About

In 1966 a Massachusetts family had an idea: Create replica rinks to send to the then NHL’s six teams, specifically to the team captains—and ask each to collect the signatures of their entire team.

The plan included enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Of the six NHL teams at the time, two captains that these were sent to: Johnny Bucyk of the hometown Bruins and Jean Béliveau of the Canadiens did it! They  collected their respective teammates’ signatures and presented a wonderful surprise in the mail.

Even Canadiens Hall of Fame Coach Toe Blake signed the Canadiens board.

It was certainly a different time than the current world of mass salaries and marketing agents we live in today.

This process was replicated two years later, in 1968.

But by then, in the intervening season, the NHL had expanded and doubled the number of teams from those original six to twelve.

Again, captains were mailed a rink. And again this time, M. Béliveau collected the signatures. In addition, half of the six new teams also got in on the act: the Flyers, North Stars (today’s Dallas Stars) and Oakland Seals (renamed California Golden Seals, then moved to Cleveland in 1976.

Once more, in 1971, rinks were mailed out, but perhaps only to Boston and Montréal, no one is sure.

For the third time, only the Canadiens came through, with new Captain Henri Richard carrying on what was an almost-tradition.

M. Richard returned the last of the seven autographed rinks in this collection.

As you look at each team’s page and their respective lineups, you’ll notice that the rosters have a number of non-signers, but concentrated at the bottom, in terms of scoring order, as most were not on the roster at the moment of the seas on the rinks were shipped.

You can tell how complete the lineups were by 1) roster size vs. autographs, it appears 18 plus two goalies were actively dressed. Most rinks have that many or even more if you have coaches, inactive or injured players signing.

What we have here is truly an amazing history of NHL hockey, many great, legendary players.

A few of the signatures are blurry or smudged, but most are intact.  You’ll see that many of the signatures overlap. And when we show you the individual signatures you click on the team rosters, the green check marks.

This is truly the most unique of collections. Imagine the greats and legends whose DNA touched these replica rinks and who took the time to sign them.

Enjoy a walk through a frozen moment in time of great growth of the National Hockey League, truly the forerunner of the league becoming a major business.