Sunday, May 15, 2005 | By Adam Richardson, Halifax Daily News

With another season in the books, the 2004-05 edition of the Halifax Mooseheads said goodbye yesterday at their annual Fan Appreciation Day.

A line of supporters snaked around the Halifax Metro Centre box office as the players signed jerseys, shirts, photos and sticks.

Some fans stopped by just to shake hands with their favourite team member. Others brought their own gifts to give the players. And it took more than a large coffee for some to mask the bitter taste left from a 4-0 sweep at the hands of the Rimouski Oceanic in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final.

Either way, the fans had their day.

"I've gotten a stick from every goalie that's played for this team since 1994, even Jean-Sebastien Giguere," Glen Saltzman of Chester told goaltender Jeremy Duchesne, hinting at a possible lumber transaction next season.

For Duchesne, the two-hour autograph session capped a wild year. From a 2-9 start with the lowly Victoriaville Tigres, the 18-year-old native of St-Augustine, Que., caught fire following a midseason trade and carried the mail in goal for most of the playoffs.

"It's the biggest difference in the world," Duchesne said as he compared the two locales.

"In Victoriaville, there isn't a buzz around the city like there is in Halifax. The team and the fans are everywhere here."

"We're the best fans in the Q," added Saltzman over his shoulder.

For the graduating players like Daniel Sparre, the day ends their career with the team, and a chance to say goodbye to some die-hard followers.

"It's tough to leave, but it was so much fun at the same time," said fan favourite Daniel Sparre. "Refereeing played a bit of a factor (in the final), but Rimouski had a great team and they took advantage of every mistake we made."

Sparre's jersey may lose its antlers next season, but he may still play in Halifax. The diminutive sniper said he will play university hockey at either Dalhousie, Saint Mary's, St. Francis Xavier or Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., next season if the pros don't come calling.

The day wasn't a swan song for all the Mooseheads, however. David Brine, who received a few photos from one fan of him facing off against Sidney Crosby in the league final, raised his game for the playoffs.

Bryce Swan's improved play during his rookie season already had him thinking of hitting the ice again.

"I'd like to get 50 points next year," said Swan, a native of Alder Point, Cape Breton Co.

As fans such as Dallas MacDonald of Halifax clutched their sticks, waiting patiently in line to meet their team, Saltzman summed up what days like yesterday mean to the fans.

"Getting to know these guys makes you a part of the organization. I ran into (former Mooseheads captain) Jody Shelley at the game last week, and he knew me by name. After all these years, that makes you feel pretty special."