Playoff Pool Loot Bag

Everyone loves getting a prize. Whether it be winning a lottery or simply getting something for free, earning something for nothing is pretty darn awesome. That being said, I've organized the prizing for the 2012 HBIC Hockey Pool into respectable lots, and I'm happy to say that there may be more added depending on if any other people or vendors come through for me. Personally, this year's collection of shwag is pretty decent, and I'm happy to say there are a total of TWELVE prizes for the pool thus far.

I do want to toss out a few thank yous first as I feel that some people who helped with the prizing deserve the recognition. In no particular order, here are the people who have made the HBIC Playoff Pool prizes a little more healthy:

• Rob Ullman: I've always been a fan of Rob's work over on Atom-Bomb Bikini, and now some of his works are featured in the prizing. Thank you, Rob, for helping me out, and keep drawing the spectacular artwork available on your site and in your store!
• Tim B.: Tim has always been a supporter of HBIC, and his hole-in-the-wall sports store, The Sports Den, has provided some of the prizing that is featured below. Thanks, Tim!

The rest of prizing has been acquired along the way as I've been building towards this day for a few months. I honestly could have gotten a lot more, but if I wouldn't wear it, I wouldn't subject you to it either. With that in mind, here are the prizes for the 2012 HBIC Playoff Pool!

• GRAND PRIZE #1: Buffa-Slug road jersey. The Buffalo Sabres may have retired these uniforms, but HBIC is offering up one more for the taking in this year's pool. The size is XXL, and there is no customization on the back.
• GRAND PRIZE #2: Getting Ready For Sochi. This prize pack contains two Team Canada t-shirts, the 2010 Canada Gold DVD pack of all the games in the Vancouver Olympics, a Team Canada toque, and USA illo from the Rob Ullman collection. Both t-shirts are XXL.
• PRIZE #3: Big Bad Bruins. This prize pack contains a Boston Bruins t-shirt and a copy of Eddie Shore and that Old-Time Hockey. The t-shirt is an XL.
• PRIZE #4: Looking Good In Pittsburgh. This prize pack contains a Pittsburgh Penguins t-shirt, a Zephyr snapback Penguins cap, and a Penguins Winter Classic illo from the Rob Ullman collection. The t-shirt is an XL.
• PRIZE #5: Hawking Wares. This prize pack contains a Chicago Blackhawks t-shirt, a copy of Jacques Plante, and a copy of Old-Timey Hockey Tales from the Rob Ullman collection. The t-shirt is an XL. The Jacques Plante book is currently being read by Teebz's Book Club, and a review will be posted before the end of the playoffs.
• PRIZE #6: Motor City Memories. This prize pack features a Detroit Red Wings t-shirt, a copy of Saving Face, and a copy of Old-Timey Hockey Tales from the Rob Ullman collection. The t-shirt is an XXL.
• PRIZE #7: Jets Fan. This prize pack features a Winnipeg Jets t-shirt and a New Era Winnipeg Jets snapback cap. The t-shirt size is XL.
• PRIZE #8: Old Names, New Logo. This prize pack features a Winnipeg Jets t-shirt, a copy of Jacques Plante, and a copy of Old-Timey Hockey Tales from the Rob Ullman collection. The t-shirt is an XL, and the Jacques Plante book is currently being read by Teebz's Book Club. A review will be posted before the end of the playoffs.
• PRIZE #9: Road Team Fan. This prize pack features a Winnipeg Jets t-shirt and a Winnipeg Jets travel mug. The size of the t-shirt is XXL.
• PRIZE #10: Yesteryear. This prize pack contains a Roger Edwards adjustable Los Angeles Kings cap, a copy of Gretzky's Tears, a DVD copy of Slap Shot, and a Quebec Nordiques mousepad. Gretzky's Tears will also be reviewed before the end of the playoffs by Teebz's Book Club.
• PRIZE #11: Moving SouthEast. This prize pack contains a  Roger Edwards adjustable Florida Panthers cap, a three-pack of Washington Capitals illo stickers from the Rob Ullman collection, a copy of Open Ice, and an NHL mousepad.
• PRIZE #12: I Got Schooled. This prize pack features a Toronto Maple Leafs backpack, a copy of I Hate Hockey, a copy of Jacques Plante, and a "Liberez Le Rocket" print from the Rob Ullman collection. The Jacques Plante book is currently being read by Teebz's Book Club, and a review will be posted before the end of the playoffs.

That's the twelve prizes that I've come up with thus far. The grand prizes are worth approximately $100 each, and the secondary prizes are all worth $30 to $50. The top-twelve finishers will get their choices of the prizes, and the numbering associated with the prize will not necessarily be the one you get if you finish in, say, seventh.

Whoever wins the pool will get to select from all twelve prizes. The remaining eleven prizes will be offered up to second-place, and the remaining ten will be offered up to third-place, and so on and so forth until no prizes remain. That also means that if I happen to acquire any other prizes that more people could benefit from my begging of vendors and people. Cross your fingers if you're thirteenth-place right now.

If you have any questions about the prizes, please fire me an email. Again, a big thanks to Rob Ullman and Tim B. for their generosity in helping me assemble some awesome prizing for this year's pool. Good luck to all!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!