Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
Another NHL season has come to an end, some players won awards – and some players who should have won awards were overlooked.
Hence, the foundation of the annual Puck Junk Awards in 2018. Now in its 8th year, the Puck Junk Awards honor the unsung heroes – such as the best scorer who can fight, the player who came out of nowhere and wowed everyone, and the least-likely goalie to tend the twine.
So, without further delay, here are the Puck Junk Award Winners for 2025.
In this episode, the guys talk about the Florida Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup Champions – and why they can three-peat next year. Clemente gives his recap of the Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 sports convention. Plus, thoughts on some recent trades, and more. It’s 101 minutes of hockey goodness – now with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part.
Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @ClementeLisi.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.
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Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.
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Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.
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Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
Fanatics Fest NYC is over and done with for this year.
While some may be wondering if we even need another big card and memorabilia show, I’m here to tell you that we do.
The reason? Aside from the fact that the second edition of FFNYC, which took place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York this past weekend, has modeled itself after Comic Con (over 500 athletes and celebrities were there), it’s also proven to be a show worth the time of hockey collectors.
In fact, there was plenty of hockey to buy and see at this show — from cards to autograph guests — that I can say it has surpassed the National.
Sure, nothing beats the Toronto Sport Card Expo when it comes to hockey, but FFNYC 2025 did have something for hockey collectors.
Here’s a look at what you missed should you want to attend next year:
Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Fanatics Fest NYC has Become a Place for Hockey Fans”
With the Stanley Cup Finals starting tomorrow, now seems like a good time to look at the Stanley Cup Presentation set by Playmobil. Several years back, Playmobil released a whole line of hockey toys, including NHL player figures, a rink playset, a Zamboni, and even the Stanley Cup – along with two Keepers of the Cup. Let’s take a closer look at this fun little playset.
Sal Barry talks with Paul Zickler, the Director of Sports Brands at Upper Deck, about Upper Deck’s new Rookie Patch Auto Authentication. The feature will deter the practice of “patch swapping” on high-end rookie cards starting with the 2023-24 The Cup. Zickler also talks about the success of PWHL trading cards and plans for the next release, future Four Nations Face-Off cards, Alex Ovechkin autographs in 2024-25 Extended Series, and a look at 2025-26 Upper Deck Series One. It’s 37 minutes of hockey goodness – now with chapters so you can skip to your favorite parts.
Links
Upper Deck Unveils New Feature to Combat Fraud (Sports Collectors Digest)
The Authority website (TheAuthority.com)
Can Ovechkin Save Extended Series? (Puck Junk)
2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Box Break (Puck Junk)
Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @ClementeLisi.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.
Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.
Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.
Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.
Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey comes out today. As the name implies, Extended Series extends Upper Deck’s flagship release by another 250 cards for a total of 750 cards between the three series.
Since 2020-21, Extended Series has made a good thing better by making Upper Deck’s flagship release the largest set of the season. Extended Series usually brings along with it loads of fun, retro-themed insert cards, drawing inspiration from the late 1990s to mid-2000s. In the past, many of the inserts you found in Extended Series were seral numbered, too.
A box of 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series is selling for around $120 for a 12-pack box. Each pack consists of nine base cards and three insert cards for 12 cards total. There is even a very long shot at pulling an Alex Ovechkin Young Guns buyback autographed card. There’s only eight of those Ovie Autos floating around, so your chances of getting hit by lightning are probably better. And no, I don’t mean Victor Hedman…though he does have a card in this set.
Today, I opened a box of 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey. Let’s see what was inside.
Continue reading “2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Box Break”
Ten years ago this month, I launched the Puck Junk Podcast. On May 12, 2015, the first episode of the show – which didn’t have a name yet – was posted online. Tim Parish and I talked about three different card sets and two other topics in under 30 minutes, if you can believe that. Now, it takes us 30 minutes just to get through the small talk at the start of the show.
This year is technically the 10th anniversary of the podcast. I say “technically” because we released 25 episodes from mid-2015 to mid-2017, then the show went away for two years.
So, is it REALLY a 10-year anniversary? Continue reading “The Puck Junk Podcast is 10 Years Old”
Sal Barry talks with former NHL goaltender Stephane Fiset, who played 390 games across 13 seasons. We talked about Fiset breaking into the league with the last-place Quebec Nordiques, to winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996, what it’s like to play with Guy Lafleur, and even some of his favorite wrestlers. It’s 11 minutes of hockey goodness.
Links
Stephane Fiset’s career statistics (HockeyDB)
Special thanks to the Sport Card Expo for providing audio of the interview.
Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @ClementeLisi.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.
Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.
Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.
Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.
Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
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”
In this episode, the guys have a long talk about the 2024-25 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey card set, including the top rookies and some of the best – and worst – insert sets. Other topics include Alex Ovechkin collectibles that have come out since he became the all-time leading goal scorer, as well as the autographed Ovie Young Guns that will be in extended series. It’s 79 minutes of hockey goodness – now with chapters so you can skip to your favorite parts.
Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk
Follow Tim Parish on X @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X @ClementeLisi.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.
Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.
Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.
Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.
Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■