Hockey Hall Of Fame Autos - -

Jean Ratelle is a very overlooked HOFer.  Outside of the New York Rangers or Boston Bruins organizations, I really don't hear many hockey fans discuss Ratelle in their conversations about greats.  That's a shame because he should be right up there.

For two decades (1960-1981), Ratelle was one of the most respected players in the league that never had the fortune of playing on a Stanley Cup team. Despite playing on one of the most famous lines in the NHL (the G-A-G line or "Goal A Game) along with Rod Gilbert and Vic Hadfield.  How good were they?  In 1971, not only did Ratelle have 46 goals and 109 points but all three of them finished in the top-five in scoring.  But let's not forget the 1972 Summit Series, where Team Canada defeated the dreaded USSR team.  Ratelle scored four points in six games, earning the respect of not only his teammates, but the opponents as well.

Ratelle was involved in one of the biggest trades to date in NHL history during the 1975-76 season.  Ratelle, as well as Brad Park, were sent from the Rangers to Boston in exchange for Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais.  Change of scenery, change of coaching style, and change on line mates didn't deter as Ratelle went on to hit at least 70-points in the next five straight years.  He was also a pivotal piece in helping Boston reach the Cup finals in both 1977 and 1978.  

Career line:  21 Seasons, 491 Goals, 1,267 Points (6th All-Time when he retired in 1980-81).

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Hockey Hall Of Fame Autos - - Kim St-Pierre

In the 2009-10 Upper Deck Series 2 release, there was an insert set called The Champions.  This set featured a number of subjects from the figure skating, skiing, and ice hockey realm. When opening boxes back then, I was fortunate enough to pull this card (along with another of figure skater Jane Summersett). At the time, I was kind of annoyed that both this and the figure skater I pulled were considered hits in the product, but I got over it.

I will admit I was a little naive about women's hockey and not long after pulling that card, I began to research and watch more of the sport.  Since then, I've learned a lot about the women's game and have grown to watch and enjoy games any chance I get, whether it's Olympic competition, World tournaments, or the women's professional league.  

The three-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time IIHF world champion was announced to be elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 24, 2020. She became the 8th woman inducted the following year.  On the back of the card, it reads, "A goaltender for the Canadian women's ice hockey team, St-Pierre was a member of Canadian sides that claimed the gold medal at Salt Lake City in 2002 and Torino in 2006. St-Pierre also had the unique experience of playing against men, when she filled in for Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who was sick during a Montreal practice in 2008."

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 Check out TheRealDFG on Twitter @therealdfg. 

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