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"...I have been collecting autographs and memorabilia since the mid 90's. I am a collector and view the autographs as
Art. I do not sell autographs that I obtain and can't stand the guys that do. I guess I'm an old fashioned fan and that's
okay, I value and respect my hobby..." (Jon Jehrio-Chairman)
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| Jon with former Buffalo Sabre tough guy and fan favorite Rob Ray! |
Jon's Background:
I grew up in Niagara Falls and have been a Buffalo Sabre fan since I was born, in 1970. I started out getting
Sabre autographs at their practice rink. My favorite item to get autographed is 8 by 10 photo's. I also am working on team
signed Jersey's. This started in 1998. I was watching a Sabre practice at the Pepsi center in Buffalo when someone told me
the Canadiens were in town. I did not have any photo's of them so I bought a jersey. I also am working on an 11 by 16 photo
of the 2002 Gold Medal Canadian Olympic team. I now travel all over North America for autographs and to see NHL Games. I have
a goal to see a game in every NHL city. So far I have seen games in Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, NY Rangers,
Florida, Washington, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Jose, Dallas and Vancouver. Jon is very well traveled!
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| Jon (L) chatting hockey with Lightning star Vincent Lecavlier at the 2008 NHL Awards! (see below) |
The Timeline:
Fall: 1998:
Team:
Montreal Canadiens Location:
Sabreland, Buffalo N.Y. Mission:
Get Canadiens Jersey Signed
"I was at the Pepsi Center in Amherst,
NY watching a Sabre practice when I was told that the Canadiens would be practicing at a rink I grew up playing at, Sabreland.
I purchased a Canadiens jersey and headed over. Not only did I get to watch the famed Montreal Canadiens practice, but after
practice, every single one of them signed my jersey. Guy's like Saku Koivu, Eric Weinrich, Jeff Hackett, Shayne Corson,
and Jose Theodore. All the players were great."
Spring: 2000
Team: New Jersey Devils Location: Devils Training Facility
(secret) Mission:
Get Devils Jersey Signed
"I drove out to the New Jersey Devils
Training facility on a chilly spring morning in 2000. It was right after my favorite player, Alex Mogilny, had been traded
to the Devils, and Larry Robinson had taken over coaching duties from Robbie Ftorek. The practice was great. Very fast
paced, one player, I think it was Stevens, even shattered the glass right behind Martin Brodeur. Three things I
will always remember about the practice, 1) Martin Brodeur's skill playing the puck, 2) watching Assistant Coach
Bobby Carpenter jump up onto the top of the dasher boards, in his skates, to help fix the glass pane that had just shattered,
and 3) watching the line of Arnott, Elias, and Sykora spend an extra 30 minutes after practice working on plays. What a treat.
After practice just about all the players signed my jersey, guys like Stevens, Brodeur, Arnott, Elias. One guy that would
not sign for anybody was Claude Lemieux. It was a great day, especially since they won the Cup a few months later."
Fall: 2000
Team: Colorado Avalanche Location: Wilkes Barre/Hershey Mission: Get Avalanche Jersey Signed
"The Colorado Avalanche visited Wilkes Barre and Hershey for 2 Pre-season games against the Penguins. I drove
up to Wilkes Barre to see the practice and get some autographs. The practice was great. As the players came off the ice they
signed for us at the tunnel. I could not get any of the star players because some guys, after getting their autographs, would
hand them these plaque's with some of their cards on it. Their hands were too full to sign for anyone else. Fortunately
the next day, all the star players visited the Hershey Country Club, where I was working at the time, for a round of golf.
They all signed for me their, in the pro shop. Drury, Sakic, Roy, Bourque, and a few others. It was dark when they finished.
They seemed to have had a pretty competative round. At the end of that season I, along with millions of others, watched them
hoist the Stanley Cup."
Fall:
2002
Team: Edmonton
Oilers Location:
Nassau Coliseum Long Island, N.Y. Mission: Team Signed Oilers Jersey
"The Oilers were
visiting the Islanders, so I tried to get them before and after their morning skate. Most of the players were great signers.
Guys like Tommy Salo, Eric Brewer, Ryan Smyth, Georges Laraque, and Coach Craig MacTavish. Dan Cleary would not sign my jersey,
he said he would see it on ebay that night. I told him I do not sell autographs on ebay or anywhere, that I was a big fan
that had just driven from Pennsylvania. He looked at me and said "Man you guys are pro's". It was at that point
that I realised how much ebay was hurting the joy of autograph collecting. Anson Carter walked 100 yards talking on his cell
phone with a hound walking along side him holding a clip board with a photo. He totally ignored him the whole way."
Winter: 2003
Team: Toronto Maple
leafs Location: Toronto
Maple Leafs Practice Rink Mission:
Get Mapleleafs Jersey Signed
"I found out the Leafs would be at their practice
rink instead of the ACC, so I drove up to Toronto in a snowstorm during the AM rush hour to their practice facility by the
lake. After a stop at Tim Horton's I headed to the rink, parked, and walked in with Coach Pat Quinn. They had security
at the door and they asked to see my media credentials. I told them I was a fan who had just come to watch the practice. I
explained that I had driven up from Hershey, PA. and would really like to watch the practice. After a little more talk, they
agreed to let me in. The practice was great. There were alot of media there. After practice I stood in the falling snow with
two other guys and approached the players as they exited the building. Most players were great, guys like Belak,
(ex-Hershey Bear) Tucker, Corson, Kidd, and Roberts were personable. My favorite player, Alexander Mogilny, exited the building.
I stood next to him as he unlocked his SUV and politely asked for his autograph. He said "NO", and got into his
vehicle and shut the door. I wonder if he knew that I had been a fan of his since I first heard of his defection to the US
in 1988, and spent the last 10 years amassing over 1100 of his hockey cards, thirteen pro weight jersey's, and numerous
figurines, cereal boxes, bobbleheads, coins, hat's, t-shirts, magazines, photo's, game used sticks, skates, gloves,
pants, and a bunch of other stuff? Thousands and thousands of dollars invested. That spring I decided to call it quits. I
stopped buying hockey cards, and ended my quest to possess the biggest most comprehensive collection of Mogilny memorabilia."
Winter: 2005
Team: Carolina Huricanes Location: Huricanes Practice Facility, Mission: Get Huricanes Jersey Signed
"I flew down to
Raleigh, rented a car and headed out to the Huricanes practice rink. The practice was great. Saw some great goals. The players
were great about signing autographs. The first one out was Erik Cole. He came out in his shorts and t-shirt. Signed for everybody
and thanked them for being there. He said he was going back in to work out but wanted to make sure he got autographs
for everyone first. Cam Ward came out with his hands full, told us he was heading to his car, but would come back
and sign for everyone. (Heard that before). He did though, came back and signed for everyone. The rest of the team took their
time and signed for the few of us that were there. The Carolina players are one of the classiest bunch of players
I have encountered in my travels. A few months later they won the Stanley Cup."
Spring: 2006 Team: Calgary Flames Location: Nassau Coliseum, Long Island N.Y. Mission: Team Signed Jersey and Iginla on my Olympic Photo
I
drove out to Long Island again and waited with the rest of the Hounds for the Flames to start coming back from their morning
skate. Just about all of the players were great and very personable. Jerome Iginla signed my Olympic photo and signed everything
else put in front of him as he walked to the hotel. Guys like Rookie Dion Phaneuf, Darren McCarty, Warrener, Chris Simon,
Roman Hamrlik, and Miika Kiprusoff were great. I even got an autograph from newly acquired Kristian Huselius, who I had had
sign my Panthers Jersey a few months before in Carolina. Tony Amonte would not sign for anyone, especially after one of the
Hounds (ebayer) started shouting obsenities at him after he knew he wasn't getting an autograph. (Classy). The last one
I got was Coach Darryl Sutter. He was very personable. Great trip, and they almost won the Cup that year.
Fall: 2006
Team: St. Louis Blues Location: St. Louis Blues Practice Facility Mission: Get Blues Jersey Signed
I flew out to St. Louis and took a short ride over to their practice facility. It is a beautiful rink that is connected
to a huge mall. The practice was great. Fast paced, saw quite a few nice goals. Especially from Kieth Tkachuk and Doug Weight.
Also in attandance was GM Larry Pleau, Al MacInnis, and Kelly Chase. After practice just about every player signed
my jersey, guys like Tkachuk, Weight, Legace, Brewer, and I even had a nice conversation with ex-Hershey Bear Dan Hinote.
He asked how the "Old Barn" was doing. I told him it's great and still has the best ice and atmosphere
in the area. He also asked about the Giant Center. He, and all the other players were great. It was also an interesting trip
for me in that I ran into a cousin of mine who I hadn't seen in about 30 years. It was a great trip, and great practice.
Fall: 2006
Team: Washington Caps Location: Hershey Giant Center (pre-season) Mission: Get Alex Ovechkin Photo signed
I
was very excited to see the Washington Capitals were bringing their training camp to my home town of Hershey, PA for 3 days.
I bought 4 tickets to the pre-season game between the Devils and Capitals here in Hershey, and took the next day off
of work to attend the practice. The practice was O.K., after the practice I waited outside with about 6 other autograph seekers.
All the Capitals were nice and signed autographs for the other seekers. I was only waiting for Alex. He was the last
one out. I was the first one he encountered and I politely asked for his autograph. He gruffly said "NO" and kept
walking, ignoring the few others who wanted his autograph. A representative of the Cap's explained later to me that "Alex
does not like signing autographs for grown men because he thinks they will sell them on ebay".
WINTER 2007:
Team: NHL All Star Game Location:
Dallas, Texas Mission:
Autographs at my first All Star Game
I happened to be in Dallas for business
reasons during the All Star week. I was able to purchase a ticket to each event, Open Practice on Monday, Skills and Young
Guns Game on Tuesday, and The Game on Wednesday. My weekend started out at the airport where I met Ryan Smyth, who gladly
signed a photo for me and I had the honor of meeting and talking to Ron Maclean from Hockey Night in Canada. He gladly accepted one
of our pink pucks. The practice was great. After strolling the hallways with players like Malkin and Radulev, the thrill
was watching Gordie Howe view the Eastern All Stars from the Zamboni entrance. The Skills and Young Guns Game was great,
I was 5 rows above the Western bench surrounded by VIP's. I even had the chance to sit and chat with Bob Hartley. I took
alot of great pictures. Unfortunately that evening I came down with a serious stomach flu and did not make it to The Game.
Summer 2008:
Team: 2007-2008 NHL Awards
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Mission:
Autographs from the Star Players
The NHL rolled out the Red Carpet outside the Elgin Theatre
on Yonge Street in Downtown Toronto for the stars who were attending the 2008 NHL Award Show. I was joined at the Red Carpet
by Goalie extrordinare, Brad Standish, who snaped photo's of the players while I tried for autographs. Most of the players
were great about signing, like Henrik Lundqvist, Toews, Kane, Nabokov, Lacavalier, Lidstrom, Backstrom, Zetterberg, and
the always classey Jason Pomminville. We had a nice chat with Coach of the Year winner Bruce Boudreau. He was surprised
we were there. As we were talking to him Ovechkin walked behind him and it turned into a circus with everyone around
us yelling and shoving to try to get an autograph. He didn't sign for very many, neither did Malkin, Luongo,
Datsyuk, or Brodeur. There were also many retired players that were great about signing. We watched the show from a local
eatery down the street and on the way back passed "The Hammer" Dave Shultz, heading down Yonge St. We were
the first ones to greet Boudreau outside the Theatre right after he won the Award. He was with his wife and the
Caps management staff. We congratulated his wife, because he was on the phone. It was a great event.
Winter: 2009
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Location: The Flyers Skate Zone, Vorhees, NJ
Mission: Team
Signed Flyers Jersey
I had attempted several years ago to get a Flyers signed jersey, and only 1/3 of
the players signed it, so I thought I would try again. I had 1 day off this week and so I drove 2 hours out to their practice
facility. The practice was fun to watch, pretty normal for having lost 5-1 the night before. Afterward, I went out to where
fans gather to get autographs. I have been doing this along time and can say none of the 25-30 fans waiting were ebayers.
All fans, some children, all wearing Flyers garb. When the Flyers leave they have 2 choices, drive around the building and
avoid the fans wanting autographs, or, drive out the other side where the fans are. We watched as one by one, the Flyers drove
out the other side of the building. Only 2 players stopped, Riley Cote and Randy Jones. Both were class acts and signed everything
put in front of them. It took them about 5 minutes out of their busy schedules. I do not have the space to relate the dissapointment
going through my mind on my 3 hour drive home. All the Jersey's I had purchased, Hockey Cards, Figurines, etc, Games I
have attended, all eventually contribute to the big paychecks these guys enjoy. The reason the NHL is so successfull,
especially in these difficult times, is because they have passionate fans. If players ignore fans like they did on this
day, the fans will end up ignoring them, and that will no doubt effect their pocket books. Summer:
2009 Team: 2008-2009 NHL Award Show Location: Las Vegas Mission:
Player Autographs The NHL moved their Award show from Toronto to The Palms Casino in Las Vegas. I was
able to meet several players at the Las Vegas airport. I met Stan Mikita, Patrick Kane, Pavol Datsyuk, Tim Thomas, and Mark
Messier. There were other autograph hounds running around and Mark brushed them off with a "I'll sign for you guys
later". I stood next to him while he waited for his luggage and he refused me as well. I struck up a conversation with
a guy standing behind us and told him about my charity games with the Hanson's and NHL Alumni. After Mark got his luggage
he turned to me and said "let me see that photo, I'll sign it for you". He was a real nice guy but, obviously
aware that so many hounds sell his autograph. The next day I headed for the Red carpet and found myself in a conversation
with Bill Daly and Gary Bettman, both really nice guys. The Red Carpet was great. I missed getting Malkin because Max Talbot
was standing right in front of me with the Stanley Cup. Most players signed, some did not. Roberto Luongo ignored most of
the fans. One of the highlights was watching Vladimir Konstantinov "walk" the red carpet. Some of the classiest
guys were Pat Lafontaine, Jeremy Roenick, Jean Beliveau, and Pat Burns. Also got autographs from Ovechkin, St. Louis, Jerry
Brukheimer, Fedorov, Green, Bossy, Iginla, and more.
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| Paval Datsyuk and Jon at the Vegas Airport in 2009! |
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