Olympics

Puck Junk Podcast: 2026-27 Artifacts Hockey Cards

Episode #257: October 5, 2026
Plus: Igor Shesterkin & Jack Hughes

Sal Barry and Tim Parish give their take on the new 2026-27 Artifacts Hockey card set – from the base set to the short prints to the hits to the overwhelming number of parallels. Plus, Igor Shesterkin scores a goalie goal, Jack Hughes can’t take a cringy joke, while his autographed card sells for almost $400K. It’s 110 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of this episode features photos and videos. 

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Hughes “Golden Goal” Signed Card at Auction

Card That Mysteriously Appeared Hits Over $100K

Remember back in February, when Jack Hughes scored the “Golden Goal” in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. His overtime heroics gave the U.S. a 2-1 win over Canada – and the country’s first gold medal in men’s Olympic ice hockey since 1980. 

Later that day, Topps was selling cards of Hughes celebrating his goal as a part of its “Topps Now” print-on-demand card set. The card was available for a short period of time for $11.99 each. However, one lucky buyer would receive the card with Hughes’ autograph on it, along with the inscription “Golden Goal 2/22/26 Go USA!”

Well, that card has recently surfaced, and it is currently up for bid at the Fanatics Collect auctions website. The card currently has 26 bids and is at $110,000 – and it still has 7 days to go!

Could it top the $200K mark? It probably will.

Continue reading “Hughes “Golden Goal” Signed Card at Auction”

Puck Junk Podcast: March 2026 Chicago Sports Spectacular Recap

Episode #243: March 18, 2026
Plus: U.S. Paralympic Hockey Team Wins Gold

Sal Barry and Tim Parish give their recap of the recent Chicago Sports Spectacular, with Tim sharing his perspective as a buyer while Sal shares his observations as a seller. Topics include what hockey cards were popular, which former NHL players were signing autographs, the staggering prices of wax, and if card shows as we know them are coming to an end. Plus, a look at the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team that won the gold medal at the 2026 Paralympic Games. It’s 116 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite parts. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

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Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2026 Winter Olympic Hockey Recap

Episode #241: February 24, 2026
Plus: 2025-26 UD Series 2 Young Guns Checklist

Sal, Tim, and Clemente recap the 2026 Winter Olympic Hockey Tournament – where both the U.S. Men’s team and the U.S. Women’s team beat Canada to win the gold medal. Other topics include more Topps Now Olympic hockey cards and a look at the Young Guns checklist for 2025-26 Upper Deck Series 2. It’s two hours of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. 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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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.

 

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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. 

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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. ■