Zdeno Chara

Mailed out: April 14, 2014

Returned: May 27

return #26

Yet another return for the cup captain collection, today brings only the second ever European born and trained man to wear the C and hoist the cup. Zdeno Chara is that tallest player to ever lace up in the NHL standing at a towering 6'9, the NHL allows Chara to play with a stick 2" longer than what the league allows.  

Johnny Bucyk

Mailed out: February 18, 2014

Returned: April 4, 2014

C/O Bruins Alumni Association  return #11

Local Edmontonian Johnny Bucyk came back in the mail. He played for the Edmonton Oil Kings, and then played for Detroit Red Wings farm team the Edmonton Flyers. He played a couple decent seasons with the Wings, but was then traded to the Bruins where his career really took off. He played through a few of the Bruins most awful seasons but stuck around in time for fellow stars like Orr to show up, by then the Bruins were dominating the league and won cups in 1970 and 1972. Unfortunately Bucyks career doesn't get the recognition like it deserves because he was over shadowed by other stars on the team. The Bruins didn't have a captain when they won their cups, but elected Bucyk to touch it first. 

Terrible Ted Lindsay ain't so terrible

Mailed Out: February 24, 2014

Returned: March 24, 20014

Sent to his home - return #9

Detroit Red Wings legend Ted Lindsay sent back what is arguably the most personable return thus far. He signed my card that I had sent to him (it came back a tad bent in the right corner) with the year he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he included a pamphlet on his life, and charitable work, and he also included a little note to me! He told me that the Edmonton Flyers way before my time were the farm team and that a lot of players that developed in Edmonton ended up playing for Detroit. I included the last part where he wished me luck and signed off.  

Lindsay got the nickname Terrible Ted because of his playing style; smaller than the average NHLer at the time he played a physical game, which led to the NHL having to adapt elbowing penalties. He has a laundry list of on ice accomplishments that include being part of multiple All Star teams, winning the Memorial Cup, winning the Stanley Cup four times, winning the Art Ross trophy in 1950, being inducted into both the Canadian Sports and Hockey Hall of Fames, and his number seven was retired by the Detroit Red Wings. 

Lindsay has just as long of a list of off ice accomplishments in making changes. Doug Harvey of the Canadiens and him led the way forming the NHL Players Association after the league refused to release pension plan information to the players. This resulted in Lindsay being stripped of his captaincy, and he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. He retired after three years in Chicago to be with his family in Michigan, but at age 39 Sid Abel convinced him to make a comeback where he played just one season helping the Wings to another cup.  He started the tradition of players raising the cup over their head and skating around the rink with it, he said he did this for fans to get a better look at it. The Lester B Pearson award was renamed after him in 2010, the award is handed out to the player who is voted most valuable to their team by the NHLPA. When he was inducted into the HHOF in 1966 he refused to attend because the induction ceremony was only open to men meaning that his family could not attend, the next year it was changed so that both sexes could attend.