Olympics

Puck Junk Podcast: 2026 Winter Olympic Hockey Update

Episode #240: February 18, 2026
Plus: Topps Chrome Olympic Cards

In this episode, Sal and Clemente talk about the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments thus far at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Plus, Topps Now issues a hockey card, Topps Chrome Olympic Hopefuls sets features numerous hockey players, and PSA raises its prices – again! The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

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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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Olympic Ice Hockey is Like Star Trek Movies

It’s the Whole Even-Odd Thing,
If You Know What I Mean

I am excited about the 2026 Winter Olympics so far. We will see USA and Canada battle it out for the gold medal in the Women’s tournament. And for the first time in a long time, we may see a USA-Canada showdown in the men’s tournament, too. 

This is the first time in 12 years that the NHL shut down two weeks to allow its players to participate in the Olympics. This is the first Olympics that headlined Auston Matthews for Team USA and Connor McDavid for Team Canada.  

But as awesome as having Olympic rosters stuffed with top-level NHL talent, the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Olympics isn’t always great…for North American fans, anyway. 

In fact, men’s Olympic ice hockey reminds me of the old Star Trek movies from the 1980s and 1990s, where the odd-numbered films were bad, while the even-numbered films were great. The same pattern applies to men’s Olympic ice hockey since 1998. 

Continue reading “Olympic Ice Hockey is Like Star Trek Movies”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2026 Men’s Winter Olympic Hockey Preview

Episode #238: February 4, 2026
Plus: Favorite Memories from Past Olympics

Sal and Tim have a long discussion about the upcoming 2026 Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament, which will be the first Olympics since 2014 to feature the NHL’s top players. The guys talk about the rosters for all 12 teams, the groups, and some of their favorite memories from past Olympic hockey tournaments. The YouTube version of the podcast has photos and video.

 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk.bsky.social
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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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. ■

Clemente’s Corner: The 5 Best Olympic Hockey Jerseys of All Time

With the Winter Olympics starting later this week in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, hockey will once again take center stage in one of sport’s most exciting tournaments.

This edition will be even more special given that it marks the return of NHLers, like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Rasmus Dahlin, to the Winter Olympics. This makes the tournament more competitive as ever given that the best players in the game will go head-to-head for a shot at a gold medal.

I love the Olympics (yes, even the curling), but the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments rank at the very top of my list. With national pride on the line – and maybe even a U.S. vs. Canada gold-medal game lurking in our future – it’s a 12-team tournament that can’t be missed.

In celebration of this quadrennial spectacle, here are my top 5 Olympic men’s hockey jerseys of all time:

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: The 5 Best Olympic Hockey Jerseys of All Time”

Clemente’s Corner: 3 Things Hockey Collectors Can Expect in 2026

I don’t have a crystal ball, but all indications are that this will once again be a big year for trading cards and collectables.

In a year where you have NHL stars competing at the Winter Olympics, Upper Deck pumping out new sets and some big shows filling our days and nights, the year is likely to be one of the most interesting and potentially impactful 12 months for hockey card collectors. Whether your focus is on Young Guns, international stars or show exclusives, this is a year worth planning for.

Here are three things to watch for this year.

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: 3 Things Hockey Collectors Can Expect in 2026”

Puck Junk Podcast: PSA Grading Buys Beckett

Plus: The Quinn Hughes Trade
Episode #235: December 18, 2025

In this episode, the guys talk about PSA Grading buying Beckett, and how this gives its parent company, Collectors, a monopoly on card grading. Other topics include Quinn Hughes getting graded to Minnesota, should the NHL have more color vs. color jersey games, and trouble with Italy’s Olympic ice hockey rink. It’s 127 minutes of hockey goodness, now with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X @PuckJunk, Instagram @PuckJunk & Bluesky @puckjunk.bsky.social
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. ■

Book Review – 1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever

Fifty years ago was the 1972 Summit Series, where the best NHL players from Canada faced off in an eight-game exhibition series against the top hockey players from the Soviet Union. But, as it turned out, this was no mere exhibition series. In the book “1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever,” author Scott Morrison gives a comprehensive, almost exhaustive history of the Summit Series. Many books have been written on this subject, but “1972” might be the best.

Continue reading “Book Review – 1972: The Series That Changed Hockey Forever”

Puck Junk Podcast: Interview with Craig Patrick, 3Ice Commissioner & former NHL Player, GM and Coach

Episode #121: June 10, 2022

This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish are joined by Hockey Hall of Fame member and 3Ice Commissioner Craig Patrick. Mr. Patrick talks about the new 3Ice three-on-three hockey league, which launches June 18, as well as his careers as an NHL player, as the assistant coach on the “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Team, as the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins — and how he feels about appearing on Jaromir Jagr’s rookie card. It’s 44 minutes of hockey goodness that you don’t want to miss! 

Show Notes, Links & Images:
Craig Patrick’s Career Stats on HockeyDB and Elite Prospects
3Ice Hockey League Official Website
“I Gotta Call Craig Patrick Right Now” t-shirt at the 3Ice Store

A few notable hockey cards of Craig Patrick:

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee #184 Craig Patrick
1972-73 O-Pee-Chee #221 Craig Patrick
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee #178 Craig Patrick
1995 Signature Rookies Miracle on Ice #44 Craig Patrick
1990-91 Upper Deck #356 Jaromir Jagr – Craig Patrick is on the right, shaking hands with Jagr moments after he picked him 5th-overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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

Snap Shots: More Stats & Milestones

It was another busy week in the NHL, as the league unveiled a new stat, two players hit the 1,000-game mark and the Blue Jackets retired a number for the first time in the team’s 22-year history. Plus, the IIHF took a stance on Russia’s participation in future ice hockey tournaments. 

Continue reading “Snap Shots: More Stats & Milestones”

Puck Junk Podcast: RC…or Not RC? That is the Question

Episode #112: Feb. 25, 2022

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about what makes a hockey card a “rookie card.” Plus, the upcoming National Hockey Card Day, a recap of the Olympic hockey tournaments, the Blackhawks and Bobby Hull parting ways, and the return of Sean Avery. 

Show Notes and Links:
Sal talked comic books on the 21st Century Boys ComicCast (Spotify)
Review of Sean Avery’s Autobiography (Puck Junk)
2022 NHL Stadium Series Time-Lapse (YouTube)
2020-21 O-Pee-Chee Platinum on e-Pack (Upper Deck e-Pack)
National Hockey Card Day 2022 (Upper Deck)
The same photo being used on 2 different Patrick Kane cards (Puck Junk)
Peeling the film off of 1994-95 Topps Finest Hockey cards (Twitter)
The pile of protective film that no one wanted to buy (Twitter)
Chicago Sports Spectacular Show March 18-20, 2022 Show (Website)
Tim’s Twitter discussion about hockey rookie cards (Twitter)
How Hockey Cards Led to the NHL Player Strike in 1992 (The Hockey News)

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

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