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
Normally an early-season release, the 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set was released on March 1, right as the regular season was winding down. Releasing the set later later in the season allowed Upper Deck to include rookie cards of players who made their debut early in the ’22-23 season, such as Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken and first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens.
A hobby box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee costs around $60 for 18 packs. Each pack contains 10 cards, so a box yields 180 cards. As usual, O-Pee-Chee has numerous parallels, as well as popular inserts, such as Playing Cards.
I recently opened a box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards. Here’s what was inside.
Sal Barry and Tim Parish are joined by Paul Zickler, the Senior Sports Brand Manager at Upper Deck. Paul talks about the big changes coming to Upper Deck hockey cards starting with 2023-24 Upper Deck Series One. Paul also talks about some of the other new and upcoming hockey card sets. It’s 48 minutes of hockey goodness!
Plus: Changes to 2023-24 Upper Deck
Episode #148: March 31, 2023
This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the new 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card set, including what they love about it and what could be better. They also have a long discussion about Upper Deck’s planned changes to its flagship set (Series One, Series Two, and Extended Series) for 2023-24, and how this will impact the hobby. Plus, a look at the 2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Checklist and more. It’s 86 minutes of hockey goodness!
Show Notes, Links and Images: NHL needs frank Pride Night discussion (New York Post
2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
2022-23 Upper Deck Series 2 Checklist (Beckett) The Great Space Coaster Intro Theme (YouTube)
Upper Deck’s Flagship Series Will See a Refresh (Upper Deck Blog)
Some images from 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey:
Base CardBase Card (back)Marquee Rookie (Short Print)Retro ParallelPink ParallelPlaying card
2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Lunch Box Legends card:
He’s a lunch box legend. With stars in his eyes.
And finally, this allegedly is the design of the forthcoming 2023-24 Upper Deck Portraits inserts. Allegedly…
It seems like every NHL player who has some degree of success writes a book when their career comes to an end. But what about the thousands of players who don’t make it to the NHL? What sacrifices did they make — and what scars did they pick up — along the way to ultimately fall short of reaching their dreams? In “Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL”, ex-NHL draft pick Justin Davis talks about the hazing by teammates, horrid living conditions, and health risks he endured while playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League. The physical scars may quickly heal, but emotional scars sometimes take decades to even be discovered before the healing can begin.
Upper Deck is a little more on track with the release of 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey. Whereas the 2021-22 Artifacts set did not come out until September of 2022 — a good three months after the ’21-22 season wrapped up — the 2022-23 Artifacts set came midseason at the tail-end of January 2023.
Like last year’s Artifacts set (reviewed here), a box of 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey contains eight four-card packs. It is currently selling for about $130 per box. The box states that you can get “at least 2 hits per box (on average).” However, product descriptions from online card sellers state that you get three autograph, memorabilia or “tech cards” per box, either one rookie redemption or Clear Cut card per box, and four serial-numbered cards per box.
Last week, we talked about 2022-23 Artifacts in episode #147 of the Puck Junk Podcast. But here’s the full box break, including some additional images.
In the new Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish have a long talk about the new 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey card set. They also discuss Jordan Binnington going off the rails (again), James Reimer refusing to participate in warmups during Sharks’ Pride Night, Tik Tok’s ban on card breaking, and more. It’s 101 minutes of hockey goodness!
Show Notes, Links and Images: Video: “Laid” by James (YouTube)
Video: “Say Something” by James (YouTube)
Video: “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers (YouTube)
Video: “Hocus Pocus” by Focus (YouTube)
Video: Marc-Andre Fleury Challenges Jordan Binnington (YouTube)
Video: Marc-Andre Fleury Almost Fights Peter Budaj (YouTube)
Video: Marc-Andre Fleury Fights in a Junior Hockey Game (YouTube)
Video: South Park “Cripple Fight” (YouTube)
Video: Ron Hextall Attacks Chris Chelios (YouTube)
Jordan Binnington Suspended Two Games (TSN)
The QMJHL Will Tighten Rules Around Fighting (CBC)
Reimer Boycotts Sharks’ Warmup Skate Before Pride Night Game (ESPN)
Video: Marshawn Lynch “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.” (YouTube)
Video: “Get Ready for This” by 2 Unlimited (YouTube)
Jim Howard’s Box Break Fiasco from 2015-16 Contours (Puck Junk)
Images of the mangled package that Tim received in the mail (Twitter)
The card that Tim is hoarding – the 1991-92 Parkhurst Bill Guerin XRC:
Some images from 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey:
Base CardWood ParallelShort-Printed High Number CardDual Jersey Swatch CardDual Patch Swatch Card
In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about Patrick Kane being traded to the New York Rangers, how it improves the Rangers’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup this year, and how it may affect the collectability of Kane’s hockey cards. The guys also discuss some of the other notable NHL trades made near the deadline, including Jonathan Quick, Max Domi, Tanner Jeannot, Nick Bonino, Brendan Lemieux, and Jakob Chychrun. Plus, Sal learns how to pronounce “Namestnikov.” It’s 77 minutes of hockey goodness!
Show Notes, Links and Images:
Rangers Acquire Patrick Kane in Trade with Blackhawks (CBS Sports)
Does Changing Teams Affect Player Collecting (Puck Junk Podcast)
Patrick Kane’s “First” Hockey Card (Puck Junk)
Plus: Tim’s Thoughts on ’20-21 The Cup
Episode #145: March 2, 2023
In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a long look at the new 2022-23 Topps Hockey Sticker Album set. Tim also gives his thoughts on the recently-released 2020-21 The Cup set, as well as the upcoming 2020-21 SP Signature Legends set. Plus, Linus Ullmark’s “Goalie Goal,” Sal’s recent trip to see two Hurricanes games, and more. It’s 92 minutes of hockey goodness!
Show Notes, Links and Images: Video of the Goalie Goal scored by Linus Ulmark (Twitter)
Crawford under fire after hurling homophobic slur at referee (Yahoo!)
An example of the Bruce Boudreau meme (Video)
Tim’s Twitter thread with his observations on 2020-21 The Cup (Twitter)
2021-22 Topps Sticker of Seth Jones Topps that’s Photoshopped (TCDB)
Sal’s Box Breaks of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers (Box 1, Box 2, Box 3)
Some pictures of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers:
Base sticker design.Foil sticker design (superstar)Foil sticker design (mascot)Foil sticker design (team logo)Celly Season sticker designNHL Rookies sticker designArt of the Deke sticker designSeason Highlight sticker design2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers Wrapper
The Law of Diminishing Returns is in full effect when opening packs of stickers. The first box is always fun because you need every sticker. The second box is also fun because you will need most of the stickers. Any box after that is will most likely be mostly doubles, with a few needed stickers mixed in. And that was pretty much the case with my third box of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers. While most of it was doubles of stickers I got in my prior two boxes, I still got a lot of new stickers towards my set.
Here’s my breakdown of my third and final box of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers.
On March 12, 1966, Bobby Hull became the first NHL player to score over 50 goals in one season when he scored his 51st goal of the 1965-66 campaign.
That historic puck is now available for bid at Classic Auctions. The puck is from Bobby Hull’s personal collection and is covered in gold. Hull did this with all of the pucks that he kept from his career. The puck is mounted to a marble base and has two engraved plates detailing his accomplishment.
The puck also comes with a certificate of authenticity, on vintage Chicago Blackhawks letterhead, signed by Hull.
Also included is a signed 11″ x 14″ photo of Hull celebrating his accomplishment after the game.
Hull’s 51st goal puck is currently at $2,469.00. The auction ends March 1, 2023. It should be interesting to see how much this puck sells for, considering its significance in hockey history.
Other Blackhawks items currently open for bid at Classic Auctions include:
