Culture

Puck Junk Podcast: “Sudden Death” Movie Retrospective

Episode #236: December 23, 2025

In the last episode for 2025, the guys take a long look back at the 1995 hockey/action film “Sudden Death.” The movie came out 30 years ago this month and is about Jean-Claude Van Damme trying to stop terrorists from blowing up Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. “Sudden Death” featured a few ex-Penguins players and even team mascot Iceburgh got in on the action. Other topics in this episode are the new 2025-26 Upper Deck Series One Holiday Edition cards and the FTC investigating the sale of Beckett to PSA. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video.

Links
The Making of Sudden Death: An Oral History (The Hockey News)
FTC to Investigate Sale of Beckett to PSA (Sports Collectors Digest)
2025-26 Upper Deck NHL Series 1 Hockey Holiday Box (Walmart Canada)

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Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

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Clemente’s Corner: “The Next One” a Love Letter to Hockey’s Hidden Heroes

Ken Reid is quickly becoming one of hockey’s best authors. I have enjoyed his writing in recent years – and he’s done it again with his latest book, “The Next One: Hockey Scouts, Remote Rinks and Hidden Talent.” 

Reid’s book takes you to small-town rinks featuring players with big-league dreams. In his new book, Reid gives the reader a backstage pass to it all in what is certainly his most ambitious work to date. Reid’s book peels back the curtain on hockey’s hidden machinery — and he’s done it in a way that feels personal.

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: “The Next One” a Love Letter to Hockey’s Hidden Heroes”

Clemente’s Corner: The Sharks, Rollerblades and a Time Machine to the ‘90s

We collectors do love nostalgia. It’s a way to connect our memories about legendary teams, players and games to the present using small pieces of cardboard. It’s a wonderful pursuit and the reason why so many of us have binders full of cards on our shelves and in our closets from the 1980s and ‘90s.

Another way to connect with the past is through books. One book that will take hockey fans back to that analog time is Brad Porteus’s “Roll With It.” It’s a heartfelt and humorous memoir that delivers exactly what its subtitle promises: “A trip back to the ‘90s – Gen X style.”

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: The Sharks, Rollerblades and a Time Machine to the ‘90s”

Gretzky Gloves and Sittler Sweater Up for Bid

Two Pieces of NHL History are for Sale

Wayne Gretzky gloves & Darryl Sittler jersey

Two historic pieces of game-used memorabilia are currently up for bid at Grey Flannel Auctions. Either of these pieces would make a fantastic centerpiece of a game-used hockey collection.

Continue reading “Gretzky Gloves and Sittler Sweater Up for Bid”

A Look at the Culture of a Boston University Hockey Game

It is well known that college football is almost like a religion in the southern United States and in Texas. In the Midwest and the Carolinas, college basketball has a larger than life following, and in Southern California, college baseball has a large following. However, In the Northeast United States, hockey the big man on campus.

Today, we will look inside Agganis Arena to experience the atmosphere, traditions and customs of a Boston University Terriers hockey game.

Continue reading “A Look at the Culture of a Boston University Hockey Game”

Clemente’s Corner: The 3 Best and 3 Worst NHL Jerseys from the 1990s

1995-96 Leaf Limited #1 - Mario Lemieux

NHL jerseys hold significant value both for teams and collectors alike, offering fans a unique opportunity to express their allegiance in fresh ways.

During the 1990s, several NHL teams experimented with “third jerseys” that would be worn on special occasions, while other teams completely changed its logo, its color scheme – or both. Quite a few new designs made their debut on the ice that decade – and not all of them were memorable in a good way. 

For collectors, these jerseys are highly coveted because of their rarity and limited availability. This exclusivity adds to their allure and potential value.

At the same time, alternate jerseys also serve as a bridge between nostalgia and modernity, allowing collectors to own a piece of both the present and the past. Whether it’s a throwback to a classic design or a cutting-edge reimagining, these sweaters capture a snapshot of a team’s identity at a specific time in NHL history.

With that, let’s start with the best …

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: The 3 Best and 3 Worst NHL Jerseys from the 1990s”

Tim’s Take: Shoresy, the Modern-Day Slap Shot

I’m admittedly late to the Letterkenny party as for quite a while; it wasn’t available on any of the services that I had. Once I was finally able to watch, I clearly saw what all the hype was about. But as much as I enjoyed that series, I have enjoyed it’s spinoff series even more. If you are a hockey fan, hockey player, grew up around the rinks, or just like really well put together shows, you may want to give Shoresy a look.

Continue reading “Tim’s Take: Shoresy, the Modern-Day Slap Shot”

Despite Issues, Connor Bedard Game-Used Jersey Fetches $37K

When Exactly Was It Worn? And Why Frame It?

By Sean Sullivan

Connor Bedard mania has run wild throughout the hockey-collecting community this season, and on April 18, the game-worn jersey collecting segment joined in on the fun – but not without some controversy. Continue reading “Despite Issues, Connor Bedard Game-Used Jersey Fetches $37K”