By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Hometown Hockey event brings out super fan eager to show off 30-year-old collection

Mar 17, 2019 | 1:05 PM

LETHBRIDGE – “Are you with the media?” asked Randy Christensen, as I stood in line with my 12-year-old son late Saturday morning at the Hometown Hockey outdoor event at the Enmax Centre, waiting to meet six-time Stanley Cup winner and NHL Hall of Fame Inductee Glenn Anderson. 

I was wearing a LethbridgeNewsNOW jacket, and he was curious about it. 

“Yes,” I replied and smiled, wondering why he was asking. 

“I have autographs. Thousands of autographs. Here! Have a look,” Christensen replied eagerly as the line slowly moved forward. 

Indeed, as I leafed through a giant binder with pages and pages of pristine cards the 54-year-old brought along with him, I saw hockey cards signed by players from the 1940s right through to the present. He said he had more than 3,000 cards all signed by hockey greats – and those who were much more obscure. 

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

“It’s been 30-years of collecting,” he explained. “I started with an entertainer. Lawrence Welk. Once I got Lawrence Welk, I thought, ‘hey, I’ll just try for more.’ I collect every card from anyone involved in something special. I like to collect autographs.”

Christensen’s collection is fascinating. He had everything from a signed Maurice “Rocket” Richard card, to Wayne Gretzky, Johnny Gaudreau, Bryan Trottier, Bill Mosienko – who scored the fastest hat trick in NHL history, Martin Brodeur, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, and Larry Qwong- who played for exactly one minute in the NHL back in 1954. Also a Hall of Fame inductee, Kwong was the first person of asian ancestry to play in the league. 

“You name a famous player, I probably have something signed by him. I have a McDavid jersey. I picked it up and had him sign it the first year he played in the NHL. I have 150 signed jerseys. I don’t know how many pucks and pictures.”

He travelled from Olds, Alberta, that day with a group of people to meet Rich and Duane Sutter, along with Glenn Anderson, to ask them to sign some hockey cards. He told me he’s willing really, to travel just about anywhere in Canada to get his autographs. 

“Last year, I went and got to walk though the dressing room at the (Haggar) Hockey Hall of fame game. And I went there with my hockey book. And I had my sharpie shoved up my sleeve and I collected six autographs on my way through.”

That game, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, featured players like Grant Fuhr, Eric Lindros, Scott Niedermayer, Martin St. Louis, Dino Ciccarelli, and Doug Gilmour. 

Christensen says he’s going to keep collecting autographs as long as he is able to. He knows his collection is worth many thousands of dollars – but he has plans for it all when he passes away. 

“When I die, everything is going to be sold off and given to charity,” he told me. “But hopefully that’s a long time away.”

“I have to go make plans to see the Sutters, now,” he explained. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for talking to me,” he said as he grinned and began walking away with a friend.

“I can show you my other hockey card books some time,” he said. 

“Thank you. That might be nice,” I replied as my son moved ahead in the lineup; his own sharpie at the ready as he eagerly anticipated getting his own first autograph with an NHL great.