The Sights & Sounds: Panini America’s First Day at the 2011 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

TORONTO, Ontario -- Reason No. 6,347 to love the annual hockey-card extravaganza known as the NHLPA Rookie Showcase? Stories like this right here: Ryan Strome, the fifth overall pick of the New York Islanders in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, is busy signing a healthy batch of the Pen Pals duals that he shares with new superstar teammate John Tavares. Strome pauses briefly…

Panini America on Location: Dropping the Puck at the 2011 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

TORONTO, Ontario -- The Panini America hockey team spent a good chunk of Sunday night and a wee bit of Monday morning preparing the company's signing quarters inside Toronto's Westin Harbour Castle for the 26 young NHL superstars who will make their way through the room later this morning. Three different groups of players (two groups of nine and one group of eight) will…

Panini America on Location: Preparing for the 2011 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

TORONTO, Ontario -- A hearty, hockey-loving contingent from Panini America flew north of the border Sunday morning to begin making final preparations for the 2011 NHLPA Rookie Showcase, a mega two-day event that will give Panini America photographers and product developers unparalleled access to images, autographs and memorabilia from 27 of the NHL's top rookie prospects. Headlining this year's event at the MasterCard Centre…