O-Pee-Chee

Puck Junk Podcast: 1980-81 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Setrospective

Plus: Parent, Giacomin & Goodenow
Episode #227: September 24, 2025

Sal Barry and Tim Parish have a long talk about the 1980-81 Topps and O-Pee-Chee hockey card sets, discussing the best rookies, notable cards, and other interesting tidbits you didn’t know that you needed to know! And why does Sal still hate the 1980-81 Topps set so much? Plus, a look at the lives and careers of Bernie Parent, Ed Giacomin, and Bob Goodenow. The YouTube version of the podcast features video and photos. 

Show Notes and Links
Video: Bernie Parent Interview (Puck Junk)
Review: 1980-81 Topps Hockey Cards (Puck Junk)
Card of the Week: Oil Painting (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.

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

Puck Junk Podcast: 1988-89 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Setrospective

Episode #225: August 26, 2025

Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a fond look back at the 1988-89 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey card sets, known for its use of bright colors, drop shadows, and pushpins. They discuss why you should have both of these iconic sets – as well as a few related cards – in your collection. Other topics include a Georges Vezina rookie card topping $100K, the Red Wings retiring Sergei Fedorov’s number, and ECHL expansion. It’s 121 minutes of hockey goodness. The YouTube version of this podcast features pictures of the cards we talk about during the episode. 

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. ■

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)

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 1974-75 Topps & O-Pee-Chee Hockey Setrospective

Episode #211: February 8, 2025

Sal, Tim, and Clemente look back at the 1974-75 Topps and O-Pee-Chee Hockey card sets, which turn 50 years old this season. Five decades later, those two sets still stand out as some of the best cards from the 1970s, with their hockey-centric designs and impressive rookie class. The guys also talk about the popularity of PWHL cards, the 4 Nations Face-Off Uniforms, the return of “Goldberg” from The Mighty Ducks movies, and more. It’s 95 minutes of hockey goodness – now with chapters, so you can skip ahead to your favorite parts. 

Links
1974-75 Topps Hockey Card Checklist (TCDB)
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Card Checklist (TCDB)

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: The Re-Sold 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Case

Plus: The Return of Fanatics Fest NYC
Episode #207: December 20, 2024

In the last Puck Junk Podcast of 2024, the guys talk about the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey case that was sold – AGAIN! – at Heritage Auctions, and why the case was sold a second time. Plus, the return of Fanatics Fest NYC, new Upper Deck exclusive autograph athletes, and more. It’s 99 minutes of hockey goodness.

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. ■

The Case of the Resold OPC Case

Just imagine owning an O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card, pack fresh and with four sharp corners. Now imagine owning 24 of them.

For one recent auction winner, that dream could become a reality. On December 5, Heritage Auctions sold a full case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards for $2.52 million USD. A case has 16 boxes. A box has 48 packs. Each pack has 14 cards. If the entire case is opened, it could have anywhere from 24 to 28 Gretzky rookie cards inside. 

Continue reading “The Case of the Resold OPC Case”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey Cards

Episode #203: October 19, 2024

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, the guys talk about the 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey set. At almost $300 per box, it’s a high-risk set – but is it worth the potential reward? Plus, a quick look at the new 2024-25 Upper Deck Series One hockey set, Sal talks about going to the Dallas Card Show Chicago Edition, and more. It’s 91 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on X/Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter @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. ■

NHL Free Agency Frenzy: Don’t Expect Updated Hockey Cards Anytime Soon

It Will Be a While Before Cards Reflect New Teams

Since NHL Free Agency started last week, over 40 NHL players have signed free agency contracts with new teams. Notable signings include Steven Stamkos with the Predators, Jake Guentzel with the Lightning, Ilya Samsonov with the Golden Knights, Elias Lindholm with the Bruins, Sean Monohan with the Blue Jackets, and Vladamir Tarasenko with the Red Wings. 

There were some trades too, such as the deal that sent Bruins’ goalie Linus Ullmark to the Senators. 

Nearly all of the players changing teams over this summer are NHL regulars who will appear on one or more hockey cards this upcoming season.

Unfortunately, it’s going to take some time before we can expect to see cards picturing these players in their new threads. 

The next few cards of Steven Stamkos that we find in packs will still show him in his Lightning jersey. Sorry, Predators’ fans. You’ll just have to wait a little longer. 

Of course, part of that reason is because Upper Deck is still releasing sets from the 2023-24 season over the summer, as well as the 2022-23 Premier set coming out this week. 

And even sets released prior to the start of the season, like 2024-25 MVP, will use photos from before March’s trade deadline. Other sets like Upper Deck Series One and Artifacts will be released in October – still too soon to see any of the summer signings or trades reflected. 

But it wasn’t always that way. Card companies used to go through great lengths to picture players in their new uniforms after a trade or free agent singing. 

Continue reading “NHL Free Agency Frenzy: Don’t Expect Updated Hockey Cards Anytime Soon”

The Case of the Unpaid O-Pee-Chee Case

Hey Buddy – Can You Cancel My $3.72M Winning Bid?

Back in February, you may recall that a full 16-box case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards sold for $3.72 million at Heritage Auctions. The case may potentially have as many as 25 Wayne Gretzky rookie cards inside that presumably would get high grades. 

Well, the winning bidder still has not paid in full for the case – and he no longer wants it. 

Continue reading “The Case of the Unpaid O-Pee-Chee Case”