Can't Miss Prospects; Tyler Seguin

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I often try to get autographs from up and coming hockey players. I've done pretty well collecting autographs from prospects, before they make the NHL. Some past successes include Ryan Callahan (NYR), Jeff Carter (PHI), Mike Richards (PHI), Jonas Gustavsson (TOR), John Tavares (NYI), and Sidney Crosby (PIT)...just to name a few.

I'm hoping this will become, somewhat of, a series in my blog...from time to time.

The first in this series is focusing on, who is slated to the 1st overall pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft, the OHL's Plymouth Whalers' forward...Tyler Seguin.

Can't Miss Prospects; Tyler Seguin















I picked up the local Guelph newspaper, the Guelph Tribune, and noticed the advertisement across the bottom of the front page. The ad belonged to the Guelph Storm, this city's OHL team, and it was displaying the upcoming 2 games. One of the 2 games was for Wednesday, February 10, 2010. The Storm opponents were going to be the Plymouth Whalers, on a discounted ticket night. The ad also spoke about one the players in the game. "Come out and see Tyler Seguin, projected top draft pick in the 2010 NHL draft!".

I wasn't sure that I could make the game, but I did want to try to meet Seguin, and ask for an autograph.

I checked a few websites, to see if there was any pictures worth printing of Seguin...to possibly get signed.

In checking for pictures, I got to find out about Seguin's career (to this point!).

The kid is good.

In his rookie OHL campaign (last season), Seguin had 21 goals in 61 games, but added 46 assists for 67 points in those 61 games. He did that as a 16 year old, who turned 17 halfway during the season in January. Great numbers. When the playoffs started, Plymouth was a favourite, based on the 17 year old's abilities. Tyler Seguin went on to play in 11 games in the OHL playoffs, and scored 16 points! 5 of which, were goals. That was an incredible pace, for a first year player.













This is his sophomore season, and it's turning out to be incredible for Seguin.

In only 51 games played so far, 10 less than his total last season, Seguin has incredible 86 points! 37 goales scored, 49 assists added, which all equals first overall in OHL scoring leaders!














Simply outstanding.

The hockey world is noticing.

The OHL invited Seguin to this season's All-star game. He also played for the OHL All-Stars at the Canada-Russia Subway Super Series game, that was in Windsor. He attended Canada's World Junior selection camp in Regina for the World Junior Championships. And finally, he captained Team Orr at the 2010 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Game on January 19-20 in Windsor.














With all these invitations, Central Scouting, the organization that determines the rankings of the best junior players in the world, placed Tyler Seguin number one in their ranking on November 17, 2009.

This means, Seguin could go first overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft.

While searching for a picture, to possibly to get signed, I came across a cool image of Seguin.

It's an image of Seguin in the (above mentioned) Canada-Russia Subway Super Series game. He's just finished taking a faceoff against Russia's Sergey Chvanov. I thought it was a great picture, worth printing, and getting signed.















When Tuesday came around, the day before gameday, I spoke to my wife, Corinna, about wanting to go get an autograph before the game. Since we had plans for the evening, we couldn't make the game itself, but if the team bus was to arrive around 5pm for the 7pm start...we could show up for a quick autograph.

With our plans agreed upon, we went to Walmart to print the picture into an 8x10. It came out quite well, and I prepared for the meeting the next day. Got the camera ready, checked my Sharpies, and packed it all up in my bag.

When gameday arrived, I figured the bus would arrive between 5 and 5:30pm, at Guelph's Sleeman Centre. I waited for Corinna to come home from work, and when she did, we left for the Sleeman Centre scheduled to arrive around 4:45 pm. I decided to find parking in front of the arena on Woolwich street, and wait near the players dressing rooms entrance...where I've scored hundreds of autographs, and consider this location the best place in the world for junior hockey autograph collectiong!

But when we got in viewing distance of the Sleeman Centre, panic struck!

The team bus was backing into it's parking spot! The Plymouth Whalers were here...and we weren't even parked yet!

And of course...there was no parking spot on the street to be seen! Hello stress.














After pulling a U-turn, we got a quick spot...slightly illegal maybe?, and jogged inside the Sleeman Centre. When we arrived at the bus portal doors, the team was just unloading their equipement off the bus.

We made it...just in time.

The Whalers began to enter into the lobby, walking past us, into the dressing room area carrying their hockey bags. It seemed all the players entered in, and there was no Tyler Seguin. The coaching staff walked in, and Corinna started to get a littled worried.

"Did he walk by, and you not notice him?" She asked. "I don't think so, unless he got off the bus, and ran in first...before we got to the doors" I answered.

Corinna was checking our camera, when the bus portal doors, opened one more time.

Tyler Seguin, carrying his hockey bag, walked into the Sleeman Centre's lobby.

I sprung into action immediately.

I opened my binder, exposing the Seguin 8x10, and then popped open my blue Sharpie.

"Hi Tyler, can I get your autograph please?" I asked the number NHL prospect in the world.

He looked shocked!

I guess he wasn't expecting to be asked for an autograph before game time. Or maybe he was surprised that I asked him, while he was carrying his game-gear. Regardless, he answered me positively.

"Yeah, sure man" is what he answered very quietly.

He adjusted his hockey bag over his shoulder, instead of putting it down, and then took my blue Sharpie. He looked at my photo, and checked it out for a good couple seconds...kind of making me wonder if he's ever seen this image before. He went to sign it on the lower area of the 8x10, but moved his hand to the top left corner, and signed exactly where I was hoping he would.

My awesome wife, Corinna, took a great picture of Seguin signing for me.














He put a very cool looking autograph across my 8x10, adding his traditional number 9...instead of the number 12 he was wearing in the photo, which was fine. I was very pleased that he just stopped to sign for me!

I asked Seguin if I could get a picture with him, and he said sure, so we posed for a photo, while Corinna took it. Sadly, our camera ran out of memory for this posed picture...so I never got a posed picture, this time.

After our camera malfunction, I turned to the OHL All-star, and thanked him for his time and wished him luck on the remainder of the season. He quietly said thanks, smiled, and disapeared into the dressing room area.

He was great to approach, ask, and deal with.















All said and done, we spend about 5 minutes...including parking.

Walking back to the Highlander, I looked at Corinna, and said "I love when a plan works out nicely!".

She laughed!

Thanks for checking out this posting, hope your enjoyed it...and will keep an eye for Tyler Seguin in the NHL!

Chris