More July Mail: Fukufuji

Yutaka Fukufuji

Fukufuji made hockey history in 2007 when he became the first Japanese citizen to play in the NHL.  He only appeared in 4 NHL games for the LA Kings but will forever be an important name in NHL history. 

Edgar Laprade

Laprade won the 1946 Calder Trophy, 1950 Lady Byng and scored 280 points in his 500 NHL games, all with the New York Rangers.  He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. 

Blake Geoffrion and Robert Bortuzzo

Geoffrion holds an interesting place in NHL history, becoming the first 4^th generation player to play in the leage.  His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all played in the NHL.  He won the 2010 Hobey Baker trophy and has played only a handful of NHL games, recently being traded to the Habs, the same team his forefathers played for.  Bortuzzo played 6 games for the 11/12 Pittsburgh Penguins.

 David Rundblad and John McCarthy

Rundblad was drafted 17^th overall by the Blues in 2009 but never played for the team.  He played 30 games in 11/12 between the Ottawa Senators and Pheonix Coyotes, scoring 1 goal and 7 points.  He was involved in the trade that brought Kyle Turris to the Senators.  McCarthy has played over 50 games for the San Jose Sharks and has scored 2 goals.

Theo Peckham

Peckham made his NHL debut for the Oilers in 06/07 but only receives his first autograph card this year.  He’s a scrapper who has become a permanent member of the Oilers and recently signed a new contract with the team. 

Grant Mulvey

Mulvey kept my index and sent me this signed 8x10 instead, a little harder to store but a nice looking autograph none the less.  He played over 500 NHL games, most with the Blackhawks but ended his career as a New Jersey Devil.  He set a franchise record in Chicago in 1982 when he scored 7 points in one game on February 3. 

Art Chisholm

Art Chisholm played 3 games for the 60/61 Boston Bruins on an amateur tryout contract. 

Fred Berry

Berry played 3 games for the 76/77 Detroit Red Wings. 

Dan Labraaten

Dan Labraaten first came to North America in 1976 to play for the WHA’s Winnipeg Jets.  He played two seasons in Winnipeg before leaving for the NHL.  In 268 games between Detroit and Calgary he scored 71 goals and 144 points. 

Bill Lecaine

Bill Lecaine played 4 games for the 68/69 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pat Richter

An NFL player in a hockey mail post?  Richter played 8 seasons in the NFL for the Redskins.  He goes into my “oddball” autograph binder of hockey because his son is Barry Richter, an NHLer who played for the Rangers, Bruins, Islanders and Canadiens.

Tommy O’Connell

Tommy O’Connell played 5 NFL seasons.  His connection to the NHL is also through blood as his son Mike was a long time NHL player and General Manager.