after Minnesota won the National Championship in Providence.

She got to hold the Patty Kazmair award for the most outstanding college womens hockey player when Brooke Whitney from Northeastern won it our first trip to the Frozen Four in New Hampshire.

the hockeymonkey got to go to the Patty Kazmeir award ceremony she got to sit at a table with Katey Stone the Harvard coach and Laura Holderson the coach from Minnesota.

She named dropped the whole time and got to meet many of the past winners of the award.

Julie Chu the winner of the award that year let the hockeymonkey hold the award for a picture.

Molly Engstrom gave the hockeymonkey her jersey from the alumni game.

She came home with posters and programs signed many still displayed in our hockey room.

the hockeymonkey also collected autographs from many local high school players but I want to mention one moment in particular.

The Make-a-Wish foundation host a high school all-star game every year.

Current Team USA hockey player Hilary Knight played in that game.

After the game Hilary asked the hockeymonkey if she would like her jersey. Of course she said yes, but Hilary had forgot she had promised it to one of the wish children. the hockeymonkey understood and Hilary said she would send her one of her USA practice jersey's. A few months later a green USA hockey jersey arrived in the mail for her from Hilary!!

For every teammate and player that has been there for her over the years I want to thank you all for being there for her.

She never got to be a little sister to her brother but you all were her big sisters.
You were all and still are a very very important part of her life.
She is older now and is still playing hockey she will never forget all the great memories you gave her.

Thank you.

hockeypopa loves the 1960 and 1980 US Mens Olympic Hockey Teams

I was walking up Main St. In Burlington today out for one of my many walks I take through city every week.

I am wearing my 1980 Team USA Hockey jersey.

It has Brooks on the back and the number 80.

It is signed in Gold my Mark Johnson.

As I was walking.... horns were honking and people around would yell out USA or Go USA!!!

It is amazing what happened last night at the Olympics in Vancouver.

On the eve of the greatest upset in the history of sports a little "Miracle" happened again in ice hockey.

The US upset the Canadians 5-3 in the opening round of the Olympics.

Their were no medals handed out for this great win, but it does give the US hope as they move on in these Olympics.

They may meet the Canadians again down the road in Vancouver only time will tell.

But as I heard the horns honk I wondered......I wish more and more people would watch hockey games.

It is just such a beautiful sport.

Anyone who has played knows how much dedication it takes to play this game.

The time you are on the road and the money that your family has to sacrifice for their kids to play this awesome game is unbelievible.

People that do not play hockey often fight with me that hockey players are no where near the athletes that are in the other sports. I tell them go out buy a pair of skates and try doing what these athletes do and then you try and say that.

It is amazing that a sport as beautiful as hockey is cannont be seen by more people.

I guess that is just the way our society is these days.

What ESPN wants to show is what everybody watches.

You get 60 minutes of highlites of Basketball...more basketball...even more basketball...here's football...more football...oh yeah steroid issues and what is Tiger doing next!!!!!

Atheletes in other sports do work hard too do not get me wrong I watch some of the other sports too.......but how often do you see a hockey player really messing up his personal life in the news?

If you get a chance watch a game please do.

Watch Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, the Sedin Twins, Ryan Miller and all the other great players that play.

Watch an old video of Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr skating in those old skates you will say how did they do that?

The more you watch them the more you will appreciate this sport.

The other thing that happened today when I heard the horns and the USA chants was where I was on this day in 1980 February 22nd.

Where else right in front of the TV!!!!

I remember watching this game with some of my friends we were going crazy when Mark Johnson tied the game with no time left on the clock.

Imagine our surprise when Tretiak the greatest goalie in the world was sitting on the bench after that goal.

Imagine how crazy Me and my friends were when Mike Eruzione scored that magnificent goal to put the US ahead!!!!

When the clock ran down and Al Micheals said his famous quote "Do you believe in Miracles?"......."Yes"...me and my friends were yelling and screaming and jumping up and down dumping soda on each other and we ran out of the house screaming and we heard the whole neighborhood doing just about the same thing people were running out of their house's on this friday night in 1980 you could almost hear the celebration in Lake Placid it was like you were there.

Two days later at Nana's house for sunday dinner at 11:00 am in the morning I watched the US team complete the job and beat the Fins for the Gold Medal.

I spent many of my high school days with my hockey teammates "Hawk", "Beano", "Chico" and of course "Hairbear" reliving these moments when we played at practice or at the Park.

I would sit in some of my classes at Rice and "Hawk" would quiz me on who scored what goal or where each player was from.

I do not think I ever got one of them answers wrong unlike some of my grades!

Since that day I have been reading any book, watching any video and collecting anything that had to do with this team.

I am watching "Miracle" for the 1,000,000,000th time tonight!

In 1995 Signature Rookies came out with a 50 card set to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice.

I collected the whole set.

It was so much fun to be able to get the cards from my favorite hockey team ever.

Before that I collected all the Topps cards and OPC cards some of the players had.

Since that time with the help of the hockeymonkey(my daughter Jenna) together we have gotten all 50 cards from this set autographed by the player on the card.

It is an amazing set I have added pictures of it.

We obtained almost everyone thru the mail though some we did get in person.

These guys even wrote some notes back to us.

I got the Herb Brooks ones signed when I met him in Lake Placid years ago.

Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Mark Johnson, Phil Verchota, Steve Janasak, Neal Broten, Mark Pavelich, Steve Christoff, Bill Baker, Dave Christian, Bob Suter, Mark Wells, Jack O'Callahan, Rob McClanahan, Dave Silk, John Harrington, Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Eric Strobel, Buzz Schneider, Craig Patrick and Herb Brooks have all signed this set at least two times each.

We also got an autograph of Ralph Cox the last guy cut from this awesome team.

It has been so much fun collecting all these autographs I even have a full ticket from the first game against Sweden signed by Mark Johnson.

I have a newspaper set that I got from the weeks papers in Lake Placid and i have photos and magazines signed as well.

I have many autographs from this team and I treasure them in my hockey collection.

I will never forget collecting these or the memories this team gave during my youth.

But it would not be fair if I did not talk about the first "Miracle" team the US Olympic Gold Medal team from Squaw Valley that beat the Soviets for the Gold Medal in 1960.

They were a great group of players and I have been very lucky to have met a few of them thru the years.

the hockeymonkey came up with the idea that we should write to them as well and add their autographs to our collection.

So a few years ago we(hockeymonkey) wrote to all the living players from the 1960 first "Miracle" hockey team.

She recieved many of them back.

Many of the players even sent her small photos and wrote little notes to her.

Bill and Bob Cleary, Weldy Olsen, Jack Reiley, Bob Owen, Dick Meredith, Jack Kirrane, Jack McCarten, Dick Rodenhiser, Roger Christian, Paul Johnson, Jim Claypool the manager, John Mayasich they were all nice enough to sign for us.

It was really cool reading about these guys.

This brings me to another point about almost all hockey players.

They love to sign autographs. They appreciate their fans.

I know you will hear some stories how so and so would not sign for me today......well keep trying you will get them.

So as we celebrate the great win by the US last night lets not forget the great teams from the past and hopefully these Olympics will bring us another "Golden Moment".

Hockeypopa and Hockeymomma go to Toronto!

In the late summer of 1999 my love for collecting hockey stuff really changed because of one special night I really became a hockey nut!!!

My friend "Woody" called me at my store and told me that the incredible Guy Lafleur was in town for Molson Breweries and he was going to be at a few local bars.

I closed up shop and met "Woody" in downtown Burlington and sat with Guy for a while and had a few beers and got some autographs.

He had two other places to go that night so we decided to go as well.

The last place we went to was a bar in Essex Jct.

When we walked in we were told to sign up for a giveaway.

I figured it was a signed hockey stick or something like that.

After a few good hours the drawing began..you had to be present to win and the first four names drawn were not there anymore so out came name number 5........Oh yeah it was me.

After hugging Guy, "Woody" and anyone else I could I had to call Hockeymomma with the amazing news...it was not a signed stick or jersey buy it was an all expenses paid trip to Toronto to attend "The Great One's" Hall of Fame induction in November.

Over the next few months the excitement grew and so did the fear I hated to fly I had only flew once and it was for my son's Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World so the closer it got the more crazy I got.

But I had lots to do to pack, get pucks, pictures, books, magazines, cards and whatever else I could jam into my carry on.

Hockeymomma bought me a great book I was going to try to get signed called "Legends of Hockey".

While I was getting all this important stuff done Hockeymomma had to pack, get a place for the kids to stay and make sure the house was all set. That is why I love her so much because I will admit I am terrible at that stuff!

Our flight was to leave Burlington on November 20th so after we brought the kids to my mom's we started our adventure.

When we arrived in Toronto we had a cab waiting for us to take us to the incredible Westin Harbor Castle Hotel in downtown Toronto.

It was amazing when we got inside all the winners of the contest were there it was pretty cool. Hockeymomma and I went to our room and when we got in there were two signed Guy Lafleur Molson Hockey Jersey's and a six of Molson on ice****IMPORTANT When you win a trip through a Beer Company you get all the beer you can drink****we put on our jersey's and headed out for our first adventure...... a trip to the Air Canada Center to see the first ever Hockey Hall of Fame Game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers.

We sat in the Luxury Boxes and had more food and beer than I would have ever imagined.

Looking down from the boxes to watch the game was awesome.

After the game we went back to the hotel lobby. I wanted to make sure I got at least one autograph the first day. I did not have to wait long The great Jean Beliveau came into the lobby and he very nicely signed a puck and my book for me. I was hooked.

On Sunday it was going to be a busy day so I got up early to go down to the lobby while Hockeymomma got ready for the day ahead.

I took the elevator down and when my door opened so did the door across from me and out stepped "Mr. Hockey" himself Gordie Howe.

There were many people around him and his manager Dell said he could not sign for me now but he did give me a postcard signed by Gordie and his wife the lovely Colleen and I was able to get my picture with them and Hall of Fame inductee Scotty Morrison.

Dell told maybe later on the book.

Needless to say the day was starting off great!

We departed the hotel with the other winners by bus for a lunch at "Vinnies" we had smoked meat sandwiches and Molson. After that we boarded the bus for five hours at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

It was incredible. they gave us a Wayne Gretzky coin when we went in and I spent the whole time with Hockeymomma looking at all the displays taking pictures, shooting pucks and I even shut out Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier in the goalie net!!!

We met some cool friends from Maine and we all decided to go out to dinner together. We walked around and went to the Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood and had dinner at a great Italian Restaurant right across the street from Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant. The meal was incredible and Tony Esposito was there too!!!!

We walked back to the hotel and it was open season on Hockey Hall of Famer's and Hockey people they were all over the bar and lobby. I ran up to change and get my stuff and a camera and with the help of Hockeymomma we did some good hunting:

Tony Esposito, Darryl Sittler, Peter Stastny, Michel Goulet, Lanny McDonald, Giggs McDonald, Gerry Cheevers, Pierre Pilotte, Edgar Laprade, Milt Schmidt, Harry Howell, Bill Gadsby, Gary Bettman, Barry Melrose, Howie Meeker, Brad Park, Harry Sinden and Oh Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOBBY HULL!!!!!!

I also had a great talk with Walter Gretzky and got him to sign on Wayne's page.

I could talk with him for days he is a wonderful man.

I did see Gordie again but again no luck with the book.

It was late and we headed to the room. It was hard to sleep with all the excitement going on.

The next morning we had the day on our own. Hockeymomma and I had a great breakfast at the spinning restaurant on the top of the hotel.

We sat next to Jean Beliveau and his wife it was so cool.

After Hockeymomma went shopping with her new friends and I went to "Frozen Pond" the coolest hockey memorabilia store I had ever seen. It was hard not to spend every dime I had but I did maintain control.

When we got back it was time to get ready for the big night. Lynn put on her new beautiful black dress and I dressed up (hard to believe) in an awesome Tux!!!

I couldn't just wear a shirt and tie.

We went down and met our friends from Maine and headed to our shuttle....well not a shuttle but a limo!!!!!!!!!

We were now Rock stars!!!

When we arrived there were spotlights and people everywhere people were looking in the Limo to see who we were it was kind of cool.

We went inside and it was beautiful.

The lights, the people, the memorabilia, the music, the food, the beer incredible.

We mingled and looked at all the NHL Trophies and we watched the great ceremony on close circuit TV.

The induction ceremony is very private but after the ceremony all the Hall of Famer's came out on stage in front of us and each of the new inductees signed in.

It was awesome Mario even showed up.

About midnight we headed back to the hotel for my last night of getting a few autographs. I went up to change and when I got back to the lobby Gordie was coming in with a ton of reporters around him. I saw Dell and he waved me over. He said "you still want Gordie to sign your book" I said "sure" "then stay with me" he said. The crowd started to move towards the elevators and security was pushing some people back I was in the back of them Dell had gotten back up to Gordie.

The doors opened and the Howe and Dell and some security got in then Dell yelled "Pat get in here".

I could not believe it I was riding the elevator with Gordie Howe.

Dell said "Gordie Pat would like you to sign his book" Gordie replied "No way he has been bugging everyone with that book" I was crushed. I looked at Gordie then he smiled and said sure. The elevator stopped and we all got out outside his room he took my book and signed it nicely "Kindest Regards" Gordie Howe".

I thanked him and Dell and gave Colleen a hug and rushed downstairs to show Hockeymomma and my new friends they could not believe it it was an amazing experiance.

I ended the autograph on that note I started with Jean Beliveau and ended with Gordie How what more could I ask for.

I slept like a baby that night.

The next morning we said our goodbyes and headed back to the airport.

I carried that book on with me and I looked at it all the way home. I held Hockeymomma's hand and I do not I even thought about being in a plane again.

When we got home I could not wait to share our memories with my family and friends.

I still have my induction program, ticket from the ceremony, the coin set we were given and even the Guy Lafleur jersey's

Little did I know that a few months from the day we got home my daughter would start her own hockey adventures....But that is for another day.

e

t

hockeypopa loves hockey

I have been in love with hockey since as long as I can remember. When I was very young I had a paper route in the Old North End of Burlington. I would always us my tip money at all the corner stores in the neighborhood(there were 5 of them) to buy new hockey cards when they came out. Of course I collected Baseball, Football and Basketball cards as well.

Nothing could compare to the smell of a freshly opened pack of Topps cards. That bubble gum smell was amazing. I hoarded cards like there was no tomorrow. I would bring the extra gum to school and trade them for my friends cards.

Bobby Orr, Guy Lafleur, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, it did not matter I loved them all.

Skating on the ice at Rosevelt Park in Burlington was a blast. I remember the first day I went wearing my Bobby Orr Rally Skates. When I got out there it was beautiful.

The sun gleaming off the snow, everyone flying around or falling down as I did very often to start.

As I got older I played many a pick up games in that park. On Saturday's and Sunday's we would have a monster game with all the kids in the neighborhood.

On Saturday nights I would rush home for Hockey Night in Canada.

Those times are long since past. I still sometimes go back and skate there but it is not the same hardly anyone in the old neighborhood skates there.

The corner stores that are still there do not even sell cards anymore.

Too bad kids today will never know what that was like.

Today I have my own store in a hotel. I do sell some cards in it. I love it when kids come in. Most of the time I give away more than I sell, but it puts a smile on my face and brings me back to those times when I was a kid.

I watch hockey today still mostly watch my daughter play. She is 15 now and has been playing for 10 years.

I love watching her play.

I have had many adventures traveling with her and I will share some down the road.

I have a dish so I can watch all the hockey I can. My awesome wife of 20 plus years puts up with me and my obsession with hockey.

So mush so she let me have a room for all my memorabilia and cards I have collected.

My son never got a chance to play hockey. He was born with a brain tumor. He has had many surgeries through the years and has survived them all.

He is an awesome kid. He was 6 when we discovered he had a brain tumor...he is 18 now.

He is doing well and lives at an awesome place in New Hampshire for kids just like him called Easter Seals. Because of him me and my family were able to meet one of my all time favorite hockey players..Mario Lemieux.

This was done through a program called Pen Pals promoted by the Penguins.

I have been blessed with an awesome family and I wouldn't trade them for anything.

I have been lucky enough over the years to have met some of the greatest hockey players ever...

Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Tony Esposito, Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard, Henri Richard, Mark Messier, Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald and so many more and I will share some of these stories as well.

If anyone has any question let me know.

I want to talk about everything that has to do with the greatest sport ever.

Collecting cards, autographs, memorabilia, books, movies, Olympics, Trades, anything at all to do with hockey.