The 5th Annual Puck Junk Awards

A.K.A. 7 Awards the NHL Needs Right Now!

Every year, the NHL gives its superstars awards to celebrate their talents — from Cale Makar winning the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman, to Auston Matthews winning the Rocket Richard Trophy for leading the league in goals. 

But what about the other guys who contribute to their teams in less obvious, but still important, ways? Why not give out an award to the player who can fight and score goals, or the least-likely goalie to appear in an NHL game? 

Thus, back in 2018, I created the annual Puck Junk Awards to give due the the NHL’s toughest mofo, the most hated player, and heck, even the most-traded player, among others. Special thanks to Puck Junk Podcast cohost Tim Parish for helping with the voting process. 

So here are the 2022 Puck Junk Award Winners! 

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2021-22 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey

Plus the NHL Draft and Recent Trades. 
Episode #123 – July 13, 2022

In Episode #123, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the new 2021-22 Upper Deck Series Two hockey cards, including the new crop of Young Guns as well as some Kraken sightings! Plus, a look at the 2022 NHL Draft and some recent trades. It’s 92 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes & Links:
Hockey Card Comeback (The Hockey News)
2021-22 Upper Deck Series Two Checklist (Cardboard Connection)

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Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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Clemente’s Corner: Go ‘Fourth’ and Collect These Iconic USA Hockey Cards

We’re officially in the NHL offseason. While the league goes into hibernation mode until a new season starts on October 11, there’s still plenty of hockey out there for everyone to enjoy this summer.

The new 3-on-3 league, known as 3ICE, just launched, while card and memorabilia collecting never stops as many of you out there prepare to attend The National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City at the end of the month.  

The dog days of summer get into high gear with the Fourth of July and everything that goes with it such as pool parties, cookouts and fireworks. Of course, America’s birthday is also a great excuse for me at my very first “Clemente’s Corner” to write about some of my favorite hockey cards featuring players in their USA uniforms.

It could be because I am also a big soccer fan, but I do love international hockey competition. I miss seeing NHLers play at the Olympics. It’s for that reason that I am going to rundown my favorite cards featuring U.S. players just in time for Independence Day.

Some of these cards are true gems. Indeed, they are cardboard miracles when you consider how infrequently players have appeared in past sets wearing their national team colors. Here are a few of my favorites:   

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2022 Stanley Cup Final Recap & Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Episode #122: June 30, 2022

Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the 2022 Stanley Cup Final and how the Colorado Avalanche knocked out two-time defending champs Tampa Bay Lightning. Plus, they have a long discussion about the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2022: Daniel Afredsson, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Roberto Luongo, Riikka Sallinen, and Herb Carnegie. And Sal talks about the most-recent Sports Card Spectacular memorabilia show in Chicago. It’s 98 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes & Links:
Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2022 (HHOF Website)
Puck Culture: Five Todd McFarlane-Hockey Crossovers (The Hockey News)
Puck Junk Podcast #112: RC…or Not RC? That is the Question (Puck Junk)

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercastPlayerFMPocketCastsPodcast AddictPodchaserSpotifyStitcher, and Transistor. Subscribe to the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.  

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

2020-21 Stature Hockey Box Break

It still seems weird to be talking about “new” hockey cards from the 2020-21 season at the end of the 2021-22 season. In late May 2022, Upper Deck released its 2020-21 Stature Hockey set, which features cards printed on thick, foil board card stock. 

A box of Stature costs around $180 and contains one eight-card pack. Each box promises one autographed card or autographed patch card per box, plus one rookie card per box. 

I recently got my hands on a box of 2020-21 Stature Hockey. Here is what I got. 

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Snap Shots: Colorado Captures the Cup

Hello, Puck Junk readers! I know it has been over a month since I last wrote my Snap Shots column. Yes, we all get busy — but I was crazy busy. Crazy busy enough that I even used bold and italics at the same time! Between my work as a teacher and setting up at a three-day card show recently, I was in a time crunch. Something had to give, and unfortunately, it was this site for a little while. But now I’m back! 

Anyway, enough about me. A lot happened in hockey over the past week. Naturally, we must start with the Colorado Avalanche winning the 2022 Stanley Cup Championship. 

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Puck Junk Podcast: Interview with Craig Patrick, 3Ice Commissioner & former NHL Player, GM and Coach

Episode #121: June 10, 2022

This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish are joined by Hockey Hall of Fame member and 3Ice Commissioner Craig Patrick. Mr. Patrick talks about the new 3Ice three-on-three hockey league, which launches June 18, as well as his careers as an NHL player, as the assistant coach on the “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Team, as the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins — and how he feels about appearing on Jaromir Jagr’s rookie card. It’s 44 minutes of hockey goodness that you don’t want to miss! 

Show Notes, Links & Images:
Craig Patrick’s Career Stats on HockeyDB and Elite Prospects
3Ice Hockey League Official Website
“I Gotta Call Craig Patrick Right Now” t-shirt at the 3Ice Store

A few notable hockey cards of Craig Patrick:

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee #184 Craig Patrick
1972-73 O-Pee-Chee #221 Craig Patrick
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee #178 Craig Patrick
1995 Signature Rookies Miracle on Ice #44 Craig Patrick
1990-91 Upper Deck #356 Jaromir Jagr – Craig Patrick is on the right, shaking hands with Jagr moments after he picked him 5th-overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast, PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher, and Transistor. Subscribe to the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.  

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

Five Things to Know About the Toronto Sport Card Expo

Story and photos by Clemente Lisi

Sports card collectors have the annual National Sports Collectors Convention to look forward to at the end of every July. Hockey card collectors, on the other hand, got to enjoy the Toronto Sport Card and Memorabilia Expo during the first week of June.  

Sometimes referred to as the “Canadian National,” the Expo typically features tons of hockey cards and collectibles and sections of the showroom floor do sometimes feel like you’ve stumbled into a museum. The spring edition of the Expo that took place from June 2-5 was no different.

It was the first spring Expo held at The International Centre, located near Toronto’s Pearson Airport, since the pandemic forced stay-at-home orders and halted travel. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions, both in the U.S. and Canada, made for large crowds during the four-day show, which was moved from March.  

While the majority of people at the show hailed from all over Canada, a few out there, like me, made the trek across the border to Toronto. After four days in Toronto, I totally recommend taking such a trip in the future. For example, Toronto takes as much time for me to get to from New York City by plane (just two hours) as Atlantic City, site of the next National, is by car. It’s true that airfare costs more, but finding a deal is possible. 

For anyone considering attending the Toronto Sport Expo in the future, here are five things from this last show that you should know. 

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Puck Junk Podcast: Nazem Kadri vs Jordan Binnington

Plus: The Panthers Get Swept! 
Episode #120: May 27, 2022

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the Nazem Kadri vs. Jordan Binnington incident and “Bottlegate.” They also talk about the Florida Panthers getting swept. Should we all be surprised? Or should we have known better all along? Plus, eBay is making NFTs featuring Wayne Gretzky and Sal gets a set of cards he always wanted. This podcast contains 96 minutes of hockey goodness…and 12 grams of flavor crystals!

Show Notes, Links & Images:
Sal mentions “Chariot of the Gods,” but he actually meant “Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis (YouTube)
Nazem Kadri’s Postgame Interview on TNT (YouTube)
Ron Hextall Chases Rob Brown (YouTube)
Cam Talbot Fights Mike Smith During Line Brawl (YouTube)
Book Review: Black Ice: The Val James Story (Puck Junk)
eBay to Launch NFTs Featuring Wayne Gretzky (CNBC)
Ticket Stubs: The Hobby’s Hottest Collectible (BCW Supplies)
Images of the 1990-91 Jaromir Jagr regional-issue card sponsored by Foodland and given out by Pittsburgh-area police

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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