Sal Barry, Author at Puck Junk

2024-25 Parkhurst Champions Hockey Box Break

Released at the end of the season, the 2024-25 Parkhurst Champions set gives retro flair to modern players. The cards are designed to look like they could be from the 1950s, with cut-out players superimposed over a bright, solid-colored background.

A box of 2024-25 Parkhurst Champions is currently selling for around $130 for a 20-pack box, plus one bonus “Retro” pack.

Each of the 20 packs have eight cards. Packs have six base cards plus two other cards which are either a short print, a parallel, or an insert. A box contains one autograph, memorabilia, or lenticular (“magic motion”) card.

2024-25 Parkhurst Champions Bonus Pack picturing Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe.

The “Bonus Pack” has five “1953-54 Retro Cards,” which use the 1953-54 Parkhurst design. It is possible to get an autograph or parallel “Retro” card in this pack.

I recently opened a box of 2024-25 Parkhurst Champions Hockey. Let’s take a closer look at what you get in a typical box.

Continue reading “2024-25 Parkhurst Champions Hockey Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 1988-89 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Setrospective

Episode #225: August 26, 2025

Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a fond look back at the 1988-89 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey card sets, known for its use of bright colors, drop shadows, and pushpins. They discuss why you should have both of these iconic sets – as well as a few related cards – in your collection. Other topics include a Georges Vezina rookie card topping $100K, the Red Wings retiring Sergei Fedorov’s number, and ECHL expansion. It’s 121 minutes of hockey goodness. The YouTube version of this podcast features pictures of the cards we talk about during the episode.

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @ClementeLisi.
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.

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

Puck Junk Podcast: 2024-25 Parkhurst Champions Hockey Cards

Episode #224: August 20, 2025

Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the new 2024-25 Parkhurst Champions Hockey Card set. Yes, the design looks great – but is it a set worth building? And what’s the deal with the bonus “Retro Pack?” Plus, discussions about Team USA winning the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament, eBay’s changes to its platform, and the NHL Network’s “Quarter Century Team” – and who they snubbed. It’s 107 minutes of hockey goodness, now with chapters so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of this episode features video and pictures, too.

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.

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

Mattel Releases Tim Horton’s PWHL Barbie Dolls – Then Promptly Sells Out!

Last week Monday, the Tim Horton’s donut chain teamed up with Mattel and the Professional Women’s Hockey League to sell two special hockey-themed Barbie dolls. One of the Barbie dolls is blonde and modeled after Marie-Philip Poulin, while the other has darker hair and is modeled after Sarah Nurse.

But if you are looking for one, you’ll have to check eBay, because the dolls sold out the day they were released.

Continue reading “Mattel Releases Tim Horton’s PWHL Barbie Dolls – Then Promptly Sells Out!”

Puck Junk Podcast: 1991-92 Topps Stadium Club Hockey Setrospective

Episode #223: August 12, 2025

Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a long look back at the 1991-92 Topps Stadium Club Hockey set. It was the first Stadium Club hockey set, as well as one of the first premium sets of hockey trading cards. The guys talk about some of the best and worst cards from that set, as well as related cards worth collecting. Its 111 minutes of hockey goodness. The YouTube version of this podcast features pictures of the cards we talk about during the episode.

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.

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

2025-26 MVP Hockey Box Break

In recent history, MVP has been Upper Deck’s first hockey card set of the season, usually hitting shelves in August or September. The 2025-26 MVP set was released on July 30 – almost 10 weeks(!) before the start of the season. MVP gives you a lot of bang for your buck. A box costs about $60 USD or $90 CDN and has 20 eight-card packs. Each pack has an insert card and it is possible to pull a serial-numbered card, too.

Let’s take a look at what’s inside a box of 2025-26 MVP Hockey cards.

Continue reading “2025-26 MVP Hockey Box Break”

I Had a Blast at the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention

I Met Great People & Got Some Great Cards, Too!

Puck Junk Podcast hosts Tim Parish, Clemente Lisi, and Sal Barry.

About six weeks ago, I was disappointed to learn that my usual booth space at the National Sports Collectors Convention would no longer be available. With the show only weeks away, there was zero chance for me to get a booth for the 2025 convention.

So, once I got over the initial disappointment, I decided that I would go to the National as a fan. I purchased a 5-Day VIP pass and updated my want list.

And boy, did I have fun!

This year, I had time to hang out with friends at the show, including Puck Junk Podcast co-hosts Tim Parish and Clemente Lisi, who have a knack for helping me find things I am looking for. I got to talk with many listeners of the podcast, as well as readers of the Puck Junk newsletter and blog.

I also had tons of time to look around and find new treasures for my personal collection. This is pretty much impossible to do when I am tied (figuratively speaking) to a booth at the National. Instead, I got to roam freely around, get a few autographs, and buy some great hockey cards.

Here are some of my best pickups from the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention. Continue reading “I Had a Blast at the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention Recap

Episode #222: August 5, 2025

Sal Barry, Tim Parish, and Clemente Lisi give their giant-sized recap of the biggest National Sports Collectors Convention in history. The show was over 600,000 square feet and had over 600 vendors. While there weren’t many hockey autograph guests, there were still plenty of hockey cards. The guys also share some of the cool items they found at the National. It’s 141 minutes of hobby goodness. The YouTube version of the podcast features video and pictures – including many of the great items we got at the show.

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.

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

How Should You Invest in Cards?

Here’s Two Things to Know if You Invest in Cards

Earlier this week, I was a guest on the XM Radio talk show NHL Morning Skate LIVE, talking about hockey cards, as well as the upcoming National Sports Collectors Convention. Host Mick Kern asked me an interesting question – one that I do not get asked too often.

He asked what I would tell someone if they asked how they can get started investing in trading cards. Continue reading “How Should You Invest in Cards?”

Making Lemonade from Lemons

I’ll be at the National This Year – But Not as a Dealer

A few weeks back, I got some disappointing news. The vendor that I set up with at the National Sports Collectors Convention over the past four years informed me that they sold their booth space for the upcoming National to another company.

That means that I will not be setting up to sell hockey cards and collectibles at the National this year because it was way too late for me to get a booth on my own.

Initially, I was disappointed. Heck, I was bummed. I jokingly told a friend that it felt like getting dumped, minus the crying.

But then I asked myself, would going to the National as a shopper – not as a seller – this year be such a bad thing?

Continue reading “Making Lemonade from Lemons”