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

Puck Junk Podcast: 2026 Fanatics Fest Recap & 2026 National Preview

Episode #251: July 22, 2026

Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk all about the two big sports conventions this month. First, Clemente gives his recap of last weekend’s Fanatics Fest NYC, which combines sports memorabilia and celebrity culture. Then, the trio gives their preview of next week’s National Sports Collectors Convention – we hope to see you there! The YouTube version of this podcast features photos and videos. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

Connect 
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel. 

Shop
Support this podcast! Buy a Puck Junk t-shirt from Etsy or hockey cards from the Puck Junk Card Shop on Buy Sports Cards. ■

Conquering the Card Closet

The Closet of Chaos is Now the Closet of Calm

Back in December, I wrote about how I did not have a good way to store my extra card supplies. I had half-full boxes of card pages, in all different sizes, that were just stuffed on a shelf in a closet. Other supplies like toploaders and soft sleeves were stashed wherever I could find room. It made locating and retrieving supplies difficult.

Heck, sometimes I even bought supplies that I already had enough of because I could not find them in the first place. 

Well, little by little, I kept figuring out what to do with my “Card Closet of Chaos.” Continue reading “Conquering the Card Closet”

Video: 2024-25 Clear Cut Hockey Box Break

Sal Barry of the Puck Junk Podcast opens a box of 2024-25 Clear Cut Hockey cards. Each box contains one premium autographed hockey card. 

What do you think of 2024-25 Clear Cut Hockey? Leave a comment and let us know.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, listen to the Podcast, subscribe to the Newsletter and YouTube Channel, and support this site at the Online Shop. 

Follow Sal Barry on Bluesky @PuckJunk and on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Video: 2024-25 Engrained Icons Hockey Box Break

Sal Barry of the Puck Junk Podcast opens a box of 2024-25 SP Engrained Icons Hockey cards. Each box contains six cards – including three autographed or memorabilia cards. 

What do you think of 2024-25 Engrained Icons Hockey cards? Leave a comment and let us know.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, listen to the Podcast, subscribe to the Newsletter and YouTube Channel, and support this site at the Online Shop. 

Follow Sal Barry on Bluesky @PuckJunk and on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2026 NHL Draft & Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Episode #250: July 1, 2026

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the 2026 NHL Draft and some of the best players selected. They also talk about the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Plus, some of the recent big trades in the NHL and remembering former NHL player Kyle Calder, who suddenly passed away last month at age 47. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and videos. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

Connect 
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel. 

Shop
Support this podcast! Buy a Puck Junk t-shirt from Etsy or hockey cards from the Puck Junk Card Shop on Buy Sports Cards. ■

Video: 2024-25 SP Game Used Hockey Box Break

Sal Barry of the Puck Junk Podcast opens a box of 2024-25 SP Game Used Hockey cards. Each box contains nine cards – including four hits, which are either autographs, memorabilia, or tech cards.

What do you think of 2024-25 SP Game Used Hockey cards? Leave a comment and let us know.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, listen to the Podcast, subscribe to the Newsletter and YouTube Channel, and support this site at the Online Shop. 

Follow Sal Barry on Bluesky @PuckJunk and on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

The 9th Annual Puck Junk Awards

This year, the NHL skipped its annual awards show, instead announcing its annual trophy winners throughout the end of the season. That’s a bit of a letdown, as the NHL Awards Show – as cringy as it is sometimes – is a nice way to bookend the season. 

Show or no show, players still got their awards for being the best goalie, the best defenseman, the league MVP, and such. 

But sadly, there are no awards for the player with the most punchable face, the goalie least likely to play in an NHL game who got to play in an NHL game, or the guy who changed teams the most during the season. 

That is something I rectified in 2018 when I launched the Puck Junk Awards, for the true unsung heroes of hockey. 

So, let’s take a look at the Puck Junk Award Winners for 2026. 

Continue reading “The 9th Annual Puck Junk Awards”

Video: 2024-25 Black Diamond Hockey Box Break

Sal Barry of the Puck Junk Podcast opens a box of 2024-25 Black Diamond Hockey cards. Each box contains six premium hockey cards – including one autograph or Diamond Relic card, one base set or base set parallel card, and three insert, tech, or memorabilia cards.

What do you think of 2024-25 Black Diamond Hockey cards? Leave a comment and let us know.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, listen to the Podcast, subscribe to the Newsletter and YouTube Channel, and support this site at the Online Shop. 

Follow Sal Barry on Bluesky @PuckJunk and on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup Champs!

Episode #249: June 16, 2026

The Carolina Hurricanes are the 2026 Stanley Cup Champions! In this episode, Sal Barry and Clemente Lisi talk about the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, the Hurricanes’ stellar play, goaltender Brandon Bussi seemingly coming out of nowhere, and why team captain Jordan Staal was the only choice for playoff MVP. The guys also talk about a new set of hockey cards commemorating the Hurricanes’ championship, and how the Final may impact rookie cards of Staal and Bussi. It’s 106 minutes of hockey goodness. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and videos. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

Connect 
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel. 

Shop
Support this podcast! Buy a Puck Junk t-shirt from Etsy or hockey cards from the Puck Junk Card Shop on Buy Sports Cards. ■