Puck Junk

Clemente’s Corner: Will These Gretzky Records Fall? Get These Cards Now!

Last month, Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most career NHL goals during the regular season – a record that The Great One held for over 30 years. Ovechkin breaking the record was celebrated across the league and highlighted the close of the regular season.

As we get closer to the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, many collectors are working on their want lists. Looking ahead, some of Gretzky’s other records could potentially be broken. So now is a great chance to buy rookie cards of players that very few are paying attention to. Staying ahead of these trends by buying the right cards now could pay off in the end; not just financially, but in the thrill of being a part of hockey history in the making.

Here are three of Gretzky’s records that could be broken in the next few years, and the hockey cards you should buy now.

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Can Ovechkin Save Extended Series?

Will Hype and Hope Help the Often-Overlooked Set?

Upper Deck announced that Alexander Ovechkin has autographed eight copies of this 2005-06 Young Guns rookie cards, which will be randomly found in packs of 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series. Each card will bear Ovie’s autograph in bright blue ink and be hand numbered out of 8. These are original Young Guns cards that Upper Deck purchased to get signed (a.k.a. “buybacks.”)

Will the hype and hope of pulling an autographed Ovechkin Young Guns rookie card give Extended Series that push it needs?

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Clemente’s Corner: Alex Ovechkin’s Record-Breaking Goal Fuels Demand for His Memorabilia

Alex Ovechkin’s historic achievement of becoming the NHL’s all-time leading scorer has not only captured the attention of hockey fans around the world – but also sparked a surge of interest in his memorabilia and collectibles.

Since surpassing the legendary Wayne Gretzky’s longstanding record of 894 goals on April 6, Ovechkin’s impact on the market for sports memorabilia has been nothing short of remarkable, with fans, collectors — and, yes, investors — alike all very eager to get their hands on a piece of hockey history.

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2024-25 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

Episode #215: April 4, 2025

In Episode #215 of the Puck Junk Podcast, the guys talk about the new 2024-25 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card set. Plus: National Hockey Card Day 2025, 2024-25 Emanate Under Wraps Hockey, and John Tortorella gets fired again. It’s 92 minutes of hockey goodness – now with chapters so you can skip to your favorite parts.

Links
Tortorella Fired by Flyers (NHL.com)
Book Review: A Guy Like Me by John Scott (Puck Junk)
Video: John Tortorella in a Fight in the Flames Hallway (YouTube)
National Hockey Card Day Website (Upper Deck)
National Hockey Card Day Trade Group (Facebook)
Review: 1998-99 Panini Photocards (Puck Junk)
Emanate Hockey Listing on GameStop Website (GameStop.com)
2024-25 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)

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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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A Look at the Culture of a Boston University Hockey Game

It is well known that college football is almost like a religion in the southern United States and in Texas. In the Midwest and the Carolinas, college basketball has a larger than life following, and in Southern California, college baseball has a large following. However, In the Northeast United States, hockey the big man on campus.

Today, we will look inside Agganis Arena to experience the atmosphere, traditions and customs of a Boston University Terriers hockey game.

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Will Tariffs Affect the Price of Hockey Cards?

And You Thought Cards Already Cost Too Much

Recently, a Puck Junk Podcast listener asked me if the “Trade War” tariffs that are being imposed on goods imported into the United States and in Canada will affect the price of hockey cards.

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Clemente’s Corner: The 3 Best and 3 Worst NHL Jerseys from the 1990s

NHL jerseys hold significant value both for teams and collectors alike, offering fans a unique opportunity to express their allegiance in fresh ways.

During the 1990s, several NHL teams experimented with “third jerseys” that would be worn on special occasions, while other teams completely changed its logo, its color scheme – or both. Quite a few new designs made their debut on the ice that decade – and not all of them were memorable in a good way.

For collectors, these jerseys are highly coveted because of their rarity and limited availability. This exclusivity adds to their allure and potential value.

At the same time, alternate jerseys also serve as a bridge between nostalgia and modernity, allowing collectors to own a piece of both the present and the past. Whether it’s a throwback to a classic design or a cutting-edge reimagining, these sweaters capture a snapshot of a team’s identity at a specific time in NHL history.

With that, let’s start with the best …

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Puck Junk Podcast: How Will Tariffs Affect Hockey Card Prices?

Episode #214: March 22, 2025

How will tariffs in the U.S.-Canada Trade War affect the prices of hockey cards at retail stores or online sales? That’s the big topic in this week’s episode of the Puck Junk Podcast. Other topics include a Wayne Gretzky game-used stick used to break a record that is up for auction, the PWHL players getting overwhelmed by autograph requests, and the recent Chicago Sports Spectacular. Plus, listeners’ comments. It’s 90 minutes of hockey goodness – now with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite parts.

Links
Wayne Gretzky Record-Breaking Hockey Stick Auction (Yahoo! Sports)
Tariffs Expected to Drive Up Hockey Card Prices (Sports Collectors Daily)

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2024-25 Synergy Hockey Cards

Episode #213: March 8, 2025

In this episode, the guys give their review of the 2024-25 Synergy Hockey set – which could be the last-ever Synergy set. Other topics include Sidney Crosby’s recent milestones, the passing of longtime Penguins announcer Mike Lange, Seth Jones’ trade to Florida, the recent Stadium Series, Shoresy Season 4, and the upcoming Chicago Sports Spectacular. Plus, would a 24-hour long card show be possible? It’s 90 minutes of hockey goodness – now with chapters, so you can skip ahead to your favorite parts.

Links
2024-25 Synergy Box Break & Images (Puck Junk)
2024-25 Synergy Checklist (TCDB)

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Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

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Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

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

2024-25 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #5

After opening four boxes of 2024-25 Topps Hockey Stickers, I was down to needing 71 stickers to complete the 800-sticker set. And yet these Topps sticker sets are notoriously difficult to build, so I knew that would probably be impossible. But I figured having more doubles on hand to trade could only help. Plus, there are those parallels. My fourth box had a Red Foil Parallel. Would this box also have a Red Foil Parallel? It could happen, as they are found one in every five boxes, or about three per 16-box case. Or could this box have two Blue Foil Parallels of players that I collect, or even – dare to dream – a Gold Foil Parallel?

That said, let’s see what my fifth and final box of 2024-25 Topps Hockey Stickers had inside.

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