Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
The Chicago Blackhawks unveiled their new jerseys for the 2015 Winter Classic Wednesday on Twitter, then later on their website. And I love it. It is awesome. It is almost perfect.
Almost. Continue reading “New Blackhawks Winter Classic Jersey Almost Gets It Right”
![[Photo by Mark Buckner / St. Louis Blues]](https://i0.wp.com/puckjunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/jake_allen_blues.jpg)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen has assembled quite the resume in his relatively young career. The Fredericton, New Brunswick native helped the Canadian Under-18 Team win the gold medal in 2008, and was named the tournament’s MVP. His showing was impressive enough for the Blues to draft him in the second round of that year’s NHL Entry Draft. Two years later, Allen won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy as the top goalie in the QMJHL. He was also named the CHL Goaltender of the Year as the best goalie in major junior hockey.
In the 2012-13 season, Allen was called up by the St. Louis Blues, playing in 15 games. His nine wins, one shutout and 2.45 goals-allowed average in the lockout-shortened season netted him a spot on the 2013 NHL All-Rookie Team. The next year, Allen won the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the American Hockey League’s top goaltender, when he led the league in goals against average (2.03), wins (33), save percentage (0.928%) and shutouts (7). His remarkable play earned him the backup role with the St. Louis Blues this year.
I recently spoke with Allen about his blossoming career, the differences between playing in the NHL and AHL and what goes through his mind during a shootout.
Sal Barry: What is your earliest memory of playing hockey?
Jake Allen: Putting on the pads for the first time. It was a great feeling, something that was meant to be. Putting those big pads on is something I’ll never forget. Continue reading “Interview: Blues Goalie Jake Allen”
Today is Halloween. A time for tricks, treats — and trading cards! I’ve searched my collection far and wide and found seven hockey cards that will creep you out.
I acquired a personal grail of mine recently when I added this card to my collection: a 1999-2000 Upper Deck Century Legends Ken Dryden. It’s a card that technically does not exist, and yet I have one. Continue reading “Card of the Week: 1999-00 Upper Deck Century Legends #23 – Ken Dryden”
See the card page above? I needed just one card to complete my 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set. I was tired of looking at that snarky little reminder I put where Bomwan’s card should be, so I finally decided to just buy it already.
And then I couldn’t stop myself. Continue reading “COMC helped kill off 13 hockey card sets”
Blackhawks fans have been seeing a lot of Andrew Shaw lately. Not just as a regular in the ‘Hawks lineup, but in quite a few commercials that air during the games, too. Shaw seems to be doing a pretty good job as a pitchman. There’s his bit part in the BMO Harris Bank Commercial (“His name is Steve!“) from earlier this year. Shaw is now starring in commercials for local car dealer Bill Kaye Chevrolet.
Shaw sounds natural when delivering his lines in the 30-second commercial. None of that typical robotic reading of the cue cards stuff that we get from most athletes. The best part is when he nonchalantly skates off, saying “Gotta go,” after smashing a hapless employee into the glass.
In another spot, the sum total of Shaw’s acting is making angry eyes while slurping some (we presume) coffee. But it works.
Shaw seems so relaxed in front of the camera that it is easy to picture him going into broadcasting when he retires — most likely as a studio analyst like Jamie McClennan or P.J. Stock. We know Shaw would always have something to say.
Normally, I avoid re-pack boxes unless they guarantee something spiffy. A few years back, I bought a so-called Hockey Cube because it promised two autographed cards and a full set of 2010-11 Score Traded. This particular box of packs, repacked by the Fairfield Company in Iowa, made no promises, other than a 40% savings.
Still, I was enticed by that pack of Be A Player, clearly shown in the right window of the box. We all know that Be A Player packs tend to have a higher ratio of autographed inserts than other sets. For $20 $12, I took a gamble to see if I’d pull an autograph. Continue reading “Hockey Extreme Value 10-Pack Box Break”
One thing I absolutely love about collecting is that you will find cards out there that you never knew existed. In the past, I’ve come across some pretty sweet cards unbeknownst to me, like this one about the 1934 Blackhawks and another one about Lester B. Pearson. My latest cool find is this 1951 card of Hall of Fame defenseman Jack Stewart, from a set called Hit Parade of Champions. Continue reading “Card of the Week: 1951 Hit Parade of Champions Jack Stewart”
I bought this tin of 2013-14 Panini Titanium Hockey at a local Target store a few months ago, then forgot I had it until now. What treasures lie within this tin? Continue reading “Box Break: 2013-14 Panini Titanium Hockey Retail Tin”
Former St. Louis Blues goaltender and International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame member Seth Martin died on September 6 at 81 years of age. He helped Canada win the World Championship in 1961, made Glenn Hall his first goalie mask — and was an inspiration to a young Vladislav Tretiak. Continue reading “Custom Card: 1992-93 Pinnacle “The Idols” Seth Martin & Vladislav Tretiak”