Category: News & Views

Saturday Card Show – A Quick Recap

This Saturday, I went to the Sun-Times Sports Collectibles Show in Rosemont, IL. A few quick highlights and lowlights:

  • I traded cards–yes TRADED CARDS–with fellow collectors Tim (The Real DFG) and Nick. It was like being a kid again. I got cards I wanted and I got rid of cards that I didn’t want. Best of all, there was no haggling or price guides involved. Negotiations pretty much went like this:

    “Here are some cards you need.”
    “Thanks! Here are some cards you need.”

  • My 3 favorite hockey dealers were not at the show. A large, bearded fellow who calls himself “Big John” and deals mainly in newer hockey singles was notably absent, as was this older Canadian gentlemen who deals solely in high-quality, pre-1974 hockey cards. And my favorite hockey card-dealing couple, Diane and Paul Bogar of D & P Collectibles, were not at the show either. 
  • My friend Danny went with me. He’s not into sports cards, but he collects jerseys (the ones you wear, not jersey cards) and logo patches. Danny does well at finding jerseys for steals. It’s always more fun to go with a friend. 
  • I couldn’t find any great deals on vintage singles, but found plenty of dealers trying to get full book value for their cards. Sorry, but I can’t afford $200 for a Guy Lafleur rookie card…I don’t care how near-mint it is.And if I’m going to break the bank on one, I’m going to get it from the Canadian guy mentioned above 
    • I did pick up some mid-grade vintage singles from the 1960s. I’ll post pictures soon.
    • I bought a box of this year’s Artifacts. I know–that is so unlike me. I usually stick to the low-end, 500 card sets, but there’s a first time for everything. Hopefully, I’ll open them tonight while watching the Blackhawks-Shaaarks game.
      • Speaking of first times, I bought 4 boxes of In The Game hockey cards. I’ve never purchased any of their “not licensed by the NHL” stuff. Box breaks coming soon.  
      •  I purchased numerous autographed cards–for very little money. But I’ll post those on my other blog.  
        • The show ended at 5pm. Waaaaaah! I was there for 8 hours, and could have stayed another 2. But then I would have went home broke.  
        • Finally, I purchased a 1977-78 Topps Hockey Set for $66. It was in near-mint shape–sharp corners, great centering, perfect edges–but was missing #81 (Islanders checklist). 

          Despite my favorite vendors not being there–and the overall dearth of quality-yet-affordable hockey–I had a better time at this show than I usually do. I went with a friend to the show, met a friend there and made a new one. Plus, I didn’t spend all the money in my pocket.

          Funny article in The Onion

          The Onion newspaper does not print articles about hockey very often, and when they do it is usually about the sport’s apparent lack of popularity and/or fan support. However, this one was downright hilarious:

          Calgary Flames Trying To Keep Fact That They’re A Hockey Team From Landlord

          Anyone who grew up watching the 1970s sitcom Three’s Company–-and knows their Flames’ history–will especially appreciate this one. Captain Canuck, I’m looking in your general direction here.

          In other news…things seem to be getting back on track for me. I’ve been able to update Sal’s Hockey Autographs every day for a week, and plan on getting some new “Junk” up here over the weekend and early next week.

          Greetings from the Stockton Thunder

          You may recall that about a month back, I created a video making fun of the Score hockey card of Edmonton Oilers prospect Bryan Pitton.

          Well, the video has caught on with the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, Pitton’s current team. I recently received this email:

          PuckJunk,

          I work with the team that Bryan Pitton plays for and we have not laughed that hard in awhile. Guys went nuts over it. Of course this morning we had to cut out lettuce heads and paste them all over his locker!

          Great video.

          Kevin

          It is nice to hear that my short video has inspired some good natured tomfoolery in the Stockton Thunder’s locker room.

          Today is National Hockey Card Day

          Today is National Hockey Card Day. If you are in Canada, you can get free packs of exclusive trading cards.

          You can get a pack of cards at large retailers like Jean Coutu, PharmaPlus and Rexall.

          Hobby shops will be carrying the free packs too. Here is a list of participating card and hobby shops.

          There are 16 different cards in the set. The first 15 will come in the free packs (usually 5 per pack). The 16th card, which is of Jonathan Toews (above) is only available if you make a purchase at one of the participating card/hobby stores.

          So, what are you waiting for? Go get some free cards. And if anyone gets an extra complete set for trade (including the Toews card and a wrapper), I will gladly trade you for it.

          Bad officiating makes Baby Jesus cry

          Last night’s Canucks-Blackhawks game was the worst example of officiating I’ve ever seen.

          Am I mad that the Blackhawks lost? No. The Canucks are a damn good team.

          I am mad that the Blackhawks did not lose fair and square, but because of some very questionable calls.

          Consider the following:

          • What should have been the first goal by the Blackhawks–and the game–was waived off due to goaltender interference.But there was no goalie interference, other than a Canucks defender getting in Roberto Luongo’s way. Why was this call not video reviewed? 
          •  The Canucks first goal was actually an offside play. The puck left the zone before defenseman Christan Ernhoff slap shot it past ‘Hawks goalie Marty Turco. What was the linesman doing? I know hockey is fast, but linesmen have one job to do–they should do it right.
          • Roberto Luongo got tangled up with one of his teammates in the third period, resulting in a goal mouth scramble that could have led to a goal for the Blackhawks. That is until the ref whistled the play dead, claiming that the net was dislodged. But the net wasn’t even touched.
          • Again in the third, Patrick Sharp was tripped while shooting on the Canucks goal. His feet were taken from underneath him with a stick, causing Sharp to crash headlong into the boards. Why no tripping call or penalty shot? Taking the puck carrier out by knocking his feet from under him is a penalty in EVERY version of hockey (ice, roller, floor).
          •  Brent Seabrook got a holding penalty in the third period that was total b.s. Normally, I’d concede a bad penalty call here and there, but at this point it seemed the refs would do whatever it took to make the Blackhawks lose.

          Waving off a good goal, whistling a play dead due to a dislodged net that wasn’t dislodged and blatantly ignoring a flagrant trip were 3 calls that clearly cost the Blackhawks the game that could have–and should have–been theirs.

          Head of NHL Officiating Terry Gregson should demote referees  Eric Furlatt and Chris Rooney to the AHL immediately. Those are the 2 clowns who were officiating the ‘Hawks-‘Nucks game. Obviously, they were watching some other game.

          Fresh from The Onion

          The Onion newspaper doesn’t riff on hockey too much, but this was in last Thursday’s issue:

          Senators Accuse Thrashers Of Pouring It On After 3-1 Loss

          OTTAWA—Following their 3-1 loss Wednesday, Senators players accused the visiting Thrashers of poor sportsmanship for keeping up the intensity long after the game was out of reach. “At the end of the second period it was 2-1, meaning the game was basically over,” said Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who called the Thrashers’ behavior in tallying the gaudy score a violation of the hockey code. “What’s going to happen? We’re somehow going to score a goal and tie it? Maybe. Flukes happen, miracles happen. But are we going to score twice? This is hockey we’re talking about, after all.” Alfredsson would not rule out his team attempting to score three goals on the Thrashers in their next meeting regardless of whether the Thrashers score at all.

          The archive of The Onion‘s hockey articles can be seen here.

          Top 5 Puck Junk Articles of 2010

          OK, so we are 1 month into 2011, but I saw another blogger do this and I wanted to steal the idea follow suit. So, here are Puck Junk’s 5 most read articles of 2010.

          5. Vintage Rookie Card Haul – Apparently, hockey card collectors like reading about old hockey cards.

          4. Painted Penguin – Everything about this card is just plain wrong.

          3. 2010 Blackhawks Training Camp Fest – My recap of the ‘Hawks first day of Training Camp. Special guest appearance by the Stanley Cup.

          2. 2010-11 Upper Deck Victory review – The first (and so far only) video review I did of a hockey card set.

          1. Sports Card Girl is a Scam – My investigation of a fake blogger who was running a link farm under the guise of a cute card collecting female. Apparently, this ruffled enough feathers to merit (in-actionable) legal threats against me.

          ***
          All right, enough about 2010. I hope 2011 is another good year for Puck Junk–and for my fellow hockey card bloggers too.

          National Hockey Card Day is February 12


          Upper Deck will continue National Hockey Card Day for a third year in a row–or NHCD as us cool kids call it.

          On Saturday, February 12, 2011, hockey card collectors in Canada can get a free pack of hockey cards at their local card shop or at participating chain stores. The cards themselves are from a special, 16-card NHCD set that will feature some of Canada’s most popular players.

          That’s right–this year the set will have an extra card, whereas the previous two NHCD sets had 15 cards.

          Personally,  I wish Upper Deck would also have NHCD in the United States. Yes, hockey is “Canada’s sport,” but the U.S. has 80% of the NHL teams. Go figure. Plus, there is greater opportunity to grow the hobby in the U.S. with such a promotion.

          What if Upper Deck were to have International Hockey Card Day next year, and give out cards in Canada and the U.S.? They could even take it a step further and give out different sets in each country.

          While the NHCD set strictly has Canadian players (Gretzky, Crosby, Lemieux, Toews), the United States counterpart could feature some awesome American players from past and present (Joe Mullen, Chris Chelios, Jim Craig, Ryan Miller). And you’d end up with collectors in one country trading with collectors in the other country so as to get both sets. This idea has potential.

          Would someone pick me up a complete 2011 NHCD set?  I will gladly trade for this year’s set (plus a wrapper), or purchase one if the price is right.