Not only was 2016 a great year for hockey collectibles, but it was a great year for this website, too. Readership has steadily grown over the past nine years, and I have all of you to thank for that. While I am working on some new articles for 2017, I just wanted to share this list of “must reads” from the past year. These were Puck Junk’s top articles from 2016:
1. Remembering Six Forgotten NHL Awards
Readers enjoyed learning about long-gone NHL trophies, such as the Emery Edge Award, the Fan Fav Award and the O’Brien Trophy, which was, for a while, given to the Stanley Cup losers. This article was also printed in the Spring Sports Card Expo’s magazine as “The Lost Hardware” on page 16.
2. Best of the Worst: 2015-16 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey
Jim Howard’s ever-popular series where he pokes fun at the worst photos on Upper Deck hockey cards was the second-most read article on this site in 2016.
3. Every 1990-91 Hockey Card Set Ranked
A fun look at this history-making year for hockey cards.
4. Building the 2016 Pittsburgh Penguins: An Interactive Timeline
The Penguins’ Stanley Cup victory season was years in the making since their last championship. This timeline shows, in an interactive format, how the Penguins were built into the NHL’s best team.
5. John Scott Trade is a Punch in the Face for NHL Fans
My opinion column about the John Scott fiasco and how the NHL has very little respect for hockey fans.
6. Hockey and Superheroes: A Bizarre Team-Up
Sure, we all remember that awful “Guardian Project” that Stan Lee and the NHL dumped on us back in 2011 — we’re still trying to forget it. But do you remember “Warriors of Ice,” “NHL Global Superheroes” or”The Golden Adventures of Brett Hull?”
7. Joe Thornton’s First Hockey Card
Awww…it’s a baby-faced Joe before he grew up into the man-beast that he is today.
8. Mister Rogers’ Hockey Card
As a celebrity team captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1991-92 season, Fred Rogers — a.k.a. “Mister Rogers” — got his own hockey card. And whether we realize it or not, Mr. Rogers affected all of us, either directly or indirectly, in a positive way.
9. Those Awful 1991 Hockey Draft Picks Sets
Quite possibly four of the worst hockey card sets ever made.
10. Career in Cards: Gordie Howe
A look back at the career of Mr. Hockey, illustrated by his best hockey cards.
Thanks again for reading in 2016, and I promise — new stuff ahead next week! ■
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