February 2008 - Puck Junk

Denis Savard Appearance

Chicago Blackhawks head coach and Hall of Famer Denis Savard will be signing autographs this upcoming Saturday, March 1, at the Kmart Super Center in Tinley Park (16300 Harlem Ave.) at 3 pm.

Hopefully, I will be able to attend this signing. I have an old photo of Savard, from the 1989-90 season, that I would love to get signed. The picture is 11″ x 14″, so it is too big to mail to him. I also have some cards I can (hopefully) get signed too.

UPDATE: I went to the signing, and have posted about it here.

Elmer Vasko Was Told One Day!

“Moose” fined for sub-par play

For generations we toil in our jobs and even though some of us say we love our work there are many who do not. Often you have heard me say or write that sports become our release from our day to day burdens. Most of us will work lifetimes to make what some athletes will make in two months. We worry about number one and make sure we try and do our jobs to the best of our abilities.

In most cases we undergo annual reviews and get praise for good work habits and in some cases we also need to be reminded we could do better. Continue reading “Elmer Vasko Was Told One Day!”

Blackhawks Convention – July 18-20

Things just keep getting better and better for Chicago Blackhawks fans this year.

It’s as if the team wants people to like them.

A few days ago, the team announced that it will hold the first annual Blackhawks Convention, July 18-20, 2008. The convention will feature autograph sessions and photo opportunities with former players such as Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Denis Savard. New players such as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will be there too. ‘Hawks broadcaster Eddie Olczyk will be the Honorary Chairman of the convention.

The full story can be read on the Blackhawks website here.

2007-08 OPC wax box break #5

My fifth (and final) OPC wax box break:

– 184 base cards
– 18 Marquee Rookies
– 4 Base Parallels
– 2 Team Checklists
– 2 Season Highlights
– 2 In-Action
– 2 Stat Leaders
– 1 Record Breakers
– 1 OPC Buyback (1989-90 OPC Vezina Trophy: Patrick Roy–yet again!!!)

Would getting three of these cards be called a “Pat Trick”?

These OPC buyback cards are getting nuts! In the past three boxes, I have gotten the exact same card–a 1989-90 OPC Vezina Trophy Patrick Roy card. Would getting three of these Roy cards be called a “Pat Trick”? Since I got them in three boxes in a row, maybe it should be called a “Natural Pat Trick”?

I don’t know. I think the buyback cards would be OK if I got some variety in years. But to get the exact same card three times in a row is ridiculous!

The only other notable card I got is a base parallel of Henrik Lundqvist–I guess these are called “Micromotion”. While these inserts are not all that notable–you get four of them per box–I really like this Lundqvist card, especially the way the rays emanate from behind the goalie, and how his glove hand is outstretched. It’s a dynamic pose; adding the rays behind Lundqvist gives the card an even cooler look.

Still no Patrick Kane card (but three Patrick Roy cards). Oh well, on to the OPC tins…

Hard Work Brings Success

1991-92 Pinnacle #398 – Jim Kyte

Despite playing over 10 years in the National Hockey League, former defenseman Jim Kyte was not featured on a lot of hockey cards. However, his accomplishment as the first legally deaf hockey player in the National Hockey League made him an inspiration to hearing-impaired athletes, and merited him a few special subset cards that spoke about his handicap. One such card is from the 1991-92 Pinnacle Hockey set. Continue reading “Hard Work Brings Success”

NHL Original Six stickers

You never know what you may find at the dollar store. Recently, I found this “deal for a dollar”–a pack of NHL Original Six stickers, manufactured by Sandy Lion Sticker Designs.

The pack of stickers contains two sheets, and each sheet has 15 stickers.

The back of the package gives some interesting usage ideas: Continue reading “NHL Original Six stickers”

2007-08 OPC wax box break #4

Box number four in my OPC box breaks…

– 183 base cards
– 18 Marquee Rookies
– 4 Base Parallels
– 3 Team Checklists
– 2 Season Highlights
– 2 In-Action
– 1 Stat Leaders
– 1 Record Breakers
– 1 Marquee Rookies parallel
– 1 OPC Buyback (1989-90 OPC Vezina Trophy: Patrick Roy–again!!!)

Why did I want two of these?

Not only did I get another 1989-90 OPC card…but I got the exact same card that I pulled from the last box! I am now the proud owner of not one, but two 1989-90 OPC Patrick Roy Vezina Trophy cards. It’s easier to get this 19-year old card than it is to get a card of 19-year old Patrick Kane. In four boxes, I’ve gotten two of this Roy card, and not one Kane.

I got a decent Marquee Rookie card of Washington Capitals Nicklas Backstrom

I also got a Marquee Rookies parallel of Marc Staal–I think they call these cards “Micromotion” in the Beckett guide:

Semi-Pro trading cards

A classmate of mine from Second City (where I take improv lessons) gave me a three-pack of Semi-Pro trading cards.

And no, I don’t mean AHL or IHL trading cards from yesteryear.

These trading cards are based on the new Will Ferrell movie coming out on February 29. In the film, Ferrell plays the player/owner/coach of a minor-league basketball team that *could* become eligible to join the NBA if he can turn the team around.

Although Semi-Pro is a basketball movie–and this is a hockey site–these cards are just too cool not to show off:

Will Ferrell as Jackie Moon

Woody Harrelson as Ed Monix

André Benjamin as Clarence “Coffee Black” Withers

Produced by Upper Deck, these cards resemble the old Topps basketball cards from the 1970s, as that is when the film takes place.

Also included with the cards was a big pink stick of sugar free chewing gum. Yum!

2007-08 OPC wax box break #3

Another day, another box break. I got a few good rookie cards in this one (more on those in a moment). Here’s what this 36-pack box yielded me:

– 185 base cards
– 18 Marquee Rookies
– 3 Base Parallels
– 3 Team Checklists
– 2 Stat Leaders
– 2 Season Highlights
– 1 In-Action
– 1 Record Breakers
– 1 Marquee Rookies parallel
– 1 OPC Buyback (1989-90 OPC Vezina Trophy: Patrick Roy)

Wow…another 1989-90 OPC card. Though this one is of Patrick Roy, so maybe it’s worth a quarter instead of a dime.

I did get two good Marquee Rookies in this box: Jonathan Towes and Jack Johnson.

The only top-tier rookie card I need now is Patrick Kane…

Beckett Hockey – Feb. 2008

I received my issue of Beckett Hockey for February 2008, and was pleasantly surprised to see a picture of Vincent Lecavalier fighting Jarome Iginla on the cover!

You don’t often see fighting on hockey cards (except maybe this one), and for a few years in the 1990s you didn’t even have fighting in hockey video games.

So, it shocks me–but in a good way–to see fighting on a cover of a hockey magazine. Even more so since Lecavalier and Iginla are known for scoring goals, not throwing punches.

Granted, this isn’t an NHL-made or NHL-endorsed product. You could very easily see a photo like this on the cover of The Hockey News. But on a collectibles magazine, I still find it surprising. But in a good way.

Fighting is a part of hockey. I like it when publications et. all own up to that fact.

Here is a video of the Lecavalier-Iginla fight, from the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.