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: New Hockey Cards for 2021

Episode #81: January 21, 2021

In the first Puck Junk Podcast of 2021, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about new hockey card sets from Upper Deck, Topps and President’s Choice Trading Cards. Plus, a discussion about the recent World Junior Championships and if Upper Deck should make an annual WJC card set. 

Show Notes and Links:
2020-21 Upper Deck Synergy Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
2020-21 Upper Deck Artifacts Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
President’s Choice Trading Cards Jumbo Memorabilia (PCTC website)
President’s Choice Trading Cards Laundry Tag (PCTC website)
President’s Choice Trading Cards Vezina Collection (Facebook)
Topps Now Hockey Stickers (Topps website)

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube. 

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

Top 10 Hockey Collectible Stories of 2020

A lot happened in the humble hobby of hockey card collecting in 2020. Not surprisingly, most of it was because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which cancelled card shows and affected releases, while also forcing many people to work at home or shelter at home. This, in turn, led to many rediscovering their card collections from their youth, rekindling their interest and causing a surge that the card collecting hobby hasn’t seen in 30 years. Here are the biggest 10 hockey collectible stories from 2020. 

Continue reading “Top 10 Hockey Collectible Stories of 2020”

Video: Strange Hockey Collectibles

Sal Barry and Tim Parish were at the November 2020 Sport Card “Virtual Expo,” where they hosted a special video episode of the Puck Junk Podcast. This time, the guys show off some strange hockey collectibles, including the Brett Hull comic book, drink coasters, and zombie hockey figures.
 

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube, and support this site and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: Bobby Hull Interview

Episode #80: December 29, 2020

In this special episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry interviews Chicago Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull, a.k.a. “The Golden Jet.” Hull, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, talks about how he and Stan Mikita invented the curved hockey stick, his heated rivalries with John Ferguson and Bryan “Bugsy” Watson, playing advice he gave to his son Brett Hull and the time he suited up for the New York Rangers in 1959 to play in a European exhibition tour. This episode is 23 minutes long. 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Bobby Hull career statistics (HockeyDB)
Bobby Hull official website (link)
The famous photo of Bobby Hull with a bloody nose:

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Interlude music “Here Come the Hawks” performed by Frank Pelico (YouTube)
Special thanks to the Sport Card Expo for providing the audio for this podcast. 

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube. 

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

Puck Junk Podcast: Hockey for the Holidays

Episode #79: December 23, 2020

In our second holiday-themed episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish share stories — their own and those submitted by listeners — about getting hockey-related items for Christmas. Karine Hains, Canadiens beat writer for HockeyBuzz.com, joins the guys to tell her tale of an awesome hockey gift she received in 1990. Sal and Tim also talk about the upcoming 2021 NHL season and the fake Alexis Lafreniere hockey cards being sold on eBay. 

Thanks to everyone who shared their stories. Scroll down for pictures of some of these great hockey presents. 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Karine Hains’ Montreal Canadiens blog (HockeyBuzz.com)
Karine Hains on Twitter (@KarineGHG)
2021 World Junior Championships (website)
President’s Choice Trading Cards (website)
Quebec Police Investigating Fake Lafreniere Cards (Sports Collectors Daily)
Heroes of the Crease Goaltending Museum & Memorabilia (website)
Puck Junk Facebook Group (Facebook)
Listen to the full New York Islanders Christmas Album (Puck Junk) 
More info about this podcast episode’s cover image (Puck Junk) 
Here is last year’s hockey/holiday themed podcast (Puck Junk)

The fake Alexis Lafreniere Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament hockey card.

Some of the gifts that our listeners have gotten over the years:

The Wayne Gretzky table hockey game.

Many years after Aaron Nelson got the Gretzky Table Hockey Game for Christmas, he started a table hockey club at the school he teaches at. 

Nick Wiseman received this Ducks photo signed by the entire team. 

Glenn S., who plays goalie, got this awesome-looking goalie lamp. 

Tyler Tenneson received a puck signed by Mats Zuccarello (top left corner) from his wife as a present one Christmas. 

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro & ending music for this episode is from the New York Islanders Christmas Album, entitled “Home for the Holidays” and released in 1979.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube. 

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

How to Store and Display Your Hockey Puck Collection?

Many puck collectors I know are the “all-in” type who purchase almost every unique puck they find and then put it on display with the hundreds of other pucks in their collection, usually in some custom-built display that costs a lot of money and takes up an entire wall.

Me? I don’t have the space or the budget for that. I’m more of a casual puck collector. Card collecting is my favorite hobby, but it is hard for me to resist buying a hockey puck every now and then, be it from a special game or commemorative event, or with the logo of some long-gone team. And I love getting pucks signed by my favorite players; pucks look great when signed in silver Sharpie or silver paint pen, and it is a shame to not display those. The problem is that over time, all these pucks start to pile up, can take a lot of display space and be tricky to store without damaging them.

If you don’t want to dedicate an entire room, wall, or bookcase to display your hockey pucks, but still want to show off some of your favorites…Read the rest of the story at the BCW Supplies Blog. 

Puck Junk Podcast: Interview: Brian Slagel, CEO of Metal Blade Records & Hockey Jersey Collector 

Episode #78: December 17, 2020

In this special episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish are joined by Brian Slagel, the CEO of Metal Blade Records. Brian launched the careers of heavy metal bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Overkill, Fates Warning, GWAR and many more. He is also a longtime hockey fan who owns over 800 game-worn hockey jerseys. Brian talks about what it was like going to L.A. Kings games before and during the “Gretzky Era,” tracking down-hard-to-find jerseys and how he gave Metallica their first big break. If you like hockey and metal, you’re going to love this episode.

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Metal Blade Records Website (link)
Brian Slagel on Twitter (@brianslagel)
Brian Slagel’s jersey collection (YouTube)
Brian Slagel talks hockey & metal  (YouTube)
“Raining Blood” by Slayer (YouTube)
“Seek and Destroy” by Metallica (YouTube)
“Name” by Goo Goo Dolls (YouTube)
Mike McKenna hockey stats (HockeyDB)
Jacques Mailhot hockey stats (HockeyDB)
Cody Glass hockey stats (HockeyDB)
The college player that Brian talks about is Owen Power (Michigan Hockey)
Austin IceBats logo (SportsLogos.net)

Brian shared some pictures of his jersey collection: 

Brian Slagel (left), with former NHL goalie Mike McKenna, showing off a rare Tuscon Scorch jersey. The Scorch folded before playing in any games. 

Brian Slagel’s jersey collection consists of about 800 game-worn jerseys and 1,200 additional rare and/or autographed jerseys. 

Special edition “Metal Blade Records” San Antonio Rampage jerseys. 

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube. 

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

The Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame: Class of 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic has delayed everything, from “pausing” the 2019-20 NHL season, to postponing the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. It has even delayed the induction of new members into the Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame. But the wait is finally over.

A Wayne Gretzky rookie card recently sold at auction for $1.29 million dollars. Meanwhile, the 10 cards on this list would only cost you $5 combined. Yet, they are all priceless in each of their own, awful ways.

So here they are, the Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame: Class of 2020. 

Continue reading “The Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame: Class of 2020”

Puck Junk Podcast: The NHL’s Game Plan for 2021

Plus: the $1.29M Gretzky RC
Episode #77: Dec. 15, 2020

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the NHL’s plans for the upcoming 2021 NHL season, including rumored start dates and division realignment. Then they talk about the recent sale of the O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card that sold for $1.29 million at auction — and speculate over what could be the next hockey card to sell for $1 million.

Show Notes, Links and Images: 
Potential NHL divisions for the 2021 season (NBC Sports)
NHL, NHLPA working toward Jan. 13 start (NBC Sports)
Gretzky rookie card sells for record $1.29 million at auction (NHL.com)
Comparison of the Bobby Orr RC vs. the “USA Test Issue” (Trading Card DB)
Link to rate and review the Puck Junk Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
Finally, Gordie Howe’s “appearance” on The Simpsons: 

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube. 

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