Thanks to Rob Langille, for the head's up.
"Cujo in my backyard"Some of you might be wondering, is he talking about 'Stephen King's killer St. Bernard'...in the backyard of his house?!
Nope.
I'm talking about this
'Cujo'; the three time NHL all-star and 2002 Olympic gold medal winning goaltender. Better known as Curtis Joseph.
In my backyard.
Let me begin properly.
I logged into Facebook, on February 28, and saw that I had a message waiting for me. I figured it was group message from some group that I'm a part of. I was wrong, it was a message from a friend of mine, Rob Langille. Rob sent a very simple message, titling it "Signing". This is what he said;
CUJO at the new CIBC by Walmart on March 6th. Well, well, well.
After sending a message back to Rob, I began to consider this news.
One of most popular Toronto Maple Leafs of all time, was coming to Guelph for an autograph signing. And it was supposedly free.
I had exactly one week to plan this signing out, if I was going to attend.
But who are we kidding...If this signing was for real...I was going!
How often does any NHL'er (former or current) ever come to Guelph?! Not very often!
So, I decided to go to Kijiji.ca to try and find some interesting things to get signed. I was hoping to get a McFarlane figure or a bobblehead...something different from what I usually get signed. While I was looking for Cujo items on the internet, I told Corinna about Cujo possibly coming to Guelph.
A light went on.
She mentioned that her United Way commitee at her work, was considering asking me to get a jersey or something 'worth while' signed to donate to their charity auction to raise money for the United Way...since the highest auctioned item ever donated, was a Maple Leaf team signed jersey that I donated, 2 years ago!
How can I say no to helping the United Way?!
I told her that I'll try to find a Toronto Maple Leafs Curtis Joseph jersey, and if it's affordable...go to the commitee to purchase it, and I'll get it signed. Either at the CIBC event, if it's real, or the upcoming Frozen Pond paid signing. She agreed to take my idea to the UWC at her work.
I continued to search for Cujo stuff.
The next day, Corinna came home and said that the UWC had agreed to purchase the jersey, if I could get it signed...sounded good to me.
I quickly located a guy who was selling 2 Joseph jerseys, near my work in Woodstock. He agreed to the UWC price, and I picked up one for myself too.
I picked up a Toronto Maple Leafs Cujo jersey for the UWC, and a Detroit Red Wings Cujo jersey for myself.
And it was a steal of a deal!
Even Corinna patted me on the back for my work, on obtaining these 2 jerseys.
However, I wanted one more piece to get signed. I was thinking of a photo, but really wanted something different.
Again, I went back to Kijiji to find something.
While searching for a Cujo McFarlane figure, I came across something I haven't seen in 6 or 7 years.
I found a 2002/03 Upper Deck Mask Collection mini-mask of Curtis Joseph. The Cujo replica mini-mask was a give-away to collectors who purchase a box of 02/03 Mask Collection hockey cards. These hockey cards were geared towards goalies, featuring the best goaltenders of that season. The mini-masks that come with each box, were incredibly popular and became very valuable. Which eventually led to the masks becoming very difficult to find.
When I saw that somebody was selling their collection of these mini-masks, I quickly sent an email, asking if the Cujo mask was still available.
The seller got back, rather quickly...saying yes.
I agreed on a price, and we set a time for me to pick up the mask.
After picking up the mask, I was content with my things to meet Cujo with. A Red Wings jersey, Leafs mini-mask, and a Leaf jersey for charity...everything seemed good.
Until I realized something.
The appearance at the CIBC, still wasn't confirmed!
When Saturday morning finally came...we had 2 sets of plans for the morning.
Plan 1; Go grocery shopping, get a oil change, and get some lunch.
Plan 2; Go to CIBC, meet and greet with Curtis Joseph, come home...write new blog entry.
Guess which one worked out?!At 9am...CIBC confirmed Cujo's appearance for 11am, with him signing for just one hour, and then he would go outside and have some break away drills with children. Sounded great to me!
After gathering our items, we hopped into the Highlander and proceded to drive out of our driveway, turn right, drive, turn left and park at CIBC.
Yep. 2 turns. That's it. 5.2 kilometres. 3 miles. 8 minutes.
Incredible.
When we got at CIBC, a line had already formed. We were probably around 50-60th in line, at 10:10am. It was cool though...a simply beautiful day, because the sun was shining, and it seemed like a Spring day, instead of Winter!
CIBC employees were everywhere. They were walking the line handing out cookies, balloons, contest forms, free pens, pieces of cake...they really 'did it up'!
I had a cookie.
Anyways, it was at this point, that a couple of autograph collectors noticed me, and said hello...because of my blog. It was great to meet fellow collectors and people who enjoy the hobby, as much as I do. Bill and Mike were cool guys, and I hope to see them again.
Meanwhile, Corinna was chatting with my best friend, Chris, over her Blackberry, and he was interested in coming out to the signing with his kids, to meet Cujo. After a couple messages, Chris and his kids were on their way. Apparently Chris was bringing some Cujo rookie cards to get signed for himself and his family.
This was turning out to be a great day! Time with my wife, autographs with Cujo, a donation for charity, and now time with my buddy; Chris and his kids!
At this point, you're probably expecting me to write something negative happened to us while waiting in line, right?
Well, it didn't.
Cujo showed up on time, and the line slowly began to move. People started to come out of the new bank, with their signed Cujo items in tow. Mike and Bill came out after the line began to move, with their cool McFarlane figure bases signed. Yes, I was a touch jealous!
I was hoping the Chris would show up soon, so he could hop in line with us...but no such luck. We were soon at the front of the line.
When we made the final corner, entering the lobby, we saw Curtis Joseph.
He was standing, signing everything for people, and posing for pictures. I thought this was fantastic. Normally, whomever is signing, is sitting at a table, greeting people. Not Cujo...he was standing up, shaking hands, greeting people...it was nice change from the normal circuit.
It was now our turn.
Corinna went first, with the Leafs jersey and said hello. Cujo chatted for a second, took her jersey, spread it out nicely and signed across the 'one' of his number 31. He also signed a free giveaway picture from CIBC, for her.
I was taking a picture of this scene, smiling ear to ear, when he asked her for picture together! How cool was that?! She was pretty nervous, as Corinna NEVER takes pictures with signers! But, she stood beside him, and I took their picture together! They shook hands, then she picked up her jersey and giveaway, then turned to me for our camera.
It was now my turn.
I went up to Cujo, and told him that I've been a big fan for years, and thanked him for his time in the NHL. He thanked me for that, and took my Wings jersey that I handed him.
He beautifully signed 'Cujo 31' across the '1' of his number 31.
I mentioned that I had this mini-mask of his, and would he mind signing it also? "Sure, no problem!" he answered nicely. He picked up a silver Sharpie, flipped the mask around, and signed it across the side of the mask.
He handed it back to me, and I offered my hand in thanks. He shook my hand, and I asked one more thing of him.
"Can I get a quick picture with you?"
"Sure" he responded, standing beside me for the shot. I quickly put my stuff on the table in front of us, and posed for Corinna.
A strange thing happened...
2 flashes went off, while Cujo and I stood beside eachother.
I didn't think of it twice, as I thanked the All-star goalie, for his time.
And that was it. For us, at least.
I turned to find Corinna, and saw her talking to a guy. When I approached him, he held up a recorder, and asked me if I was Christopher Hynes?
I was being interviewed!
I answered yes, and he began to ask me some questions...
Instead of me telling you what happened...
WHY DON'T I JUST SHOW YOU WHAT WAS PRINTED IN THE
GUELPH MERCURY THE NEXT DAY!
Fans young and old line up for a chance to meet Cujo
Tony Saxon
GUELPH — It was hard to tell who was more excited Saturday, the kids lined up to meet former National Hockey League goaltender Curtis Joseph or their mom and dads.
Hundreds waited in line to meet Joseph, who hit Guelph for the opening of the new CIBC branch on Woodlawn Road. He signed autographs and posed for pictures before heading to the parking lot where kids got to take shots on him.
“What a great turnout,” said the 42-year-old Joseph, who wrapped up his 19-year NHL career last season.
“Occasionally you do these promotions and they’re either not promoted properly or they’re in the wrong place, and there’s nothing worse than that,” Joseph said. “Today there’s tons of people. It’s lots of fun.”
The man they call Cujo played for six different teams, including a five-season stop with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the blue and white memorabilia and jerseys that found itself at the end of Joseph’s Sharpie most often Saturday.
“We came down for my son,” said Dale Bain of Alma, who was wearing a smile twice the size of his son Michael when posing for a quick picture with the potential Hall of Fame goaltender.
“I’ve been a Leafs fan since 1967, which is the same year (Joseph) was born. It’s always nice to meet someone like him.”
Corinna and Christopher Hynes took turns taking one another’s picture with Joseph.
“He was my favourite player for years,” beamed Christopher. “I had other plans today but changed them for the chance to meet him.”
Hynes met Joseph several years ago, but said Saturday’s handshake and photo were just as exciting as when he was a kid.
Tamara Jonathan and her son Andrew stood in line for about an hour before getting to meet Joseph.
“It’s for the kids and myself. I was actually a bigger fan when he played for Detroit, because my dad was a huge Detroit fan. But he looks a lot younger than I thought he was,” said Jonathan.
After retiring last year, Joseph said he is taking things easy and “doing family things. Giving back to my family a little bit.”
The Toronto-area resident has three sons who play hockey, but he doesn’t coach any of them.
“I coach in the car, like every other hockey parent,” he said.
Like most other Canadians, Joseph was glued to his television recently, watching the Canadian hockey team on its path to Olympic gold.
He took in the gold medal game at home with his family.
“It was awesome. Saw all the games,” he said.
He might have been feeling a bit for goaltender Martin Brodeur when he found himself on the bench for the rest of the tournament after a tough game early in the round-robin portion.
Joseph suffered a similar fate at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake. Coach Pat Quinn benched Joseph in favour of Brodeur after a bad game and Canada went on to win gold.
“That’s kind of the nature of it. The goalies are the best in the world. It’s just the way it goes.
“We’ve all got a lot of pride and we all want to be ‘the guy,’ so I know how he felt,” Joseph said of Brodeur this year.
“We won the gold medal. So what are you going to do?”PRETTY INCREDIBLE, ISN'T IT?!
Yep...I made the paper! Actually...WE made the paper!
So, that was the second flash...it was the Guelph Mercury's Tony Saxon taking a picture of Corinna, taking a picture of Cujo and I.
And yes...that picture made the paper!
On a side note...this is the 1st time I've ever been in a newspaper!
Anyways, let's go back to that day.
When we went outside, after being interviewed by Tony Saxon, there was Chris and his kids...sadly, 2 minutes, too late.
Chris and I chatted for a minute about what happened, when my work friend Corey walked by and said hello! After introductions, we all chatted for a few minutes about various things. It was a cool scene. After abit, Corey had to check on his vehicle getting fixed, and Chris jumped in line...to meet Cujo, with his two kids.
I told Chris, that I would go inside and take pictures of his family meeting Cujo. I could tell Chris was a little nervous about meeting his favourite team's best goalie of the last 15 years!
When it was Chris' turn, Cujo was still smiling like when it was our turn, previously! Cujo said hello to all of them, and signed Chris' son's "Cujo" t-shirt, a giveaway for his daughter, and all of Chris' rookie cards!
I gotta tell ya...Chris was nervous! He looked star-struck, but that was cool to see!
When it was all said and done for Chris, he looked like a kid in a candy store! His kids were just as excited! Corinna and I were both happy for them.
We stepped outside, and I got Chris to show off his, now valuable, autographed Cujo rookie cards.
Afterwards, we all chatted for a few more minutes, before it was time for Chris and his kids to head back to Mississauga for their plans.
We said our goodbyes, and then Corinna and I headed to the CIBC barbeque. We each got a hamburger and water, and thought about waiting to see Cujo take a few shots with some kids.
CIBC has set up a outside rink, with a net for Cujo to play some street hockey with some kids. After we finished our little lunch, Cujo came walking out of the bank...IN GOALIE GEAR!
Man...this was cool to see!
Sure enough, the Olympic gold medalist got in net, and kids got to go one-on-one with Cujo! There were some breakaways, some wristshots, and the odd slapshot on the netminder! He stopped a few, but this morning...most of the kids scored!
It was a great experince for Corinna and I...on many levels!
It's also a day, we'll never, ever, forget.
C
PS- Thanks to Curtis Joseph and to CIBC Woodlawn Road. Thanks to Chris, and his kids for coming out, and to Corey for saying hi...and scoring a signed puck! Thanks to Rob, again, for the head's up...I owe ya one. Nice meeting you Bill and Mike. And last, but not least...to Corinna, for everything.
PS deux- Thanks to Tony Saxon and the Guelph Mercury, for publishing our experience that day, and using our photo in their great newspaper and internet site. The article used is property of both Saxon and the Mercury, and is not my own, or affiliated with my blog.
The original article is located here;
http://news.guelphmercury.com/Sports/article/606154 (my image, is image 2!)
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