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

The 6th Annual Puck Junk Awards

The National Hockey League really needs to upgrade its hardware game. Sure, there is no better trophy in sports than the Stanley Cup. And the NHL does a pretty good job at honoring its best forwards, defensemen, and goalies each year. But what about honoring the best scorer who can also fight, the player who came out of nowhere and wowed everyone, or the guy who clawed his way back into the league after a year-long hiatus? 
 
Since 2018, Puck Junk has given out awards to such players. They may not have scored 50 goals or posted 15 shutouts, but they were still interesting, exciting — or even infamous — during the past season. 
 
That said, here are your 2023 Puck Junk Award winners!

Continue reading “The 6th Annual Puck Junk Awards”

How to Prevent Your Sports Cards from Bricking

Longtime collectors remember when sports cards started using a high-gloss protective coating in the early 1990s. This coating – known as UV coating – gave the cards like Fleer Ultra and Topps Stadium Club a slick, premium feel to them. Collectors loved it!. But this eventually led to a problem called “bricking.”

Bricking is when cards get stuck together in a stack resembling a brick. And once they brick, they are hard to unstick. Read on to learn why cards stick together, what to do if they brick, and how to prevent that from happening in the first place. Read the rest of the story at the BCW Supplies Blog.

Puck Junk Podcast: The Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Plus: Notable HHOF Snubs
Episode #156: July 1, 2023

In this supersized episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry, Tim Parish, and Jim Howard talk about the seven new Hockey Hall of Fame inductees for 2023 – Henrik Lundqvist, Tom Barrasso, Mike Vernon, Pierre Turgeon, Caroline Oullette, Ken Hitchcock, and Pierre Lacroix. The guys also discuss three players who are long overdue for a call from the Hall. It’s 106 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
The Mike Vernon vs. Patrick Roy fight (YouTube)
Ken Hitchcock’s “Rookie Card”:

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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

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

Support 
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Trilogy Hockey Cards

Plus: 2023 Stanley Cup Finals Recap
Episode #155: June 24, 2023

After a bit of a hiatus, the Puck Junk Podcast is back! In this episode, Sal Barry and Tim Parish give their thoughts on the victorious Vegas Golden Knights beating the faltering Florida Panthers to win the 2023 Stanley Cup Championship. Then they take a long look at the 2022-23 Trilogy Hockey card set, including what they like about it and what could be better. It’s 82 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
What Haters Get Wrong About the Vegas Golden Knights (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast: Are Redemption Cards a Necessary Evil? (Puck Junk) 
Box Break: 2022-23 Trilogy Hockey Cards (Puck Junk)

Here is Sal’s INCORRECT Stanley Cup Finals prediction: 

Yeah…that tweet did not age well. 

And here is Sal’s “appearance” on the NHL on TNT:

A better look at the tweet of the Michael Scott / Paul Bissonnette graphic:

8 New And Necessary Punctuation Marks We Really Need

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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

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

Support 
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

2022-23 Trilogy Hockey Box Break

After being cancelled for the 2021-22 season, Trilogy came back for 2022-23 — albeit, near the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Trilogy is perhaps best known for its “Signature Pucks” cards that feature a small rubber puck with an autograph on it, embedded right into the card. Trilogy — or should I say Trilo3y, with a “3” as the “g” since that is how it is spelled — also tends to use the number 3 as a recurring theme. 

A box of Trilogy Hockey cards costs around $130 for a six-pack box. Each pack contains four cards, and the box promises one autographed card and one memorabilia card. 

I recently opened a box of 2022-23 Trilogy. Here is what I found inside. 

Continue reading “2022-23 Trilogy Hockey Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey Cards

Episode #154: June 6, 2023

In the latest episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a long look at the 2022-23 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Card set — including some of the best photos, the new insert sets, and the top Young Guns rookie cards to collect. It’s 69 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
Here are some of the cards that we talk about in this episode:

#387 - Sidney Crosby
#386 - Bryan Rust
#430 - William Karlsson
#394 - James Reimer
#465 - Andrei Kuzmenko Young Guns
#499 - Buoy (Kraken Mascot) Young Guns
#LB-21 - Tage Thompson Lunch Box Legends
#PZ-35 - Marc-Andre Fleury Instant Impressions
#WG-8 - Auston Matthews World Junior Grads
#CC-2 - Lukas Reichel Calder Candidates
#CC-6 - Dylan Guenther Calder Candidates
WT-8 - Welcome To. Colorado

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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

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

Support 
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition Hockey Box Break

Released in March of 2023, the 2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition set focuses on players from the Canadian Hockey League — that is, major junior players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Needless to say, one big reason a set like this is desirable is because it has cards of Connor Bedard, who is expected to be taken first overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. 

Boxes of 2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition Hockey have just five packs, with each pack containing three cards, for a total of 15 cards. Each box guarantees at least four hits per box, which may be a game-used jersey card, an autographed card, or an autographed jersey patch card. Boxes sold out relatively fast at hobby shops and online card retailers, and are now commanding upwards of $300 per box on eBay. Let’s just say the Connor Bedard hype is real. 

I opened a box of 2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition. Let’s see what’s inside. 

Continue reading “2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition Hockey Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: Where will the Arizona Coyotes Go?

Plus: The Return of Fleer Ultra
Episode #153: May 30, 2023

In this episode, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about where the Coyotes might relocate to if they can’t get an arena deal in Arizona. They also discuss the Maple Leafs firing GM Kyle Dubas, Fanatics acquiring PWCC, Leaf Trading Cards new Art of Hockey set, and the return of Fleer Ultra. It’s 90 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Arizona Coyotes Arena Plan Rejected by Voters (ESPN)
Fanatics Buys PWCC (ESPN)
2021-22 Leaf Art of Hockey Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
2021-22 Fleer Ultra Coming Out on e-Pack
Images of the upcoming 2021-22 Fleer Ultra Hockey set (click to enlarge)

2021-22 FleerUltra_F4_pg17_crd17_Suzuki
2021-22 FleerUltra_F6_pg37_crd37_Perfetti
2021-22 FleerUltra_F43_pg11_crdPC11_MacKinnon
2021-22 FleerUltra_F34_pg22_crdM22_Panarin
2021-22 FleerUltra_F30_pg32_crd232_Zegras
2021-22 FleerUltra_F37_pg22_US22_Marner
2021-22 FleerUltra_F38_pg84_crdFF34_Raymond
2021-22 FleerUltra_F40_pg16_crd16of30RM_Bergeron
2021-22-FleerUltra_F42_pg7_crdSK7_McDavid

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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

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

Support 
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: Blackhawks Win the NHL Draft Lottery

Plus: 2021-22 SPx Hockey Cards
Episode #152: May 12, 2023

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. They also discuss the first round upsets in the 2023 NHL Playoffs, some of the NHL coaches who were fired, and 2021-22 SPx Hockey cards. It’s 86 minutes of hockey goodness. 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Blackhawks Win Draft Lottery, Connor Bedard Sweepstakes (ESPN)
2021-22 SPx Hockey Box Break (Puck Junk)

Here’s that Mike Grier hockey card we talk about on the show:

And here are the four cards Sal got in his box of 2021-22 SPx Hockey:

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast closing theme music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

Podcast opening music for this episode “Get Ready for This” by 2 Unlimited.

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

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

Support 
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

2021-22 SPx Hockey Box Break

Another set that was released a year after it was supposed to is 2021-22 SPx Hockey by Upper Deck, which came out at the end of March 2023.  A box of SPx costs around $130 and contains four packs. Each pack contains one card.

I’ll say that again for emphasis: a box of 2021-22 SPx Hockey costs $130, and contains four one-card packs. Math may not be my strong suit, but that averages to $32.50 per card.

Yikes!

With a buy-in like that, SPx is not for the meek. It’s a high-risk / high-reward type of set where you get at least two “hits” per box — those hits being either autographs, memorabilia cards, or one of each. The other two cards are referred to as “Tech Cards,” presumably because they go above and beyond standard card design. 

I recently opened a box of 2021-22 SPx Hockey. Let’s see what I got.

Continue reading “2021-22 SPx Hockey Box Break”