Right off, I recently attended (with my wife) the Guelph Storm Alumni Reunion game, in Guelph, Ontario. The Storm decided to bring back some (former) star players, have a game...all in the name of charity. The tickets to special event were 10 dollars, with all net proceeds from the event being donated to the Guelph Wish Fund For Children.
There was an autograph signing with the players before the game, which was a bonus for me, as I just wanted to see the game originally! There were dozens of former Storm players in attendance, and we ended up with LOTS of autographs!
I also had the rare chance to speak to a few Storm alumni, and ask them a few autograph questions, which I'll try to blog within the next few weeks. (Easier said than done?!)
Let's change gears here.
When people (friends, family, etc...) find out that my hobby is collecting (in-person) autographs, I get asked a few common questions. "Who's your most famous?", "Who's your most valuable?", "Who's really nice and who isn't?", "What's your favourite signed piece?", and "Who's your favourite player, of your favourite sport?"
Let me tackle the last question. Growing up, I loved hockey (still do!), and my favourite player was the greatest to ever play...Wayne Gretzky. Since Wayne retired, I've enjoyed a few other players' style, but there was one player whom I got to see since his beginnings in junior hockey. And maybe it's because I got to watch him grow within the game, and begin to dominate each level he joined, he became my favourite player.
I love to watch Sidney Crosby play, but my favourite current NHL player is Ryan Callahan.
Most junior hockey fans have that one special player, they got to watch for 3 or 4 years, blossom into a great NHL player...and mine happens to be the former Captain of the Guelph Storm, and current Alternate Captain of the New York Rangers. Strange part is...I hate the Rangers, as I'm a Leafs fan! I often say, I'm not a Rangers fan...my favourite player, plays for the wrong team!
Anyways, Cally, is simply a great player. Let me tell you about the Rochester, NY native.
Callahan played one year of high school hockey for Hilton High School. He began his junior career with the Rochester Junior Americans of the Empire Junior B Hockey League where he played for two seasons, 1999–2001, then moving on to the Syracuse Jr. Crunch and Buffalo Lightning of the OPJHL before moving onto a four-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) stint with the Guelph Storm, where he played alongside future Ranger teammate Daniel Girardi. Ryan turned professional with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he played most of the 2006–07 season.
Callahan received his first NHL call-up to the Rangers on November 28, 2006, making his NHL debut on December 1, but he would only play in that one game before being sent back down to the Wolf Pack.
He was called up for a second time on December 19, but would again only play in one NHL game in that stint. Towards the end of the season, Callahan was called up for the third and final time on March 15, 2007, after scoring 35 goals in 60 AHL games, and he would stay with the Rangers through the postseason. Two days later, on March 17, he scored his first two NHL goals against Joey MacDonald of the Boston Bruins. He scored his first career assist on March 21 and first career game-winning goal on April 1. He scored his first two NHL playoff goals in a 7–0 win in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Atlanta Thrashers on April 17, 2007.
After scoring one goal in the first eight games of the 2007–08 season with the Rangers, Callahan was out for a month with a Grade two knee sprain. He never gained his full strength back at the NHL level, going his next 16 games without a goal, so the Rangers sent him back to the Wolf Pack on January 7, 2008. After 11 games in Hartford, he was called up on February 3 to replace an injured Brendan Shanahan in the Rangers' line-up against the Montreal Canadiens.[6] Callahan tallied his second career two-goal game against the San Jose Sharks on February 17. Callahan scored the game winning goal with 20 seconds remaining to help clinch the Victoria Cup for the Rangers during an exhibition game in Switzerland.
2008–09 was a breakout year for Callahan. On October 1, 2008, Callahan scored the game winning goal for the New York Rangers with 20 seconds left in the inaugural Victoria Cup. The Rangers defeated Metallurg Magnitogorsk by a 4-3 tally. In the regular season, he was third on the Rangers with 22 goals and fifth on the team with 40 total points during the regular season. Callahan was awarded the Rangers' Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for his hard work throughout the season, and scored the winning goal in the team's playoff-clinching win in the final home game of the season. Callahan was re-signed by the Rangers on July 13, 2009.
Callahan was named an alternate captain of the Rangers on October 2, 2009. On January 1, 2010, he was named to the United States Olympic team, with whom he earned a silver medal in Vancouver.
I've seen Cally play lots of times, at the junior level...witnessing first hand, the Storm winning the 2004 OHL Championship. I saw him again, at the AHL level, during the 2007 All-Star Classic, when he scored the game winning goal (7-6), with less than 10 seconds left in the game! In 2008, we made the trip to Buffalo, to see the Rangers play the Sabres, and finally got to see Cally play at the NHL level. I'm glad to say that I've seen him play at all three major levels of his career. I've gotten his autograph countless times, on various cards and pictures, and he's ALWAYS been accomodating and friendly each and every time.
So, when I finally had the chance to catch up with #24 again at the Storm Alumni game, I was pretty excited!
When I reached the table where Callahan was sitting for his portion of the autograph session, I was about 4th in line for him. When I reached the front of the line, he recognized me, smiled, dropped his Sharpie, saying; "Hey...how's it going, man?!" while offering his hand!
I shook his hand, replying that I was good, and asked the same of him. We spoke for a minute, as I asked about his knee and if he was going to play today. He said that his knee was good, and that was going to play. I also asked him; if he was on Facebook, to which he said no, and that he has someone pretending to be him. He said that he gave up FB along time ago. Just a head's up, folks.
After our quick conversation, he signed a couple of 8x10's for me, personalizing one photo to me. Corinna, my beautiful wife, went through Cally's line earlier (as I was in Jeff O'Neill's line), and got to get a card signed for my son, by Cally. (Thanks to Ryan, for the card.)
Afterwards, I shook his hand again, and thanked him for everything. He seemed pretty appreciative, as he knows that I'm a big supporter.
After gaining alot more Storm players' autographs, I returned to where Cally was, and had a chance to take a picture with him, and got to ask him some autograph questions...which I hope you know enjoy!
Sorry for the long delay/build up...but please, carry on!
"Autograph Questions With...Ryan Callahan"
Who was the first person, that you ever asked for an autograph?
#24; "It was Jason Bonsignore. I asked him, as a kid, in Rochester...where he's also from".
Who was the most recent person, that you've asked for an autograph?
#24; "Markus Naslund." (Cally played with Naslund, for the NYR, when Naslund retired)
What's the coolest thing you've ever been asked to autograph?
#24; "Hmmm...you know, I gotta say a 'fight' picture! I really think it's cool to sign a picture of me in a hockey scrap!"
What NHL city, other than your home team's city, has the most autograph seekers?
#24; "Montreal."
Finally, if you could ask anyone (living or deceased) for an autograph, whom would you ask?
#24; "Muhammad Ali."
Well, that's my "AQW..." with my favourite player. He was really, really accomodating, and I thank him for that...and his time. I urge you all to check out a Rangers game next time, they're on tv, and watch for #24. He'll be the one, that his coach will be depending on.
I got to do my "AQW..." with 5 or 6 other players, which I hope you return to check out in the next few weeks.
Also, in the next little while, I'll show some autograph successes that I had at the Guelph Storm Alumni game.
Finally, the team that Cally played for...(the white team), won the Storm Alumni game.
Take a guess on who the game MVP was?
Yup...#24. Ryan Callahan.
Go Storm Go!
Chris
PS; Thanks to Corinna for her help, throughout the day...and for helping me 'razz' O'Neill! Thanks to Bill for his kindness with his camera, et al...and again to Ryan, with the Cally card for Josh. Our day, was a great day.
Indeed, a great day was had by all!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, as per usual, Chris!
Great story!
ReplyDelete