2010-11 Artifacts Box Break

In a move completely out of character, I purchased a hobby box of 2010-11 Artifacts Hockey. Partly because I like the design and partly because I couldn’t find many quality vintage singles at the show I attendedon Saturday.

Plus, I never buy any high-end boxes. I’m tired of watching from the sidelines, so I decided to take the plunge and see if I get anything good.

31 Base Cards

It seems that I like the base set design of Artifacts every other year.I could care less for the 2009-10 design, but love these because they remind me of a movie poster.

The Western Conference players are featured against a blue/gray background, while the Eastern Conference guys are on yellowish-gold backgrounds.

2 Artifacts Rookies

Brayden Irwin 313 / 999 – the rookie cards are serial numbered to 999

Nick Spaling 303 / 999 – Why do I keep getting Nick Spaling? I pulled a serial numbered RC of his in Certified, a Rated Rookie in Donruss and a glossy parallel in Score.

1 Rookie Redemption

Washington Capitals Redemption – Once redeemed, this will get me card #230, Marcus Johansson.

2 Artifacts Stars

 Drew Doughty 360 / 999 – I don’t see the point of having veterans in the short-printed set if they are also included in the base set.

Martin Brodeur 359 / 999 – I think I speak for everyone when I say that I’d rather have another rookie card instead of a short-printed veteran.

1 Artifacts Stars Silver

Jonas Gustavsson 13 / 25 – As if short-printed veterans weren’t bad enough, there are also limited, super-short printed veterans.

Autofacts Autographs

Jhonas Enroth autograph – Sigh. This was the autograph I got. For a split-second, I got excited and thought it was Ryan Miller. Oh well…I’m still digging on these autographed cards. They are well-designed and signed in blue.

Jersey Cards

Derek Roy Treasured Swatches 13 / 50 – Now, that’s what I call a jersey card. I’m not a fan of these, but we got both a jersey swatch and a piece of a number or letter. Looks great.

Vincent Lecavalier Jersey Bronze 072 / 150 – Also cool. A serial-numbered jersey card of a bona-fide superstar…and the swatches are color, too.

But nothing could prepare me for this next hit.


This might be the best card I ever got in a pack–ever!!!!


Are you sitting down? Then behold: 

Sidney Crosby / Alexander Ovechkin Tundra Tandems Emerald 04 / 40 – Holy $#!T. I got a card that has patch pieces of jerseys from Sidney Crosby and Alexander freakin’ Ovechkin.  I never got a Crosby or Ovechkin jersey card in a pack. Getting a card that has both players–and looks halfway decent, no less–is kind of an unreal feeling.

And here lies the problem.
Never will I pull a card from a pack as good as this one. Eventually, I’ll buy a few more boxes of Artifacts, but they will probably pale in comparison to this box.

I plan on building this set, including Short Prints and rookie redemptions. It might take me a decade, but I’m in no rush. If anyone has any serial-numbered cards from this set that you’d like to trade or sell, drop me a line.

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Author: Sal Barry

Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him on Twitter @puckjunk

11 thoughts on “2010-11 Artifacts Box Break”

  1. I'm sitting and I can't get up–amazing pull–what are the odds of pulling something as great in the future–as a side note, Brayden Irwin's great grandfather founded Irwin toys

  2. @ yankeesjetsfan – If I get another Brodeur, I'll trade it to you. I'm going to make an attempt to get all the /999 cards, so I'm hanging onto this one for now.

  3. That's just plain crazy. I think that is better than my Ovie/Malkin Dual Patch…maybe…possibly. I still need to post my box but I can say now, it was no where near the caliber of yours.

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