Jaromir Jagr Hallmark Hockey Greats Keepsake Ornament

Hallmark Hockey Greats, 2001

Hallmark continued it’s series of NHL player ornaments in 2001 with Jaromir Jagr. Although the box states that this is the “fifth and final” ornament in the series, there was actually two ornaments released in 2001 — Jagr and teammate Mario Lemeiux. Here, Jagr is decked out in the Pittsburgh Penguins road uniform. For a holiday ornament, this is actually a pretty cool-looking keepsake, due to the high level of sculpted and painted detail lavished on this figure. Continue reading “Jaromir Jagr Hallmark Hockey Greats Keepsake Ornament”

Pack Break x 4: TeenyMates Collectible NHL Figures

TeenyMates — perhaps the smallest hockey toys ever — made their NHL debut for the 2013-14 season. They are made by a company called Party Animal Toys, who also has a line of 3-inch tall sports figures called Lil’ Teammates.

So just how small are TeenyMates? They measure about an inch tall, just a smidge taller than a U.S. quarter. The figures are fully licensed by the NHL, and seems to draw inspiration from both Japanese anime — with their big, cartoony eyes — and the “Lil’ Sports Brats” keychains from the 1990s. Each figure has the team name across their helmet and the logo on their jersey.

A pack of TeenyMates costs $3.99 and contains two random figures, two random puzzle pieces and a pamphlet. One of the figures is wrapped, presumably so that it does not rub against the other figure, which could remove some of the paint. The puzzle pieces are two sided, with one side making up a rink and the other side making a poster of all 30 TeenyMates.

One side of the pamphlet shows what the completed puzzle looks like.

The other side of the pamphlet shows all 30 figures plus a few — HEY, WHAT’S THAT IN THE CORNER?

OH MY GOD — THEY MADE A NORDIQUES FIGURE! And a Whalers figure too. Of course, those are the “chase” figures that are harder to get, as are the Metallic Gold and Glow-In-the-Dark figures.

Recently, I opened four packs of TeenyMates and photographed the figures. Not pictured below but also included were two puzzle pieces per pack. Here are the figures I got.

Pack #1: Los Angeles Kings figure & Carolina Hurricanes figure. The figures use the official “team font” on their helmets.

Pack #2: Philadelphia Flyers figure & Ottawa Senators figure. You’ll notice that all of the figures are left-handed shots.

Pack #3: Detroit Red Wings figure & Vancouver Canucks figure. All figures have the text “© NHL” on their backs.

Pack #4: Ottawa Senators figure & Philadelphia Flyers figure. Basically, this was exactly the same as Pack #2. Even the two puzzle pieces were the same.

In a set of 30 figures (not counting the four chase figures), doubles are to be expected. But getting the exact same two figures is a bit worrisome. Perhaps the figures aren’t packaged very randomly. That is, maybe every pack that contains a Flyers figure contains a Senators figure, every pack that contains a Red Wings figure contains a Canucks figure, and so forth.

What I like about TeenyMates figures: Incredible detail for one-inch tall figures.The smug looks on their faces makes me smile. The idea of getting a Nordiques or Whalers figure is pretty cool, though the odds on those are a bit long. The rink puzzle is a good idea, since it will give kids a “scene” to play with their TeenyMates figures.

What I dislike about TeenyMates figures: All the figures are exactly the same –how about a right-handed shot or a goalie for some variety? The collation seems questionable, at least based on the sample packages.

If you are a kid — or have kids of your own — then you might rate this product higher than the 3 1/2 pucks I gave it. Two figures for $4 isn’t so bad when you compare that cost to other blind-packaged mini figures, such as G.I. Joe Micro Force. However, I wish there was a little more variety in the poses used for TeenyMates. Party Animal Toys did release goalies in their line of Lil’ Teammates 3-inch figures; perhaps we might see a goalie or a righty skater in next year’s set of Teenymates, too.

Special thanks to Party Animal Toys for providing the packs for this break.

You can check out the TeenyMates website here.

Quick next exclusive SportsPick figure

Jonathan Quick is finally getting some love from McFarlane Toys–and all he had to do was lead the league in shutouts, win the Stanley Cup AND be named the Final’s Most Valuable Player. In December, Quick will have an exclusive 6-inch SportsPick figure released in his likeness by McFarlane Toys. The figure will feature Quick in the “glove save” pose and will be in the Los Angeles Kings’ home uniform. It will come packaged with a mini Stanley Cup.

An exclusive figure of Quick is a great idea–but one that does not go far enough. Why not include a mini Conn Smythe Trophy as well? Or how about a net? Longtime collectors of NHL SportsPicks figures will remember back when the goalies actually included nets and a water bottle. Unfortunately, the nets (and bottle) no longer come with goalie figures.

Sure, including a Conn Smythe Trophy and net would undoubtedly raise the production costs of the figure, and thus the price. But most collectors would not mind paying a few dollars more for an exclusive figure that feels more like an exclusive and less like a repaint of a Marty Turco.

Jonathan Quick vs. Marty Turco — The goalie pads might be different, but the body of the upcoming Jonathan Quick figure (left) appears to be a repaint of an earlier figure like Marty Turco. That’s OK, but why not include a Conn Smythe Trophy and a net?

Collectors in the United States can purchase the Jonathan Quick figure through the Spawn Online Store. In Canada, the figure is exclusive to Grosnor Distribution. Additionally, fans in L.A. can get this figure in the Kings’ team store–assuming the season resumes by December. In the meantime, I will have to evict a less-worthy hockey figure off my bookshelf to make room for this one.

Photos courtesy of McFarlane Toys.

Best Grab Bag Gift Ever

About 10 days before Christmas, my department at Columbia College had a faculty and staff Christmas party. I ended up with this Air Jet Hockey game, which was totally the most appropriate gift for me to get in the “Yankee Swap” gift exchange.

This game is pretty sweet. It measures 20″ inches long by 13″ inches wide. It includes 2 sets of paddles so up to 4 people can play. It also comes with 4 pucks–two round and two triangular. And best of all, it actually does have little holes that shoot air, making the puck glide quite nicely.

I put a hockey card on it so you can get an idea of the size.

This will go down in history as the best “grab bag” gift I ever got.

Where were you 20 years ago?

Twenty years ago to this day – December 27, 1991 – I was probably at this game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winnipeg Jets.

I say probably because I have no recollection of going to this game.

And yet, I have this ticket stub.

My Aunt had season tickets to the Chicago Blackhawks from 1989-90 to 1991-92. I was a lucky kid who got to go to a lot of games during that 3-year span.

I guess when you go to enough games, you are bound to forget a few.

There are so many hockey games that I’ll never forget: my first game (Hawks vs. Islanders) and second game (Hawks vs. Flames) are permanently etched in my memory.

I’ll never forget the standing ovation that Denis Savard got when he played his first game at Chicago Stadium as a member of the Canadiens.

I still remember the shockwaves that went through me when I witnessed a Doug Wilson slapshot rip the stick out of Darren Puppa’s hand.

I still hear those two drunk guys bellowing “GUYYYYY LAFLEURRRRRR” every time Lafleur took to the ice in a game against the Nordiques.

But this game against Winnipeg? I got nothing.

Apparently, Brian Noonan of the Blackhawks got a hat trick. Hat tricks are pretty memorable events, so why don’t I recall this one?

Mike Peluso fought Mike Hartman. I loved hockey fights as a kid, but it probably wasn’t the fight to end all fights.

Oh, and the game ended in a 3-3 tie.

That’s probably why I forgot going to this game. Ties suck.

Pro Set Holiday Card

It’s no secret that, even 20 years later, I still love Pro Set trading cards. So when I found this holiday greeting card at The National back in August, I eagerly bought it. It was sent out by Pro Set in 1990–most likely to companies and suppliers who dealt with them, but it may have been sent out to Pro Set Gazette subscribers (though I cannot confirm that) Continue reading “Pro Set Holiday Card”

Eric Lindros Holiday Card

This was one of the many oddball items I purchased at The National Sports Collectors’ Convention, way back in August: a holiday greeting card featuring then-future top prospect and soon-to-be first overall pick Eric Lindros.

I’ve kept this card under my proverbial hat until the time was right to show the rest of the hockey card-collecting world. That time being the holidays, of course. Continue reading “Eric Lindros Holiday Card”

Band T-Shirt: Clever or Copycat?

A few days ago, one of my students was wearing what I thought was a New York Rangers t-shirt.

“Rangers,” I said. “Nice. You a hockey fan?” Whenever a student of mine–I teach college–wears hockey apparel, I have to voice my approval.

“Huh?” she said. “This is a t-shirt for a band.”

Upon a closer look, I saw that the text that would normally read NEW YORK RANGERS was replaced with STRAY FROM THE PATH.

I thought that was stupid. Take a recognizable sports logo, and put your own text on it. It lacks creativity and is a cheap attempt at recognition. Continue reading “Band T-Shirt: Clever or Copycat?”

1991 All-Star Game & Heroes of Hockey Tickets

Click to see larger.

Above are my tickets stubs from the 1991 NHL All-Star Game (left) and 1991 Heroes of Hockey and Skills Competition (right–otherwise known as “All-Star Friday.”

My Aunt and Uncle had seasons tickets to the Blackhawks games. They took me to a lot of games when I was a kid, and probably were going to take me to the game anyway. But my Grandmother paid them for my tickets to the game and skills competition as an early birthday present.

For some reason, our seats at the All-Star Game were better than our usual seats. Normally, we were in Mezzanine Row H, but for this weekend we were in Row D–4 rows closer than usual. Heck, we sat closer than Gordie Howe, who was in our section but about 5 or 6 rows back from us. Continue reading “1991 All-Star Game & Heroes of Hockey Tickets”

1991 All-Star Game Puck

This hockey puck is a small–yet important–piece of memorabilia from my 1991 All-Star Game collection. The front shows the All-Star Game logo.

Unlike previous years’ logos that used a “shield shape,” the 42nd NHL All-Star Game logo is a round shape that fit perfectly on the surface of a hockey puck, leaving very little “black space.” Continue reading “1991 All-Star Game Puck”