2013 Stanley Cup Finals Prediction

2013_FinalsIt seems every time I am pursing some sort of academic degree and am too busy to fully enjoy the playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. That was the case in 2010 and that is the case now.

Fortunately, school’s out…for…summer. So, I’m gonna blog my blog all day, and watch hockey every (other) night.

My plan was to write some long, drawn out, stats-laden comparison between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

Instead, I decided to sum it up in five short paragraphs.

blackhawks_logoHere is how the Blackhawks can win: The ‘Hawks need to capitalize on mistakes made by the Bruins. Chicago takes advantage of quick transitions, going from defense to offense in the blink of an eye. They also need team scoring from all their top guys: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Towes, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa.

Blackhawks player to watch: Bryan Bickell surprisingly leads the team with eight goals in the playoffs.

bruins_logoHere is how the Bruins can win:  While the Blackhawks have a few tough players, the Bruins are “team tough” and need to intimidate the Blackhawks. Hit them hard and don’t give guys like Patrick Kane much room on the ice. Goalie Tuukka Rask needs to continue his outstanding play, as these games will probably be decided by one goal, and their defense needs to continue to help pinch in on offense.

Bruins player to watch: David Krecji leads the Bruins with 21 points (9G, 12A)

Prediction: Every game will be close and hard-fought. Both teams deserve to be where they are, so don’t expect any lopsided blow-outs. Home ice will definitely be an advantage for each team, but the Blackhawks will win in 7 games.

Of course, I’m sure at least two bloggers will disagree with my prediction. Feel free to sound off and let me know what you think.

I’m (almost) back

snail
Sarka Slukova / OpenClipArt.org

Just a quick note for those who still look at this site now and then. I haven’t abandoned this blog, but I’ve just been super busy the past two months, working on my second Masters Degree (I know, quite the boring academic).

Apologies for slacking off and generally being uninvolved in the card-collecting blogosphere.

But I’ll be back with some new quality content later this week--both here on Puck Junk and at Sal’s Hockey Autographs.

Plus, I’ll be launching an all-new project at the start of next week. Stay tuned.

Thank you for your patience.

A Trio of Tony-O

1970-71 O-Pee-Chee #153 - Tony Esposito A little while back, I went to a card show and bought some vintage hockey cards. Three of them were early O-Pee-Chee cards of one of the best Chicago Blackhawks ever, Tony Esposito–aka “Tony-O.”

I never saw Tony-O play. He was my Aunt’s favorite player back in the 1970s. When I got into hockey, she loaned me her Tony Esposito Blackhawks jersey. So, Esposito was a personal favorite of mine. At age 15, I saved up enough money to buy a Tony Esposito rookie card.

And now, over two decades later, I finally picked up the next few cards from the Hall of Fame netminder’s career. Continue reading “A Trio of Tony-O”

2012-13 SP Game Used Box Break

2012-13 SP Game Used BoxIt’s easy to figure out why someone would want to buy a box of SP Game Used Hockey by Upper Deck. Each and every pack in the box includes a card containing a game-used memorabilia card. A 5-pack box costs around $150, meaning that each 5-card pack costs $30. That heightens the expectations for getting great memorabilia cards instead of the lower-end memorabilia cards prevalent in Upper Deck’s more inexpensive sets.

Five packs is not a lot to play with, so this was one of the quickest boxes I ever opened. Continue reading “2012-13 SP Game Used Box Break”

A Great Week for Hockey

I’ve been busier than usual lately. Just finished writing a 10-page paper for a research methods class. Anyway, here are a few updates that you may find interesting:

My ’94-95 Lockout Article in Beckett Hockey #249

beckett_mayI have a 2-page article in the May 2013 issue of Beckett Hockey (#249). It is entitled A Hobby-Changing Experience, and is about the 1994-95 NHL Lockout and the long-term effects it had on the hockey card industry. A few sets got cancelled, a few new innovative ideas were tested–and there was even a lawsuit between two companies! Check out the issue–on sale now–for all of the interesting details.

Also making this a GREAT week for hockey…

The Norgeeks are Number One!

Norgeeks_largeFor the first time ever, I won a fantasy sports league. The Norgeeks (my team) won this year’s annual Just A Bit Offside fantasy hockey pool. Two years ago (as Team Puck Junk), I finished 4th, while last season I finished 2nd. Talk about progress.

Really, the guy who saved my season was Ray Emery. I picked up the Blackhawks backup goalie as a free agent, and he went 17-1-0 this year. That really helped, since Jonathan Quick and Braden Holtby performed horribly until the latter half of the season.

Unfortunately, Emery was injured for the last few games of the season. But that brings up my last piece of good news:

Carter Hutton Makes His NHL Debut

carter_huttonWho is Carter Hutton, you ask? He is the Blackhawks’ top minor league goalie. And after 4 seasons of working hard in the minors, he finally got a chance to play in an NHL game. This is the first time I really pulled for a player to get a shot in the big leagues.

Hutton appeared as a backup for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-10, the San Jose Sharks in 2010-11 and the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011-12. But he never actually stepped on the ice in any of those games, so while he has a few rookie cards in 2010-11 card sets, he never actually played in an NHL game. Until this past Saturday.

After 4 seasons of getting so very close, Hutton finally got his shot. He made 25 saves in a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The Blues, vying for better playoff position, fielded their regular lineup, while the ‘Hawks rested many of their regulars and gave numerous other IceHogs players a chance to play. So, the game was kind of one-sided from the get-go, but Hutton did well enough that I think Coach Joel Quenneville might give him a shot next year in training camp.

So far, a great week.I had an article published, won first place in my fantasy hockey league and a minor league player I like got a chance to play in the NHL. And it’s only Tuesday. What other good hockey-related things might happen this week?

2012-13 Panini Limited Box Break

2012-13 Panini Limited BoxPanini Limited gets its name, I assume, from the fact that every card is serial numbered. The base, parallels, inserts, jerseys and autographed cards all proudly display a serial number on the front of the card. A box of 2012-13 Panini Limited costs around $80 and contains 7 cards. Three of them are either jersey or memorabilia cards. I recently opened up a box–here’s what I got: Continue reading “2012-13 Panini Limited Box Break”

Hockey Headlines for April 1, 2013

Here are today’s top headlines in the world of hockey card collecting.

New variants of Flames Red Rooster cards discovered

hull2Four previously unheard-of variations from the 1987-88 Calgary Flames “Red Rooster” set were discovered last week at a card shop in Calgary.  The set, given away at Red Rooster grocery stores during the 1987-88 season, contains 30 cards, including known variations of Lanny McDonald, Joe Nieuwendyk and Hakan Loob.

Now, it appears that variations of cards for Shane Churla, Gary Suter, Ric Nattress and Brett Hull were also produced but pulled last-minute before the giveaway. While both the normal and rare variant cards use the same photographs, the variants offer different “safety tips” under the player’s name.

Below are the original cards (left) and the long-lost variants:

churlasuternattresshullAt press time, a representative from Red Rooster Food Stores declined to comment.

Panini to release set dedicated to stay-at-home defensemen

homeboys

Following up their popular “All Goalies” set from two years ago, Panini America announced the release of a new set of just stay-at-home defnesemen called “Home Boys.”

“Now collectors can get their hands on the tried-and-true, blue chip players who do their job day-in and day-out without any thanks or applause,” reads a press release from the company.

“You can find all of your favorite shot-blocking, low-risk, twelve-to-sixteen minute a night guys in one great set, such as Ladislav Smid, Nicklas Hjalmarsson and Hal Gill. ” The set will also feature some of the most legendary “homies,” including Bob Murray, Brad Marsh and Harold Snepsts.

For $19.95, collectors can purchase the complete boxed set, which includes 5 bonus “chipped tooth” variant cards.

In other news…
Happy April Fools Day!

Further reading:
Hockey Headlines for April 1, 2012
Hockey Headlines for April 1, 2011

I was on TV recently. Sort of.

piece_03
Earlier this month, I attended the taping of a pilot episode for a new TV show called “A Piece of the Game.” Think “Antiques Roadshow,” but about sports memorabilia. Scott Beatty, the co-owner of AU Sports Memorabilia, was one of the appraisers on the show, and asked if I would be willing to appear on the show and bring some of my hockey autographs.

I agreed to, and even bought a swanky card frame to display my 20 best Blackhawks autographed cards.

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned. Continue reading “I was on TV recently. Sort of.”