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

Movie Review: D3 The Mighty Ducks

I have an unpopular opinion to share: D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996) is better than D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994). No, D3 is not as good as the first Mighty Ducks movie from 1992, and yes, it does recycle a lot of the same elements from its two predecessors. But instead of trying to raise the stakes by putting the Ducks in an even bigger tournament, D3 shifts the focus to perhaps the greatest challenge in everyone’s life: growing up. 

Think about it for a moment.

Everyone has a favorite time from their childhood. But then we all reach a point where we realize that the world around us is changing, we are getting older, and that things will never be the same, no matter how hard we wish otherwise. 

We all struggle with that change to some extent, and everyone deals with that change differently. 

D3: The Mighty Ducks isn’t so much a sports film as it is a coming-of-age film. It is about learning to let go of the things that we found comfort in during our youth and taking on the unknown. 

Continue reading “Movie Review: D3 The Mighty Ducks”

Movie Review: D2 The Mighty Ducks

After the success of The Mighty Ducks in 1992, Disney immediately went to work on the sequel and released D2: The Mighty Ducks in early 1994. Like most sequels, D2 is not as good as the original. It is the typical follow-up in the way that it raises the stakes while also rehashing much of the first film, albeit with some new characters and new uniforms. 

Note that my “retro review” of D2: The Mighty Ducks assumes that you’ve seen the first film. This review also contains some D2 spoilers, but that’s OK, because reading this will save you two hours of your life. 

Continue reading “Movie Review: D2 The Mighty Ducks”

Movie Review: The Mighty Ducks

With The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers streaming series premiering on Disney+ this Friday, now seemed like a good time to re-watch and review the original The Mighty Ducks trilogy of films. The first Ducks is one of the all-time great hockey movies, and I am very excited that it is being spun-off into a hockey-themed TV show. 

But first, I have a confession to make. Continue reading “Movie Review: The Mighty Ducks”

Puck Junk Podcast: The ESPN-NHL Television Deal

Episode #86: March 16, 2021

Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the 7-Year television deal between the NHL and ESPN, why this is great for hockey, and what the NHL needs to do to market itself better — or at least how it could make strides in the right direction. Plus, updates about new hockey cards by Upper Deck, President’s Choice Trading Cards and Topps. 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Topps Now NHL Sticker Archive (Topps)
1999 Century Legends Ken Dryden “test pattern card” (Puck Junk)
President’s Choice Vintage Triple Franchise Memo (President’s Choice)
President’s Choice Vintage Quad Memo (President’s Choice)
Upper Deck Game Dated Moments for Week 8 (Upper Deck e-Pack)
NHL Back on ESPN with 7-Year Deal (ESPN)
How the NHL Bungled the 2017 Celebrity All-Star Game (Puck Junk)

Snoop Dogg wearing a Springfield Indians jersey in the Gin & Juice music video:

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

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

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

Puck Junk Podcast: Is Alexis Lafreniere Living Up to the Hobby Hype? 

Episode #85: March 11, 2021

Is New York Rangers rookie and first-overall draft pick Alexis Lafreniere living up to his hobby hype? That is the big topic for this week’s episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast. Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss all things Alexis, plus the PSA price increases, new card releases and the upcoming National Sports Collectors Convention. The guys also discuss Keith Yandle, Brent Seabrook, Darryl Sutter, Walter Gretzky and Mark Pavelich. 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Keith Yandle plays 1000th game (NHL.com)
Walter Gretzky, Father of Wayne Gretzky, Passes Away (ESPN)
Mark Pavelich, Member of “Miracle on Ice”, Found Dead (ESPN)
Barry Beck Blasts Rangers, John Davidson on Facebook (Facebook)
Brent Seabrook Announces Retirement After 15 Seasons (NHL.com)
Calgary Flames Re-Hire Darryl Sutter as Coach (Yahoo)
Upper Deck e-Pack Commercial (iSpot.tv)
Topps Now NHL Sticker Archive (Topps)
President’s Choice Trading Cards Vintage PaperCuts (President’s Choice)
2016 Leaf Jack Eichel Box Set Review (Puck Junk)
41st National Sports Collectors Convention Announcement (Facebook)
2020-21 Parkhurst Hockey Info and Checklist (Beckett)
PSA Raises Prices, Suspends Crossover Service (Sports Collectors Daily)
Woman arrested for Fake Alexis Lafrenière cards (Montreal Gazette) 
2020-21 Alexis Lafreniere Collection Boxed Set (Cardboard Connection)
Upper Deck Alexis Lafreniere Memorabilia Collection (Upper Deck Store)

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. ■

2020-21 Upper Deck Series 1 Hobby Box Break

So much hype surrounded the release of 2020-21 Upper Deck Series One Hockey. The season hadn’t started yet, but that didn’t stop hockey card collectors (as well as speculators) from wanting to buy the latest release from Upper Deck — mainly in the hopes of finding a Young Guns rookie card of first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping to get a Lafreniere rookie card — or three — as I opened numerous retail packs from blasters and “mega boxes” that I purchased at my local Target.

Unsuccessful with retail packs, I decided to try my luck with hobby boxes. While the odds of getting a Young Guns card are the same (1 in every 4 packs), there are more inserts in hobby packs, better odds at getting jersey cards and the chance of finding an autographed card. The price of a hobby box is higher, but the trade off is you get more inserts and a jersey card. 

A hobby box of 2020-21 Upper Deck Series One Hockey has 24 packs. Each pack has 8 cards. Here are the results of my first hobby box break of this set. 

Oh, and I must apologize in advance for the sheer amount of Rangers in this box break; it seems like practically every insert card I got was of a Rangers’ player. 

Continue reading “2020-21 Upper Deck Series 1 Hobby Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: Interview with Billy Celio of Upper Deck

Episode #84: March 3, 2021

What goes into creating a set of hockey cards — from concept to design to everything in between? Billy Celio, the Senior Product Manager for Upper Deck, joins Sal and Tim to discuss how a set of hockey cards is created. Billy also gives details about the new 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series and 2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe sets. Plus, he talks about the inspiration behind the Portraits, Dazzlers and Puzzle Back insert sets. It’s one full hour of hockey goodness. 

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Info about 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series (Cardboard Connection)

Billy Celio poses with the Hart Trophy, Stanley Cup and Norris Trophy.

2020-21 MVP Patrick Marleau – no one is sure why Marleau is pictured with the Sharks, even though he was with the Penguins when it was released. (Listen to Episode #71 for a review of 2020-21 Upper Deck MVP.)

 Preview image of the upcoming 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series: 

Kirill Kaprizov 2005-06 Upper Deck tribute set.

Dylan Cozens HoloGrFX  tribute set. Note that “Sabres” is misspelled. 

Tim Stutzle UD3 Tribute set.

The photo that was used on the Hughes’ Brothers “Sibling Sensations” card (right) was a riff on the Step Brothers movie poster (left).

1996-97 Fleer Metal Universe Curtis Joseph card – hands down, the best Metal Universe card ever made. (Listen to Episode #14 for a review of 1996-97 Fleer Metal Universe.)

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. ■

1991 NHL All-Star Game Goalie Mask

This cardboard goalie mask was given away at the 42nd NHL All-Star Game, hosted at the Chicago Stadium on Saturday, January 19, 1991. I believe these masks were not handed out upon entry, but instead put on all the seats at the Stadium ahead of time. However, my memory of 30 years ago is kind of fuzzy now. It’s a good thing I blogged about this game in 2011, as I remembered more back then. Now, if only my blog had existed in 1991. 

Anyway, it is somewhat of a miracle that this mask survived in my collection the past three decades. What is even more amazing, though, is that I managed to get this goalie mask out of the All-Star Game in one piece and without any tears or creases. Continue reading “1991 NHL All-Star Game Goalie Mask”

Puck Junk Podcast: New Hockey Cards for February 2021

Plus, Upper Deck Extended Series! 
Episode #83: Feb. 25, 2021

After a three-week hiatus, Sal and Tim are back to talk hockey cards! This time, they discuss the latest releases from Upper Deck, Leaf, Topps and President’s Choice Trading Cards. Plus, a look ahead at the upcoming Upper Deck Extended Series — and how “Event-Used” jersey cards could be better! It’s two hours of hockey goodness.

Show Notes and Links: 
Sal’s “Hockey Card” from his youth hockey clinic. (Puck Junk)
Sal talked about writing the text on the back of “Bloodlines” cards, but he really meant the “Sibling Sensations” set from 2019. (Upper Deck Blog)
Adam Pardy knocked into audience at a Blackhawks game. (The Real DFG)
President’s Choice Game-Used Number cards. (PCTC)
President’s Choice Game-Used Rocket Richard Trophy Cards. (PCTC)
President’s Choice Game-Used Vintage Memorabilia cards. (PCTC)
Topps Now Hockey Sticker print runs. (Topps)
Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Champions 6-card set (Upper Deck Blog)
Review of the 2013 Blackhawks Stanley Cup Set (Puck Junk)
Dragon Ball Z: “It’s over 9000!” (YouTube)
2020-21 Upper Deck Rookie Box Set (Cardboard Connection)
Michigan J. Frog, a.k.a. “The Singing Frog” (YouTube)
2020-21 Upper Deck Series 2 Young Guns Checklist (Upper Deck Blog)
Upper Deck addresses Game Dated Moments problems (Upper Deck E-Pack)
2021 Leaf In The Game Used Hockey Checklist & Info (Beckett)
2021 Pro Set Football Trevor Lawrence rookie card (Leaf Trading Cards)
Ways to Improve Upper Deck Series 1 & 2 (Puck Junk)
Upper Deck Answers My Burning Questions (Puck Junk)
2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series Info (Beckett)

Jeremy Roenick “Fight Strap” card by President’s Choice Trading Cards

Here are some of the 2021 Leaf In The Game Used cards:

2020-21 The Cup John Marino rookie card with the “wrong” patch on it:

A Dino Ciccarelli North Stars card with a Red Wings swatch. Just awful! 

A 1999-2000 HoloGrFX card. HoloGrFX will return this year. 

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. ■