I did recognize Bob Mason but was surprised to find he never had a mainstream card issued. He did get represented in a number of team issued sets but none from the card companies. He started off his career path with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in the 1981-82 season, playing 43 games games going 26-16-1 with a 3.49 GAA . Mason was able to get the Bulldogs into the NCAA tournament, but couldn't get out of the first round. His season was able to get Mason WCHA MVP and First-Team All-Star honors for his year and get noticed by the United States National Team, who was preparing for the 1984 Olympics. He
signed on with the National Team for the 1983-84 season, going to Saravejo where he played three games and went 1-0-1.
After his strong college and international performance, Mason got signed as a free agent in late February of 1984 by the Washington Capitals. Mason played two games for the Capitals at the end of the season going 2-0-0, then was sent to the AHL's Hershey Bears going 1-4-0 in five games. Here is my version of his Capitals rookie card.
Staying with the Capitals, his second request was for a Murray Anderson card. Not a name that brought back any hockey memories !! A top prospect from the Western league, Anderson was drafted 44th overall by Montreal in 1969 but failed to impress at Montreal's training camp in 1971 and as a result spent the next four years in the minors. On May 29, 1973 he was sold outright to the Minnesota North Stars but it wasn't until the lowly Washington Capitals entered the league that he was given a chance to play in the NHL after the team claimed him in the Expansion Draft of 1974.
In 1974-75, he played 40 games and was a -40, not a good statistic for a defensive defenceman. He played half that season and parts of two more in the minors before retiring. He would not have a card of any form issued so here is my rendition of his '75-76 Capitals rookie card.
The Philadelphia Flyers held Rivard's rights, but would lose them to the Minnesota North Stars in the 1968 intra-league draft held in the summer. Rivard would play for the North Stars for 13 games in the 1968-69 season, but would not fair well with a 0-7-4 performance. Rivard spent the rest of that season in the Central League with the Memphis South Stars for 29 games. The 1969-70 season saw Rivard back in Minnesota, but he would only appear in 14 games. His next NHL time wouldn't come until '73-74, again in Minnesota, and '74-75. He would not have a card of any form issued so here is my rendition of his '69-70 North Stars rookie card.
Here is my version of his 1971-72 Penguins rookie card.
You can purchase these cards. You can obtain a copy of these, or any of my custom cards, for $10 each, postpaid, or $7.95 each for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected] for ordering details, volume discounts available on larger orders.