Puck Junk

Puck Junk Podcast: 2021-22 Allure Hockey Cards

Plus: The Chicago Wolves Go Independent
Episode #150: April 14, 2023

Sal Barry, Tim Parish, and Jim Howard talk about the new 2021-22 Allure Hockey card set, including their thoughts on the design, the various inserts like 16-Bit, and the various parallels. They also discuss the Chicago Wolves AHL team going without a parent NHL club for next season, the Boston Bruins making NHL history, EBUG Jett Alexander getting his 70 seconds of fame, the new Evolution digital trading cards by Upper Deck, and more!. It’s 73 minutes of hockey goodness.

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Chicago Wolves to Shed Hurricanes Affiliation (The Athletic)
Chicago Wolves Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov Scores a Goalie Goal (YouTube)
Boston Bruins Secure NHL Record for Single-Season Victories (ESPN)
Jett Alexander Plays for Leafs as Emergency Goalie (NHL)
Press Release About Evolution Digital Trading Cards (Upper Deck)
2021-22 Allure Hockey Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
Some images from 2021-22 Allure Hockey

16-Bit inserts are allegedly a “case hit” found once in every case.

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Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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2021-22 Synergy Hockey Box Break

Don’t let the release date fool you. The 2021-22 Synergy Hockey set was released in February 2023, about a year later than it should have come out. Part of the reason for this is that the plastic used to make Synergy cards was in short supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, things are starting to normalize again — at least with trading cards, which are coming out, *ahem*, less than a year late instead of over a year late.

Two features make Synergy base cards unique. The cards are twice as thick as normal cards, with a top layer that is printed on die-cut foil board and a bottom layer printed on Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) plastic, usually referred to as acetate. Synergy cards are similar to the “two-layer thick” Fleer EX cards from the 1990s and in various retro-themed sets over the past decade. Synergy base cards, and even more so the insert cards, feel like they would fit right in with the zany, overdesigned hockey cards from the 1990s.

This is the fifth year that Upper Deck has released Synergy as a hockey card set. A box costs about $100 and contains eight three-card packs, for a total of 24 cards. I recently broke a box of 2021-22 Synergy. Let’s see what’s inside.

Continue reading “2021-22 Synergy Hockey Box Break”

2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Box Break

Normally an early-season release, the 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set was released on March 1, right as the regular season was winding down. Releasing the set later later in the season allowed Upper Deck to include rookie cards of players who made their debut early in the ’22-23 season, such as Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken and first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens.

A hobby box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee costs around $60 for 18 packs. Each pack contains 10 cards, so a box yields 180 cards. As usual, O-Pee-Chee has numerous parallels, as well as popular inserts, such as Playing Cards.

I recently opened a box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards. Here’s what was inside.

Continue reading “2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Box Break”

Clemente’s Corner: Alexis Lafreniere Needs Time to Be a Hockey Hobby Star

I am a New York Rangers fan. I don’t hide that fact from readers. It’s also the reason why I feel like I have to defend Alexis Lafreniere.

Chosen first overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Lafreniere has been a topic of conversation even before ever skating a shift for the Rangers. That’s because he came into the league during the pandemic at a time when interest in the overall hobby skyrocketed. Sal and Tim tackled this very topic on the Puck Junk Podcast back in March 2021, during Lafreniere’s rookie season.

Three years later, there’s still debate over whether Lafreniere is a bust or has yet to come into his own. I choose to argue the latter. Let me explain.

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Alexis Lafreniere Needs Time to Be a Hockey Hobby Star”

Puck Junk Podcast: Interview with Paul Zickler of Upper Deck

Episode #149: April 6, 2023

Sal Barry and Tim Parish are joined by Paul Zickler, the Senior Sports Brand Manager at Upper Deck. Paul talks about the big changes coming to Upper Deck hockey cards starting with 2023-24 Upper Deck Series One. Paul also talks about some of the other new and upcoming hockey card sets. It’s 48 minutes of hockey goodness!

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

Plus: Changes to 2023-24 Upper Deck
Episode #148: March 31, 2023

This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the new 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card set, including what they love about it and what could be better. They also have a long discussion about Upper Deck’s planned changes to its flagship set (Series One, Series Two, and Extended Series) for 2023-24, and how this will impact the hobby. Plus, a look at the 2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Checklist and more. It’s 86 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
NHL needs frank Pride Night discussion (New York Post
2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
2022-23 Upper Deck Series 2 Checklist (Beckett)
The Great Space Coaster Intro Theme (YouTube)
Upper Deck’s Flagship Series Will See a Refresh (Upper Deck Blog)

Some images from 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey:

2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Lunch Box Legends card:

He’s a lunch box legend. With stars in his eyes.

And finally, this allegedly is the design of the forthcoming 2023-24 Upper Deck Portraits inserts. Allegedly…

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Book Review – Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL

It seems like every NHL player who has some degree of success writes a book when their career comes to an end. But what about the thousands of players who don’t make it to the NHL? What sacrifices did they make — and what scars did they pick up — along the way to ultimately fall short of reaching their dreams? In “Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL”, ex-NHL draft pick Justin Davis talks about the hazing by teammates, horrid living conditions, and health risks he endured while playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League. The physical scars may quickly heal, but emotional scars sometimes take decades to even be discovered before the healing can begin.

Continue reading “Book Review – Conflicted Scars: An Average Player’s Journey to the NHL”

2022-23 Artifacts Hockey Box Break

Upper Deck is a little more on track with the release of 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey. Whereas the 2021-22 Artifacts set did not come out until September of 2022 — a good three months after the ’21-22 season wrapped up — the 2022-23 Artifacts set came midseason at the tail-end of January 2023.

Like last year’s Artifacts set (reviewed here), a box of 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey contains eight four-card packs. It is currently selling for about $130 per box. The box states that you can get “at least 2 hits per box (on average).” However, product descriptions from online card sellers state that you get three autograph, memorabilia or “tech cards” per box, either one rookie redemption or Clear Cut card per box, and four serial-numbered cards per box.

Last week, we talked about 2022-23 Artifacts in episode #147 of the Puck Junk Podcast. But here’s the full box break, including some additional images.

Continue reading “2022-23 Artifacts Hockey Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey Cards

Episode #147: March 22, 2023

In the new Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish have a long talk about the new 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey card set. They also discuss Jordan Binnington going off the rails (again), James Reimer refusing to participate in warmups during Sharks’ Pride Night, Tik Tok’s ban on card breaking, and more. It’s 101 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Video: “Laid” by James (YouTube)
Video: “Say Something” by James (YouTube)
Video: “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers (YouTube)
Video: “Hocus Pocus” by Focus (YouTube)
Video: Marc-Andre Fleury Challenges Jordan Binnington (YouTube)
Video: Marc-Andre Fleury Almost Fights Peter Budaj (YouTube)
Video: Marc-Andre Fleury Fights in a Junior Hockey Game (YouTube)
Video: South Park “Cripple Fight” (YouTube)
Video: Ron Hextall Attacks Chris Chelios (YouTube)
Jordan Binnington Suspended Two Games (TSN)
The QMJHL Will Tighten Rules Around Fighting (CBC)
Reimer Boycotts Sharks’ Warmup Skate Before Pride Night Game (ESPN)
Video: Marshawn Lynch “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.” (YouTube)
Video: “Get Ready for This” by 2 Unlimited (YouTube)
Jim Howard’s Box Break Fiasco from 2015-16 Contours (Puck Junk)
Images of the mangled package that Tim received in the mail (Twitter)

The card that Tim is hoarding – the 1991-92 Parkhurst Bill Guerin XRC:

Some images from 2022-23 Artifacts Hockey:

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Puck Junk Podcast: The Patrick Kane Trade

Episode #146: March 10, 2023

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about Patrick Kane being traded to the New York Rangers, how it improves the Rangers’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup this year, and how it may affect the collectability of Kane’s hockey cards. The guys also discuss some of the other notable NHL trades made near the deadline, including Jonathan Quick, Max Domi, Tanner Jeannot, Nick Bonino, Brendan Lemieux, and Jakob Chychrun. Plus, Sal learns how to pronounce “Namestnikov.” It’s 77 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Rangers Acquire Patrick Kane in Trade with Blackhawks (CBS Sports)
Does Changing Teams Affect Player Collecting (Puck Junk Podcast)
Patrick Kane’s “First” Hockey Card (Puck Junk)

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

Plus: The Chicago Wolves Go Independent Episode #150: April 14, 2023

Episode #149: April 6, 2023

Plus: Changes to 2023-24 Upper Deck Episode #148: March 31, 2023

Episode #147: March 22, 2023

Episode #146: March 10, 2023

Plus: The Chicago Wolves Go Independent
Episode #150: April 14, 2023

Plus: Changes to 2023-24 Upper Deck
Episode #148: March 31, 2023