What a Beautiful Name for the Game of Hockey

 You know there are many ways to collect cards, autographs, memorabilia but there are different reasons why I collect certain players. Not always because of a player being a superstar as I have others reasons. The player I want to start off with played for the inaugural Minnesota Gophers 1997-98 season. She played that only season for the Gophers and then played 3 seasons with University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Earlier in the year I sent her the 1997-98 Minnesota Gophers card of herself asking if she would autograph the card for me. I got it back and like a lot of her teammates some signed the back of the card because the front of the card is a dark brown almost black background. Signing with a black sharpie can make the autograph difficult to see. So I had one more card of her from that year and I sent it in a bubble mailer and I added a silver sharpie. I asked her if she would please sign the front of the card using the silver sharpie as I got back the first card I sent you where you signed the back and I said I understood why you signed the back of the card. I told her she could keep the silver sharpie. So without further ado here is the card she signed.

Hattie Hoff and a beautiful looking autograph and you can see how the silver marker really pops on the dark background. What a perfect name for a hockey player. Hattie for a hat trick and even the last name HOFF just one letter "F" too many for hall of fame. These cards are really beautifully done especially for being done 28 years ago. I love how you can see a shadow outline around the players photo. The backs of the cards are also well done with a brief description about the players career and academics in college.  So this player may never had been a big time scorer but as I said earlier I have many reasons for getting excited about getting certain players whether it be because of things they have done outside of the game or the name itself which is the reason for this autograph. Hattie even has a very beautiful autograph and I am very happy I got this one back signed.

I was glad to have got this one back signed I am currently up to 5 different players signed from the 2014 Team USA hockey set of 25 players. I know there are players who are difficult to get autographs from. The Lamoureux twins are not very easy to get through the mail, I have resent to Monique Lamoureux and I hope this time that 3 is a charm. Lindsey Fry signed the 3 cards from this set and she is another very good signer.

This index card I sent to Kelly Stephens was sent out about a week before I bought the 6 sets from the 2014 Team USA cards. I then sent 3 cards to each player including 3 to Kelly Stephens so I am hoping the 2014 cards come back signed. 

This is another autograph I got back from Ohio State player Olivia Antognoli, she signed both and she has a very nice auto as being consistent each time. The Ohio State players seem to be very good at signing through the mail. I will be doing a post on all of my Ohio state cards I have got back signed, stay tuned!!!

These 2 cards I got back from Kaia Malachino and these cards are from the new 2025-26 Onit  Ohio State Women's Hockey. A lot of players are using their initials signing there name which I am ok with but I have discussed this with other autograph collectors who are not in favor of this.

This is the Kelly Cahill card that I sent out and she did sign the card and again more initials but if that is the way players sign their names I am ok with it. I will say that I would rather get a players autograph through the mail versus in person after a game. When you get a autograph in person after the game the autograph will look hurried and there are ways to tell a in person after game auto is easy to the differences in comparing autographs. Another Ohio State player who signs through the mail.

This card of Bonnie Shea was sent to her for her autograph and I am hoping I get it back signed. Some may ask who is Bonnie Shea?? Bonnie Shea started playing hockey in 1951 at the age of 7 with a boy's hockey team and Bonnie Shea is believed to be the first girl playing organized hockey in Duluth, Minnesota back in 1951.

Bonnie Shea is still playing hockey at the age of 81 years old, she is playing now for The Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota.

She is a legend for Women's hockey and this is another reason as to receiving her autograph would make me very happy to add her autograph to my collection of Women's Hockey autographs. Once I get the card back signed I will do a new post and show the card.

 

Another beautiful uncatalogued card, I keep seeing these types of cards that never indicate who manufactured these cards. My guess is USA Hockey and I never have determined how were they sold or were they given out for the players. They could have been sold at these games in the arena store or bought online or purchased through the mail. This card has great color and I would like to see a checklist as to who the other players cards within this set. I am guessing the year could be 2006-07. She was the team captain for Team USA in 2007-08 and 2008-09 also was the Team USA Olympic captain for the 2009-10 year and since the photo used has no "C" on her jersey I ruled out those 3 years as being captain. Another mystery unsolved and the only way to solve it would be asking the players if they can shed any light.

I look forward to reading your comments or questions so until then I hope you all are enjoying your collection pick-ups. Happy Collecting!!!