Story of a Card
by Kewibr on Nov 23, 2009 11:45 AM EST
27 comments
For the briefest of moments in early 1992, televisions in the US were tuned in to the Winter Olympics in Alberville, France. Bonnie Blair and Kristi Yamaguchi were on their way to winning gold medals for Team USA. And a little known, journeyman minor league goaltender named Ray LeBlanc was backstopping US Olympic hockey team to a 4th place finish. To quote his Wikipedia page: "At the 1992 Winter Olympics, LeBlanc appeared in all eight games for the United States, compiling a record of 5–2–1 with two shutouts. The Americans finished out of the medals, however, as they lost 6–1 to Czechoslovakia in the bronze medal game." This US team wasn't supposed to make the medal round. They were bad. Ray stole 4th place for them. As a reward, the Chicago Blackhawks put him in for one game later that season.
Later that spring, at a community card show, I happened across a booth selling hockey cards. Sitting there, for a whopping $3 was a 1990-91 Fort Wayne Komets IHL team set. The sticker on the box cover said "With 1992 US Olympic Hero Ray LeBlanc!" I stupidly bought the box. I was 13 years old, without a clue. LeBlanc played 1 NHL game and his 15 minutes of fame only lasted 8. The set quickly went into a box with all my other cards. It sat there.
For 17 years.
Then, something strange happened. A few years ago, another journeyman minor leaguer-turned coach made the jump to the NHL. In his first season as an NHL coach, he led his team to the playoffs and won the Jack Adams award as coach of the year. Fans of his team became rabid and his stature continued to grow. He's now an icon in the area; a regular guy who made it and who everyone loves. People he's never met call him by his nickname, Gabby. Coincidentally, when he wrote a book about his life, he chose his nickname as the title.
That man is Bruce Boudreau.
About a week ago, I was deep into reading that autobiography when I came across the chapter in which Bruce describes his final few minor league playing seasons. He talked about playing with his best friend, John Anderson, who is now the head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers. He talked about his last seasons in Fort Wayne, playing for the Komets.
Wait.
Where do I know that team from?
...!!!!!!
I raced downstairs to the garage where my box old box of hockey cards sits, gathering dust. I rifled through the older cards and found that old Fort Wayne team set. Ray LeBlanc's card sat at the front of the stack. I quickly shuffled through the cards until I stopped at the two cards I was looking for. John Anderson...
and our own, Bruce 'Gabby' Boudreau.
I no longer collect cards. Sure, I'll buy the odd pack every now and then but I miss the days of bubblegum and cardboard-colored cards. I love my old cards: Bobby Orr, Cam Neely, Ken Dryden. But every so often, I'll find a reason to go digging into the big old box of cards and find a treasure.
Bruce never mentions poor Ray LeBlanc in his memoirs. I wonder if he even remembers him. He retired in 2000 with a career NHL record of 1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .955 Save%. But if it wasn't for Ray LeBlanc, I wouldn't have these awesome Bruce Boudreau and John Anderson cards.
Thanks Ray!
If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's authors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.
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that’s awesome. Awesome cards, awesome story. And you know who would love to hear that story and I’m sure would get an absolute kick out of it? Bruce.
by RedBirdie on Nov 23, 2009 12:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m just glad my mom didn’t throw away my hockey cards when I went to college! I wish I’d found the card prior to the Convention, where I got his autograph. I’d like to get Anderson’s autograph too.
by Kewibr on Nov 23, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think you owe your mom a really nice Christmas gift for not throwing out this wonderful piece of hockey history!
by RedBirdie on Nov 23, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That is a terrific story. And Bruce looks a little like Jason Alexander in that photo.
Fight, you time-wasting figure skaters!
by boutros23 on Nov 23, 2009 12:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Get it autographed! :)
I’m still kicking myself for now going to Ketler and trying to get Feds’ autograph on my rookie card while I had the chance. Bummer.
I’m trying to decide what to do with all my Upper Deck SP Die Cut Jim Carey cards that I thought (back in 95) might be worth something someday. Maybe one day I’ll run out of toilet paper and decide I want to use something shiny.
Random Q: … Does anyone else have those “Classic Games” cards which have these “rookie cards” of players showing them in their junior team outfits.
by Brainumbc on Nov 23, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m still kicking myself for NOT going to
by Brainumbc on Nov 23, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If it makes you feel any better, Feds rarely, if ever, came out to sign autographs. You would have had to catch him as he came off the ice or stalked him as he was leaving.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 23, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Do ANY of the players regularly hang out after practice for autos? I’ve never had the balls to actually go and be the idiot running around the building for 2 hours trying to accost everyone
by Brainumbc on Nov 23, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Some do come out by the offices (outside Caps wordmark), but it seems catching them coming off the ice is your best bet. Or sometimes heading into the Iceplex, if you’re lucky, but then they’re usually in a rush.
by MisterBungle on Nov 25, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s awesome. Thanks for the story and rec’d.
Would you be able to upload a higher resolution version of the gabby card, front and back? I’d like to save that in my Caps images.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 23, 2009 12:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
You rock, thanks again.
One guy just drove his semi as a float. I guess semis are cool.
by zephyr on Nov 23, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wow, nice stats for BB - wonder why he never made it as a player?
Rock the Red! Rock the White! Rock the Blue! Rock the Pens!
by RedskinFan4Life on Nov 25, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
he was a AAAA player. and by his own admission, didn’t really work hard enough to stick in the NHL.
by RedBirdie on Nov 25, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
(buy the book)
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 25, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is a great FanPost. Rec’d. I just read the part of Bruce’s book where he described his minor league player days, so this is good timing. Apparently the Fort Wayne Komets are one of the oldest hockey franchises around, only beat by the original six and the Hershey Bears IIRC.
"If you're gonna die after 24, might as well jump out at 23:59, no?"
by Laich It Or Lump It on Nov 23, 2009 12:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
An awesome story on the occasion of the second anniversary of Boudreau’s first game as NHL head coach and potential 101st win.
Thanks for sharing!
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 23, 2009 12:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Kewibr, I just realized. You ought to cross post this FanPost to Bird Watchers Anonymous.
It’s pretty easy, you just reopen this post in “edit” mode, CTRL-A and “copy”, then go over to Bird Watchers Anonymous, click to join, hit Create FanPost over there, and paste.
I bet they’d like to see Coach Anderson in his salad days!
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 23, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Better yet, post the image of the Anderson card as a FanShot there with a link back to your story here at the Rink.
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 23, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Great story, great FanPost. Rec’d.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 23, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Btw, “Center/Assistant Coach” = awesome.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
by J.P. on Nov 23, 2009 2:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bruce Boudreau = awesome.
SO FЯIENDS, IS BATTLE NOW.
by Your Nation's Capital on Nov 23, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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