Paul E. Rohde Hockey Card Collection, 1969-2011
Collection Overview
Title: Paul E. Rohde Hockey Card Collection, 1969-2011
ID: OGLMC1634
Primary Creator: Rohde, Paul E.
Extent: 2.5 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 12/19/2014
Subjects: University of North Dakota - Alumni, University of North Dakota - Athletics
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
As an interested alum of UND and fan of the former Fighting Sioux Hockey Team (now the University of North Dakota), I started collecting cards of UND players who went on to play in the NHL in about 1990. My current collection begins with Dennis Hextall, the first UND player to appear on a hockey card following the 1968-69 season, and is fairly up to date through players such as Jonathan Toews and Matt Greene.
The collection consists of about 3000 cards of UND players issued by companies whose sole business is producing sports cards. In addition, I have in recent years acquired about 400 cards issued by teams and other companies as a sideline. I call these "odd ball" cards, and that term really fits. They range in size from about the size of a commemorative postage stamp to a bit larger than 8 1/2 x 11. Issuers include Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and many varied companies. These odd ball issues may consist of entire team sets or only a small number of players whom the sponsoring company judges to be team stars.
A few observations on the collections are worthy of mention. There is no greater honor for an NHL player than election to the Hockey Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed upon former UND goaltender Ed Belfour in 2011. As of this date, Craig Ludwig or James Patrick played the most NHL games depending on whether or not playoff games are included. Jay Caufield played only one game at UND, but won more than one Stanley Cup as a Pittsburgh Penguin. Cliff (Fido) Purpur never played for UND, but after an NHL career with Chicago and Detroit, the Grand Forks native coached UND from 1949 through 1956 to a 94-75-8 record.
My hobby has given me many pleasurable hours over the past 25 years, and I believe that sharing this collection of memories with other UND hockey fans by placing it on display at UND would create a great center of attraction.
--written by Paul E. Rohde
Collection Historical Note
Paul E. Rohde, originally of Drake, North Dakota, graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1953 with a degree in Commerce. While at UND, he was an active member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and was involved in ROTC. He earned his law degree from UND in 1959.
Rohde served in the U.S. Air Force, including stations in New York, Wyoming, and Germany. His career of governmental service extended beyond his time in the military, including service in the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes Office. He also served as a code revisor and later assistant counsel for the North Dakota Legislative Research Committee. He engaged in legal practice in Minot, North Dakota, in association with Moody Farhart, as well as Bottineau, where he was associated with A.S. Benson. He also served as an employee of the Federal Bank for Cooperatives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Rohde's collection of hockey cards and memorabilia cover "who's who" of UND hockey talent, including many players who went on to distinguished careers in the National Hockey League. He purchased the cards over several years, including several signed pieces, though did not personally have them signed. The criteria for inclusion in his collection was that the individual played for UND and also played at least one game in the NHL.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Paul E. Rohde, Woodbury, Minnesota
Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.2014-3266
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Paul E. Rohde Hockey Card Collection. OGLMC 1634, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Processing Information: Processed by Daniel Sauerwein, Special Collections student, in June 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[All]
- Box 1
- Item 1: Binder 1, 1969-1995
This binder contains the earliest cards in Rohde's collection, dating back to Dennis Hextall's card from his time with the Los Angeles Kings following the 1968-69 season. The cards run up through the 1994-95 season and feature teams that are now defunct, or have relocated (California Seals, Kansas City Scouts, Minnesota North Stars, Colorado Rockies, and Winnipeg Jets). Many of the early cards from Topps and O-Pee-Chee were printed in Canada and are bilingual.
Notable players featured in the binder include: Ed Belfour, Jon Casey, Dave Christian, Dennis Hextall, Tony Hrkac, Craig Ludwig, and Dave Tippett. Notable card brands include Topps, O-Pee-Chee, Score, Bowman, Pinnacle, and Upper Deck.
- Item 2: Binder 2, 1994-1999
This binder contains cards related to the 1994-95 through 1998-99 seasons. Brands include Topps, Upper Deck, Score, Parkhurst, Premier Hockey, Fleer, Pinnacle, and Donruss. Several cards are signed, including ones by Murray Baron, Ed Belfour, Craig Ludwig, and James Patrick. Some of the players featured include: Murray Baron, Ed Belfour, Brad Bombardir, Jon Casey, Dane Jackson, Greg Johnson, Craig Ludwig, Troy Murray, James Patrick, Garry Valk, Dixon Ward, Landon Wilson, and Rick Zombo.
Some of the unique cards include one Ed Belfour card that features game film strip segments, as well as two Ed Belfour game-worn jersey cards, which feature a small piece of the jersey integrated into the card. At the back of the binder are several photographs and photo cards, ranging from 8 x 10" to 5 x 7" and one 4 x 6" of Ed Belfour, during his playing time with the Dallas Stars, including one of him hoisting the Stanley Cup.
- Item 3: Binder 3, 1999-2002
This binder contains player cards spanning the 1999-2000 through 2001-2002 hockey seasons. Card brands include Topps, O-Pee-Chee, Upper Deck, Pacific, and Parkhurst. Players include: Murray Baron, Ed Belfour, Jason Blake, Brad Bombardir, Mike Commodore, Lee Goren, Tony Hrkac, Greg Johnson, Ryan Johnson, James Patrick, Travis Roche, Jeff Ulmer, Garry Valk, Dixon Ward, and Landon Wilson.
Signed cards include Ed Belfour (including one co-signed by Chris Osgood), Jason Blake, Tony Hrkac, and Dixon Ward. Several special cards featuring pieces of game-worn jerseys, and game-used stick fragment (all Ed Belfour related) are present in this binder, including over a dozen in the back of the binder.
One unique card in the binder is a Parkhurst card featuring game-worn jersey fragments for Ed Belfour and Vladislav Tretiak, who was the goaltender for the Soviet hockey team during the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" game at the Winter Olympics against Team USA.
- Folder 1: Rohde's description of collection and Alumni Review articles
- Item 1: Binder 1, 1969-1995
- Box 2
- Item 4: Binder 4, 2003-2011
This binder covers the 2002-2003 through 2009-2010 hockey seasons. Card brands include Topps, The Game, Upper Deck, Pacific, Parkhurst, Bowman, O-Pee-Chee, and Fleer.
Players include: Ryan Bayda, Ed Belfour, Jason Blake, Brandon Bochenski, Brad Bombardir, Jon Casey, Taylor Chorney, Dave Christian, Mike Commodore, Mike Curran, Brad Defauw, Colby Genoway, Karl Goehring, Lee Goren, Matt Greene, David Hale, Matt Henderson, Dennis Hextall, David Hoogsteen, Tony Hrkac, Greg Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Matt Jones, Brian Lee, Craig Ludwig, Curtis Murphy, Brady Murray, T.J. Oshie, Jordan Parise, Zach Parise, James Patrick, Chris Porter, Matt Smaby, Doug Smail, Drew Stafford, Jonathan Toews, Jeff Ulmer, Landon Wilson, and Travis Zajac.
There are several game-worn Ed Belfour jersey cards, as well as a few for Zach Parise. Autographed cards include Ed Belfour, Brandon Bochenski, Dave Christian, Craig Ludwig, Zach Parise, Doug Smail, and Drew Stafford. This binder contains several cards of larger than standard size and a few smaller.
- Item 5: Binder 5
This is, according to Paul Rohde, the "odd ball" binder, containing a variety of cards, photographs, and other memorabilia related to University of North Dakota hockey players that went on to pro careers. Cards from Post cereal boxes, Tobacco Classics, Pogs, Kodak film, stickers, ticket stubs, Coca-Cola, Kraft foods, and other items. Cards range in size from standard to small 2 x 3" and larger formats as well. Coins, patches, and photos also are present in this binder. The players whose cards appear in other binders in the collection are also present in this binder.
Several items are autographed by players, including Ed Belfour, Perry Berezan, Dave Christian, Mike Curran, Al Hangsleben, Dennis Hextall, Tony Hrkac, Dave Hudson, Darren Jensen, Bob Joyce, Craig Ludwig, John Macks, Kevin Maxwell, Troy Murray, James Patrick, Scott Sandelin, Doug Smail, Dixon Ward, Rick Wilson, and Murray Wing.
One of the unique items in this binder is a photo of Cliff "Fido" Purpur, who had a distinguished NHL career in the 1930s and 1940s, later coaching UND hockey from 1949 to 1956.
- Item 4: Binder 4, 2003-2011