Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
NHL news has been plentiful over the past week. Right after I submitted my column for last week, the NHL announced firm plans for this season’s divisional alignment and playoff structure. I’ll comment on that news as well as a few additional major announcements around the league.
I hope everyone who celebrates had a Merry Christmas and celebrates New Year’s Eve safely.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: One Step Closer to Next Season”
In our second holiday-themed episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish share stories — their own and those submitted by listeners — about getting hockey-related items for Christmas. Karine Hains, Canadiens beat writer for HockeyBuzz.com, joins the guys to tell her tale of an awesome hockey gift she received in 1990. Sal and Tim also talk about the upcoming 2021 NHL season and the fake Alexis Lafreniere hockey cards being sold on eBay.
Thanks to everyone who shared their stories. Scroll down for pictures of some of these great hockey presents.
Show Notes, Links and Images:
Karine Hains’ Montreal Canadiens blog (HockeyBuzz.com)
Karine Hains on Twitter (@KarineGHG)
2021 World Junior Championships (website)
President’s Choice Trading Cards (website)
Quebec Police Investigating Fake Lafreniere Cards (Sports Collectors Daily)
Heroes of the Crease Goaltending Museum & Memorabilia (website)
Puck Junk Facebook Group (Facebook)
Listen to the full New York Islanders Christmas Album (Puck Junk)
More info about this podcast episode’s cover image (Puck Junk)
Here is last year’s hockey/holiday themed podcast (Puck Junk)
The fake Alexis Lafreniere Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament hockey card.
Some of the gifts that our listeners have gotten over the years:
The Wayne Gretzky table hockey game.
Many years after Aaron Nelson got the Gretzky Table Hockey Game for Christmas, he started a table hockey club at the school he teaches at.
Nick Wiseman received this Ducks photo signed by the entire team.
Glenn S., who plays goalie, got this awesome-looking goalie lamp.
Tyler Tenneson received a puck signed by Mats Zuccarello (top left corner) from his wife as a present one Christmas.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro & ending music for this episode is from the New York Islanders Christmas Album, entitled “Home for the Holidays” and released in 1979.
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 Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube.
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
Many puck collectors I know are the “all-in” type who purchase almost every unique puck they find and then put it on display with the hundreds of other pucks in their collection, usually in some custom-built display that costs a lot of money and takes up an entire wall.
Me? I don’t have the space or the budget for that. I’m more of a casual puck collector. Card collecting is my favorite hobby, but it is hard for me to resist buying a hockey puck every now and then, be it from a special game or commemorative event, or with the logo of some long-gone team. And I love getting pucks signed by my favorite players; pucks look great when signed in silver Sharpie or silver paint pen, and it is a shame to not display those. The problem is that over time, all these pucks start to pile up, can take a lot of display space and be tricky to store without damaging them.
If you don’t want to dedicate an entire room, wall, or bookcase to display your hockey pucks, but still want to show off some of your favorites…Read the rest of the story at the BCW Supplies Blog.
Last week was an important one in the NHL. We’re inching closer to officially starting the 2020-21 season with a start date and number of games announced. I’ll give my two cents about a new type of advertisement that is rumored to happen this season. Also, I’ll look into some tough news for a few fan-favorites and one of the weirder announcements of the week. Happy Monday!
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: NHL Season to Start January 13th”
Sal Barry was a guest on “Titillating Sports with Rick Tittle” earlier this week to discuss the Wayne Gretzky rookie card that sold for $1.29 million at auction recently. They also talked about if Alexis Lafreniere rookie cards will make a worthwhile investment and the NHL’s plans to play in 2021.
You can learn more about Rick Tittle here and listen to full episodes of his show here. Special thanks to Sports Byline USA for providing this audio clip.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Rick Tittle on Twitter @RickTittle.
Follow Sports Byline USA on Twitter @SportsBylineUSA. ■
In this special episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish are joined by Brian Slagel, the CEO of Metal Blade Records. Brian launched the careers of heavy metal bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Overkill, Fates Warning, GWAR and many more. He is also a longtime hockey fan who owns over 800 game-worn hockey jerseys. Brian talks about what it was like going to L.A. Kings games before and during the “Gretzky Era,” tracking down-hard-to-find jerseys and how he gave Metallica their first big break. If you like hockey and metal, you’re going to love this episode.
Show Notes, Links and Images:
Metal Blade Records Website (link)
Brian Slagel on Twitter (@brianslagel)
Brian Slagel’s jersey collection (YouTube)
Brian Slagel talks hockey & metal (YouTube)
“Raining Blood” by Slayer (YouTube)
“Seek and Destroy” by Metallica (YouTube)
“Name” by Goo Goo Dolls (YouTube)
Mike McKenna hockey stats (HockeyDB)
Jacques Mailhot hockey stats (HockeyDB)
Cody Glass hockey stats (HockeyDB)
The college player that Brian talks about is Owen Power (Michigan Hockey)
Austin IceBats logo (SportsLogos.net)
Brian shared some pictures of his jersey collection:
Brian Slagel (left), with former NHL goalie Mike McKenna, showing off a rare Tuscon Scorch jersey. The Scorch folded before playing in any games.
Brian Slagel’s jersey collection consists of about 800 game-worn jerseys and 1,200 additional rare and/or autographed jerseys.
Special edition “Metal Blade Records” San Antonio Rampage jerseys.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast 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. ■
The COVID-19 Pandemic has delayed everything, from “pausing” the 2019-20 NHL season, to postponing the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. It has even delayed the induction of new members into the Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame. But the wait is finally over.
A Wayne Gretzky rookie card recently sold at auction for $1.29 million dollars. Meanwhile, the 10 cards on this list would only cost you $5 combined. Yet, they are all priceless in each of their own, awful ways.
So here they are, the Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame: Class of 2020.
Continue reading “The Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame: Class of 2020”
Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the NHL’s plans for the upcoming 2021 NHL season, including rumored start dates and division realignment. Then they talk about the recent sale of the O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card that sold for $1.29 million at auction — and speculate over what could be the next hockey card to sell for $1 million.
Show Notes, Links and Images:
Potential NHL divisions for the 2021 season (NBC Sports)
NHL, NHLPA working toward Jan. 13 start (NBC Sports)
Gretzky rookie card sells for record $1.29 million at auction (NHL.com)
Comparison of the Bobby Orr RC vs. the “USA Test Issue” (Trading Card DB)
Link to rate and review the Puck Junk Podcast (Apple Podcasts)
Finally, Gordie Howe’s “appearance” on The Simpsons:
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast 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. ■
Another week of 2020 is in the books. There weren’t many notable headlines last week, though I dug deep and ended up finding some of my favorite stories from the past year — all of which are random and offbeat. I think you’ll like them. This week, I write about what you all care deeply about: hockey cards. I also get into a bit of social justice and investigate another photo of Connor McDavid looking awkward.
And I almost forgot, Happy Hannukkah!
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Gretzky Breaks Another Record”
After opening my first three boxes of 2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers, I wondered if I made a mistake — either buying too many or too few boxes. At the rate I was going, it didn’t seem like four boxes was going to get me 400 unique stickers towards the 666-sticker set. On the other hand, maybe I was just wasting my money, and should have stuck with three boxes like I did the previous year.
But what’s done is done. I bought four boxes, so of course I’m going to open all four boxes. Hopefully, my luck would change with the final box.
Continue reading “2020-21 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #4”
