Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
Happy third night of Hannukkah and merry Christmas Eve. This edition of Blake’s Takes won’t be very festive, but it will have some interesting content. Last week was a busy week in the NHL. Taylor Hall was finally moved and Ilya Kovalchuk is now a free agent! I’ll also highlight a breakout performer and take a closer look at one of my favorite plays of the week.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Hall Moves to Phoenix for the Holidays”
In the holiday-themed episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish share their stories — as well as stories submitted by listeners — about getting hockey cards and hockey memorabilia for Christmas. Thanks to everyone who shared their own memories for this podcast, which is 1 hour and 9 minutes long. Also, the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast is now available on Spotify and TuneIn, plus many other popular podcast providers.
Show Notes and Links
All about the New York Islanders Christmas Album
Commons 4 Kids Charity
The Original Pittsburgh Penguins Logo
The “Conceited Swan” Penguins Logo
“1929 NHL Tweets” Twitter account
The Bruce C. Goaltending Museum
The Story of Festivus
More info about this episode’s cover image
Finally, here’s the Wayne Gretzky Overtime Table Hockey Game that Sal finally got after five years of asking for it:
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro & ending music for this episode is from the New York Islanders Christmas Album, entitled “Home for the Holidays” and released in 1979.
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. ■
You didn’t think I would forget about honoring bad hockey cards this year, did you? I launched the Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame in 2017 with an inaugural class of 10 horrible hockey cards, and then followed up in 2018 with another 10 equally-awful cards. In 2019, another batch of baddies get their due.
Usually, I unveil the honorees right around the time the Hockey Hall of Fame holds it’s induction ceremony, but these past few months have been busy for me. Really busy. (If you read The Hockey News, then you’ve seen what’s been keeping me busy.) Fortunately, we still have a little time left in the year, so without further ado, may I introduce the Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame: Class of 2019.
Continue reading “The Puck Junk Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame: Class of 2019”
Are redemption cards as awful as everyone says they are? Or are they a necessary evil? This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish weigh the pros and cons of companies using redemption cards in hockey card products. They also talk about the new 2019-20 Parkhurst Hockey set and more. It’s 59 minutes of hockey goodness!
Show Notes and Links:
Skokie Park District Website
2019-20 Parkhurst Hockey Info & Checklist
The full story on Sal’s redemption saga with Panini America
How Upper Deck fulfilled Sal’s missing redemption card
2019-20 Prizm Hockey Info & Checklist
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro, Overcast, and SoundCloud .
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
This week in hockey was much calmer than the last few. Sadly, most of the news that was reported was negative and a bit depressing. But, I’ll still highlight one of the more surprising starts of a player on one of the league’s worst teams. Let me know what you think!
In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, host Sal Barry talks with former NHL right wing Mike Brown, who played in over 400 regular season games — and dropped the gloves over 100 times! Brown recounts his youth hockey days in Chicago, playing college hockey under legendary coach Red Berenson, the highlights of his nine-year NHL career and how his dedication to physical fitness helped him succeed. This episode clocks in at just under 30 minutes.
Show Notes and Links
Mike Brown’s career stats via NHL.com.
Picture of Brown’s awesome mustache while with the Oilers.
Brown’s fight history on HockeyFights.com.
Brown had the most fights in his NHL career against Zenon Konopka.
Brown’s website for the Michael S. Brown Performance LLC.
The Skokie Park District’s Web of Fame page about Brown.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro, Overcast, and SoundCloud .
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
Sorry I kept all of you waiting! Of course, the one weekend I go on vacation I miss all the great storylines. Regardless, in this edition of Blake’s Takes, I’ll take a look at the league’s response to abusive behavior that has dominated the headlines recently. I’ll also shoot off a few takes about fired coaches and recent player honors.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Big Changes Announced at Board Meeting”
Hello again, my friends. I hope we’re all thankful and fat from Thanksgiving leftovers (or not, if you’re from outside the United States), but let’s dive into Upper Deck’s latest givings and see where their photographers dropped the ball before New Years!
Continue reading “Best of the Worst: 2019-20 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey”
This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a look 20 years into the past and discuss the 1999-2000 season in hockey cards — from Topps, to Upper Deck to Pacific — and why that season is unlike any other when it comes to hockey cards.
What’s your favorite set from the 1999-2000 season? What trading card set, feature or gimmick would you like to see make a comeback? Leave a comment and let us know.
Follow Sal on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Castbox , Overcast, and SoundCloud .
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
For this week’s takes, I dive into the entire Bill Peters saga and why his comments illuminate a growing issue in the NHL. I also comment on a few notable extensions up in Boston and look into a team moving up in the standings.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Peters Out in Calgary After Frequent Player Abuse”