At some point Barry speaks through the microphone to let us know the Rebeccas will talk first. They are part of the featured guests that MeiGray brings each year to talk to all that attend, sign autographs, and otherwise see what the hobby is. Both Rebecca Russo and Rebecca ‘Moose’ Morse play for the Metropolitan Riveters of the WNHL and spoke to the crowd. Russo, who is a veteran now of two shows enjoys coming and is a class act. The Boston University grad is bubbly, smart, enthusiastic, and very articulate young woman who is what the WNHL needs to showcase the talent. Russo talked of winning the cup which they brought with them and hyped their great league. She also brought to light that unlike the NHL players, most if not all WNHL players have a full time job as playing for the league sadly does not pay enough to live on. I cannot say enough what a delight it is talking to her and encourage all to meet her next year.
Rebeeca Morse was a little shy, but openly talked hockey and the cup. Morse who played for Providence College before joining the Riveters was very well spoken and eagerly signed autographs. She was very accommodating for photos as well as interacting with fans. We talked extensively about her college career and how much more she liked the women’s jerseys than men’s. I hate to say it, but I agree 100%. Both women also had a surprising number of fans of theirs at the expo. Both young girls and adults were seen sporting the team colors and talking to them both. In addition, both traveled around the room to look at what collectors had brought.
Not long after it was Mike Rupp’s turn to talk. Mike who walked around the room and talked to just about everyone there, gave one of the best talks I have seen. Rupp was down to earth and spoke quite candidly about everything and answered all questions. When asked if he like playing under John Tortorella, he did not miss a beat in saying “yes”. When asked why, Rupp responded that he knew what was expected, treated everyone the same, and if he worked hard he would be rewarded. He did, however; say a player on the first line may not like that they all were treated the same. A collector named Anthony Corona, who collects the Devils, asked about the game under Pete DeBoer with Devils where the Devils put out three 4th liners who could all handle themselves in fight and how John Tortorella was kicking trash cans in the looker room. Tortorella would match the line-up with three of his tougher guys, including Rupp, sparking the great line brawl. If that question had not been asked, we would not be privy to all that Mike shared with us that day. Rupp was quite accommodating to all questions and spoke about everything from his almost giving up on his dream in 2002-2003 to broadcasting and how he prepares for it. It was quite interesting.
After Rupp concluded his talk, the lines for autographs wove through the expo. It was then Dan and I took our small leave from the expo to go get lunch. We have a tradition since 2008 of going to Moe’s Southwest Grill located less than a mile away. To date we have no missed a single time and this year was NO different.
Once we returned we circled the room again chatting with other collectors. I met up with Chris Lipka who is another New Jersey Devils collector and we laughed and joked about the hobby, the drama that is out there, and about his Taylor Hall jersey (a real gem!). Lipka is usually a quiet guy who is typically smiling and has a great and growing collection of Devils jerseys. He is another collector who I encourage people to chat with that because he is very personable.
Before the end of the show I made my way to Ice Violence that is owned by Mike Hogan. Hogan and I have done at least a half dozen deals in the last two years and always chat and try to do deals. Hogan had his wares with him and I always look at his racks and find something that screams, “Matt, BUY ME”. I had to resist the temptation to go out and sell plasma or blood for a down payment on jersey he owns. This year I was able to resist but only because I had just bought a higher end jersey days before the expo.
Right across from Mike sits a good friend in Harrison Lee. Harrison is another NOVA expo attendant and someone who like I keep saying, “you can pick up right where you left off”. Lee and I chat lightly about the direction of his collection along with showing him some jerseys I have. He expressed interest in one and throughout the day he was on the fence on the subject before finally saying, “Matt, I gotta’ have it, let’s do this!” I like Harrison, he is a young collector, but very passionate about this hobby and represents the future.
As the end of the expo draws near, the start of the MeiGray summer sale looms. Dan and I leave the expo with time to spare and arrive in the MeiGray parking lot at 4:04PM. Just four minutes since MeiGray opened the doors and allowed us to grab jerseys to buy, the entrance is clear. Dan exclaims, “Holy crap! Everyone is already inside!!!” Dan parks and we hustle in to see what is there.
If you have never seen the MeiGray warehouse than please go. The first five minutes is something you will not ever forget. You will be in awe by the jerseys, the size of the warehouse and jus the immensity of it all. It is so easy to come to the summer sale and be in a daze for an hour lost just randomly roaming the isles and second floor. In all honesty you could be there for a day and still feel like you missed a LOT. MeiGray is a class act and employees are everywhere to help you, hold bags, tell you where you can get a water, how much something costs, and where you can checkout.
At the end of the day, after the goodbyes, the see you next year, and the “I spent HOW MUCH?????” has kicked in, I had time to reflect on the day. Dan and I chatted on our trip home about the day, collectors, and what we saw. Seeing the jerseys is great, but honestly, when it comes down to it, it is the sharing of what makes the hobby fun for each of us that brings us back. Seeing familiar faces like Jeff Thompson (whom we both did not see) and his Caps collection; Emmaley Russell and her husband who kinda’ like Jay Beagle; Ken and Jenn Kern who love the Devils; Grant Marshall, Jay Pandolfo, and some guy named Elias; and the a Flyers fan named Chris Pyzik who I just did not get to talk with is a bummer, but there is always next year. The others were well worth the time to talk with and otherwise engage in spirited banter. This is what the hobby is and what it is about.
So for the 2019 MeiGray expo which will be held in July… Just GO! Go because you love the game, because you enjoy collecting. You never know what you will see, who you will meet, and what jersey will catch your eye. Missing it or any expo that you could go to is a huge miss. If you should attend, bring a jersey along too. You do not have to sell, but bring something that excites you and share that story with someone.