Hello my faithful Hockeybuzz peeps!! I'm back after a bit of a break here, and am hoping y’all will continue to humour me as I ramble on about my favourite topic: collectibles and the crazy collectors who collect them (and of course I mean crazy in the good way, like the cool kids say it)!!
When I think of “crazy” collections, there’s only one place to start: Shawn Chaulk. On what do I base this? How’s about this (with all due apologies to Jeff Foxworthy for the blatant rip-off): When journalists use phrases such as “one of the world’s foremost autograph collectors” and “Canada’s Hockeyman”, you might be a crazy collector. When you’ve been featured in Beckett, Canadian Sports Collector (twice), and Report on Business magazine with regards to your hobby, you might be a crazy collector. When you’ve got between 6,000 and 10,000 autographs in your collection, you might be a crazy collector. When your Gretzky autographs number in triple digits, you might be a crazy collector. When you’ve met Gretzky over 50 times, you might be a crazy collector. When you’ve played on a line with Gretzky, you’re one lucky man!! When your wife payed the $10,000 for you to do so, and supports your hobby, you’re the LUCKIEST man alive!!!
I have to tell you all though, that this all pales in comparison to the man behind the hobby. We’re talking a very genuine, humble and friendly guy who is extremely aware of how lucky he is to be able to pursue the hobby at the level he has chosen to (Call me biased, but I think the Maritimer in him has a lot to do with this!!). I feel very lucky to have had the chance to strike up an acquaintance with this guy over the past few months that has not only revealed someone who shares a passion for the sport and hobby, but also reinforcing my belief in the fact that most collectors are in it for the pure reasons rather than the financial ones. I very much look forward to the day when I can sit down with this guy, share a few pops, and exchange some stories!!
Speaking of stories, when I first began speaking with Shawn, I found myself being flooded with questions I wanted to ask him, from one’s he’s probably been asked a thousand times, to ones that I have often thought of in relation to myself as a collector and was curious about how others would feel. Being the enthusiastic guy he is with regards to the hobby (and it’s an infectious enthusiasm folks), Shawn was open to addressing my questions and to sharing his words with the Hockeybuzz readers (along with my choosings from the load of pics that Shawn sent to me. WARNING: place something over your keyboards before viewing said pics lest your drool fry the damn thing!!). Without further ado, here’s the product of a little Q&A us Shawn’s had for your reading interest. (Follow along with some pics!! Go
here to see some of Shawn’s collection and visits with the Gretzky’s!)
What got you started collecting?
It all got started in about 1990 when I was reading a copy of Golf Digest. I had just read a lengthy article about Arnold Palmer and it talked about all of the fan mail he received each week and the process he used to handle it. His wife would sort it, get it ready and then he would sit and complete all of the autograph requests he received. I thought…”wow, superstars actually answer fan mail?” I had to check this out for myself. I promptly cut out the photos of Arnold in the article and wrote him a letter. I mailed off the letter in care of the magazine and to my surprise a few weeks later, I received 2 nicely autographed clippings back in the mail. I was hooked, plain and simple. I started writing golfers and then hockey players and my idol Wayne Gretzky. The first years of collecting were mainly autographed items. Cards, photos, jerseys, etc. From there it was game used items and high-end memorabilia items.
What is it that you get out of collecting?
A network of great friends. A place to go when there’s nowhere else to be. Satisfaction of winning the chase.
What was your first piece (hockey)?
First hockey autograph was a photo of Gordie Howe.
What got you into Gretzky?
I moved to Alberta in 1980, the same time the Edmonton Oilers were getting into the NHL and the first year Wayne Gretzky was making an impact in the league. I was only 13 at the time and just getting in to the NHL. I picked up the Oilers as “my team” and Gretzky as “my player”. I followed his career closely and “lived” the Oilers. If you were an Oilers fan in the 80’s you simply had to be “into Gretzky”….it was natural.
What was your first Gretzky piece?
Autograph was on a photo. Game used item was a Titan game used hockey stick.
How many items of his (Gretzky’s) do you think you have now?
It would take me some time to calculate that! About 100+ autographed items, four game worn jerseys, 20 game used sticks, Game used socks, three Game used helmets, two pairs of Game used gloves, two Game used milestone pucks, three pairs of Game used skates, seven Autographed statues, two Replica Stanley cup rings, (and) Artwork (tons of limited edition pieces).
What would you say a few of the more unique pieces of his are that you’ve gotten your hands on?
I have the game used puck that he got his 1999th career point with…the game used puck that he got his 21st consecutive assist with...(The NHL record is his at 23 consecutive games with an assist)...the jersey and stick he used in the famous outdoor Heritage Classic Hockey Game (I also have the jerseys Mark Messier, Jari Kurri and Glen Anderson wore in that game)…the practice jersey and numbered bib he used to practice with in the mid 80’s…(and) the socks he wore in the 1984 All star game.
(
WRITER’S NOTE: This was a completely loaded question on my part after seeing all the pictures of Shawn’s collection, but the man didn’t bite!! Just goes to show how different people will focus in on different pieces! My initial reaction as far as unique pieces was Gretzky’s Edmonton WHA contract (go see the pic!). I honestly freaked when I saw this!! For me, the epitome of a crazy piece of memorabilia. Loved it!!).
In many cases a collector’s favorite item isn’t necessarily the most expensive or rare one. If you had to select one of your Gretzky items as a favorite, what would it be and why?
In November of 2005 I flew to Phoenix and attended the Wayne Gretzky Fantasy Hockey Camp where I played hockey with him and about 10 other legendary hockey players for a full week. During that camp, I played on Gretzky’s team for 2 games and actually played on his line for a game. On my wall are some blown up photos which Wayne autographed for me.
One of them is of Wayne and I sitting on the bench. Photo is taken from the back so you see both of our jerseys in full, showing our names and numbers (Gretzky 99 Chaulk 66). We are talking, face to face. Wayne signed the photo as follows “To Shawn, What’s the Plan, Wayne Gretzky”. (see the pic…)
The other photo is an action shot showing 7 players playing in a game. I am breaking in on defenseman Geoff Courtnall (former NHL great) with Wayne coming down the left side. Gretzky is about to pass me the puck and send me in on a breakway. He signed that photo “To Shawn, get to the net, Wayne Gretzky”. (see the pic…)
The third photo is of Wayne with his stick over his head as he was about to slam it down over the net in frustration….he signed that photo “To Shawn, I was open, Wayne Gretzky” (see the pic…)
Those photos are in a single frame and are simply priceless to me but have no real hobby value.
How many times have you met him?
At least 60.
What has it been like interacting with him?
Surreal in some respects. He’s a normal guy in person with normal things to say! I’ve socialized with him in a bar, played hockey with him and golfed in his tournament, so I’ve been around him a bit. He’s just one of the guys in those surroundings.
What was that whole hockey camp experience like?
Every now and then I take out my photo album (it’s huge) and relive the camp. I don’t think I believe it yet that it all happened. It’s like it was all a dream or something.
I look at my office walls and see all of the photos and memorabilia and just say “Wow, that was me….I lived that dream”. How many people can say they had a real “dream” and “lived it” like I did?
It was incredible to say the least. See the clipping below from an email I sent my friends upon my return from camp…..
“Well, I finally lived my dream…….I just spent a week in Phoenix Arizona playing hockey with Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and about 8 other legendary NHL players. I attended the Wayne Gretzky Fantasy Camp for 6 days…………..
The camp was all inclusive and covered everything from a private suite at a 5 star resort, transportation and hockey equipment……There were 60 guys there from all over the world and we started off by getting taken to our dressing rooms. Just like the NHL…….we each had our own locker with a name plate on it. In the locker was brand new NHL hockey equipment, pants socks, gloves with embroidered name tags, bags, stick bags, home and away jerseys, practice jerseys and even 1 piece sticks with our name and number on them! There were trainers, equipment managers, massage therapists at our disposal……talk about living the dream.
Then we suited up on day one for a practice where real NHL scouts and coaches ranked us on skills, skating, etc. Then we got drafted onto 4 teams. Then a tournament commenced over the next 4 days.
Paul Coffey was a defenseman on my team for all of the games.
I got to play with Wayne Gretzky for 2 games, with him as my line mate for a lot of it.
I played 2 games against Wayne Gretzky.
I played 1 game with Kirk Muller and Craig Janney as my wingers
Other players included Russ and Geoff Courtnall and Eddie Mio.
Coaches include Barry Smith, Cap Reader, Walter Gretzky, Glenn Gretzky and others.
We attended 2 Coyotes games and sat in Gretzky’s private suite, which was quite posh!
Imagine skating down the ice…..feeling like its Friday Night Beer League and you take a pass……then you look up only to realize that Gretzky passed you the puck. You then pass it back to Wayne and he starts yelling at you…..get in front…get in front…..you shit your pants and head for the net….bang the puck come back to you…..you shoot……….and miss the net! Yes it happened to me! Haha! I at least kept the puck as a souvenir!
It was simply incredible playing with those guys. We ate our meals with them, drank beer with them and listened to their stories. I think my favorite memory was spending about 3 hours around a fire with Walter Gretzky listening to all of his stories!
What was it like spending time with and speaking to Walter (Gretzky)?
This was like living a dream in itself. He is the most incredible man in the game of hockey. He is pure. He is real. He is honest. He is family.
One night I got to sit around a campfire while at the camp with about 8 other hockey players and Walter. We simply listened for 3 straight hours to Walter tell tales about growing up with “Wayne”. He told them like they happened last week and told them with such pride. He talked about everything under the sun. It was so intense I didn’t want to get up and take a bathroom break, in fear of missing something.
This happened on day 1 of camp. The next day I remember saying to someone, if camp ended today, it would have been worth the trip.
How does your wife feel about your collecting?
She is really understanding about it, despite thinking I’m a little addicted at times. She supports all of my requests to take in special hockey events in Edmonton like jersey retirement games and things like that. I travel to Edmonton every fall and golf with the Edmonton Oilers and she’s in my corner for those things. She never questions my hobby spending habits, which is a good thing (wink wink)! Overall, I could not have a more supportive wife and I love her dearly for appreciating my hobby and passion. After all, she was the one who gave me the trip to the hockey camp as a gift!
What has your experience been like talking and dealing with others in the collecting community?
The collecting community is a VERY strong brotherhood. We are always looking out for each others collecting needs. We regularly buy, sell and trade with each other and these transactions take in all corners of the world! I’ve made some great friends through this hobby and have had very few bad experiences. We have a website http://www.gameworn.net/cgi-bin/GW/ultimatebb.cgi that we all use daily to communicate with each other.
Any advice for collectors?
Collect because you are passionate about the game or an athlete’s contribution to the game…..and for no other reason.
__________________________________________________________________
Now to throw it open to the readers. Anything you’d like to ask Shawn based on the info here, or is there anything else you’d like answered? Let me know and I’ll forward them on. Thanks a lot to Shawn for doing this!
Remember, drop me a line with any questions or story ideas you’d like covered in the future. I’m game for anything! Cheers!
Shawn (
[email protected])
Join the Discussion:
»