Puck Junk Podcast: March 17, 2020

COVID-19 Pauses NHL Season

COVID-19, a.k.a. the Coronavirus Disease, has halted the hockey season for the time being — and for who knows how long? This week, Sal and Tim talk about how this pandemic has indefinitely “paused” the NHL, the AHL, and even local recreational hockey leagues. They also talk about 2019-20 Upper Deck Allure Hockey cards. Plus, the return of the Puck Junk Listener Mailbag!

Show Notes and Links:
How to protect yourself from the Coronavirus Disease / COVID-19 (CDC)
Symptoms of the Coronavirus Disease / COVID-19 (CDC)
The new Puck Junk Facebook Group (Facebook)
2019-20 Upper Deck Allure Hockey checklist & pics (Cardboard Connection)
Here’s an Allure “Yellow Taxi” insert from a retail pack:

Here are those Wayne Gretzky Street Hockey Shoes that Sal wishes he had bought in 1994…

…and the ad for the shoes:

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 Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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Blake’s Takes: COVID-19 Forces NHL to Pause Play

This might have been a slow week in the NHL, but it was the craziest in our lives. The Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the country and has forced the U.S. government to declare a national state of emergency. I’ll do my best to wrap my brain around what that means for the hockey world. Even without any games being played, I’ll still be cooking up some hot takes for everyone.

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The Time My Hockey Teammate Quit…in the Middle of a Game!

I’ve been playing recreational hockey — or beer league, as many call it — for about six years now, and I’ve seen my share of crazy stuff. I recall one game being cancelled because the Zamboni broke down in the middle of the ice. Another time, I remember a guy getting kicked out of the game because he was trying to fight with his own teammate. But the craziest thing that has happened is when I had a teammate get up and quit playing on my team — in the middle of a game.

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Puck Junk Podcast: March 12, 2020

COVID-19 / Coronavirus Impacts the NHL

Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the COVID-19 disease, also known as Coronavirus, and how it has affected the NHL so far. Other topics include Roberto Luongo, Mika Zibanejad and remembering Canadiens’ legend Henri Richard.

Show Notes and Links:
Should Fans Be Concerned about the NHL Season Being Cancelled? (THN)
San Jose Sharks Statement on Upcoming Events at SAP Center (NHL)
Blue Jackets Statement on Upcoming Game Schedule (NHL)
Chicago Sports Spectacular (Show Website)
NOTE: Denis Potvin has cancelled his autograph appearance.
Henri Richard Career Stats (HockeyDB)
Roberto Luongo Career Stats (HockeyDB)
Roberto Luongo Reads Poetry (YouTube)
Sal’s Quest to Own an Islanders “Fish Sticks” Jersey (Puck Junk)
Mika Zibanejad’s 5-Goal Game Highlights (YouTube)
Mika Zibanejad Career Stats (HockeyDB)

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 Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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

Blake’s Takes: The Arrival of Mika Zibanejad

It was a quiet week in hockey outside of what could have been the game of the year between the Rangers and Capitals. I’ll highlight that game and the major milestones that came from it. The league also announced some news that could impact the future of emergency goalies. Happy reading.

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Puck Junk Podcast: March 6, 2020

How the 1994-95 NHL Lockout Forever Changed Hockey Cards

Nothing had a bigger effect on hockey trading cards than the 1994-95 NHL Lockout. Because of the lockout, companies could make more hockey sets, hockey cards became more expensive and autographed cards became more commonplace. However, the 1994 NHL lockout was not without casualties, as some card sets — as well as other licensed NHL collectibles — were cancelled, while some contests and promotions were ruined. Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a look back at the 1994-95 lockout and how it forever affected hockey cards. They also talk about the forthcoming David Ayres rookie cards and answer more listener questions.

Show Notes and Links:
Johnny Boychuk gets hit in the face with a skate (YouTube)
Jim Little responds to being fired by Ottawa Senators (Twitter)
The “Saved By the Bell” design of 1994-95 Score boxes (Trading Card DB)
Robin Lehner shows off a bruise from stopping a shot (Twitter)

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 Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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

Blake’s Takes: Extensions in New York

The trade deadline ended last week but I missed some things in the aftermath. I’ll give my opinion on a few notable trades that also yielded extensions. There were a few other major stories around the NHL that I found worth mentioning. Happy Monday!

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How to Get a David Ayres Rookie Card

The whole sports world has been abuzz about David Ayres, the 42-year old emergency backup goaltender who manned the pipes when both Carolina Hurricanes goaltenders went down with injuries in a February 22 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ayers, who works for the Toronto Marlies AHL team as a facilities manager and Zamboni driver, was on hand for the Maple Leafs should either team need an emergency goalie. He played in nearly half of that game and stopped eight out of 10 shots that he faced, recording the win in the Hurricanes’ 6-3 victory. He is the first EBUG to be credited with a win in an NHL contest.

Of course, whenever an EBUG makes an appearance, the question is if he will be featured on a hockey card. And the answer is yes — Ayres will be featured on two hockey cards this year. One you can purchase between now and the morning of Friday, March 6, as a part of Upper Deck’s “Game Dated Moments” set. The other Ayres card will come out in May, but will be much tougher to get.

So, if you’d like to own a David Ayres rookie card right now, but don’t understand how Upper Deck E-Pack works, never bought hockey cards online before, or haven’t bought trading cards since they came packaged with gum, then read on.

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Puck Junk Podcast: February 28, 2020

EBUG Sensation David Ayres, Plus YOUR Questions!

In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about Emergency Backup Goalie sensation David Ayres, who played for the Carolina Hurricanes last Saturday and was the first EBUG to record a win. Plus, it’s the debut of the Puck Junk Listener Mailbag! And we might have overdone it with the mailbag questions this week, as this episode is now 1 hour and 54 minutes long. But that’s OK, because it’s awesome. Don’t believe us? Well, click that “Play” button and find out!

Show Notes and Links:
Poll: “Your Hockey Team’s So Bad…” (Twitter)
Dave Ayres, 42, EBUG gets win in NHL debut (CNN)
The first time Sal saw Slap Shot (Puck Junk)
Upper Deck’s 2019 Sibling Sensations Hockey Set (Upper Deck)
Trading Card Database (link)
Last Sticker (link)
National Hockey Card Day – Trade Group (Facebook)
Puddy: “Gotta support the team.” (YouTube)
2015-16 Panini Anthology Hockey Box Break (Puck Junk)
2015-16 Upper Deck Full Force Hockey Box Break (Puck Junk)
The Inside Story on the Eric Semborski Hockey Card (Puck Junk)
Tom Fenton to Get an ITG Hockey Card (Puck Junk)
Here’s that awesome custom Tom Fenton hockey card Sal made:

Sal’s attempt to remove gum that was stuck to a hockey card (YouTube)
Sal eats 24-year old O-Pee-Chee gum and lives to regret it (YouTube)
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee Bill Ranford rookie card with gum stuck to it:

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 Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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

Blake’s Takes: Another Emergency Goalie!

Happy Monday and welcome back to my takes. The NHL was buzzing this weekend with big stories and exciting plays. I’ll obviously write about Hurricanes instant superstar, David Ayres, and Ovechkin finally reaching another milestone. You’ll want to read all five takes for a few other fun stories I highlighted this week.

Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Another Emergency Goalie!”