Clemente’s Corner: Hockey Collectors Should Make a ‘Pitt’ Stop to Learn Penguins History

Take a stroll through downtown Pittsburgh and there’s a lot of American history to take in. The second-most populous city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia – known both as “Steel City” for its role in that industry and the “City of Bridges” for its 446 spans – has also plenty of sports history.

Aside from the Steelers and Pirates (sorry football and baseball fans), the Penguins could very well be the team that has left the deepest impression on the city. In fact, the Penguins have also played a vital role in the history of the NHL, especially since Mario Lemieux was drafted by the team in 1984.

Over the next 40 years, the team has made the playoffs 28 times and lifted the Stanley Cup in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016 and 2017. In the process, fans got to delight in the scoring heroics of Lemieux, then Jaromir Jagr and later Sidney Crosby.

Those five championships – proudly displayed on the façade of PPG Paints Arena – are part of the city’s iconic downtown. But the streets around the arena – usually bustling with fans – are empty these days. The Penguins, for the second straight season, failed to make the postseason.

My travels took me to Pittsburgh last month just as the playoffs got underway. Instead of taking in a game, I went on a search for – what else? – Penguins memorabilia. Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Hockey Collectors Should Make a ‘Pitt’ Stop to Learn Penguins History”

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

Plus: The $3.72M 1979-80 OPC Hockey Case
Episode #181: March 1, 2024

In Episode 181 of the Puck Junk Podcast, the guys talk in-depth about the 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card set – and how the demand for Connor Bedard rookie cards have driven prices for that set. They also discuss the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey card case that sold for $3.72M, the 30th anniversary of “The Forsberg Goal” and more. It’s 1 hour and 55 minutes of hockey goodness. 

Links
1979-80 OPC Case Sells for $3.72M at Auction (Sports Collectors Daily)
The Fake Wayne Gretzky Indianapolis Racers Card (Puck Junk)
Peter Forsberg’s Goal from the 1994 Winter Olympics (YouTube)
2023-24 Upper Deck Star Rookies Checklist (Trading Card DB)
Clemente’s article about European card shows (Sports Collectors Digest)
2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Newsletter here

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 PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
PlayerFMPocketCastsPodcast AddictPodchaserSpotifyStitcher,
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: 2023-24 Topps NHL Sticker Collection

Plus: Connor Bedard’s OPC RC is on Fire!
Episode #179: February 17, 2024

In the latest episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal and Tim talk all about the 2023-24 Topps NHL Sticker Collection. They also talk about the insane prices that Connor Bedard’s O-Pee-Chee Marquee Rookie card is selling for, the Penguins retiring Jaromir Jagr’s number 68, and more. It’s 95 minutes of hockey goodness!

Links
Upper Deck My MVP Contest Website
LastSticker.com is a great site for trading duplicate stickers with others

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.1993-94
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 PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
PlayerFMPocketCastsPodcast AddictPodchaserSpotifyStitcher,
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 Corey Perry Fiasco

Plus: The Problem with ESPN+
Episode #171: December 8, 2023

Sal Barry, Tim Parish, and Clemente Lisi talk about a bunch of topics – including the Corey Perry fiasco, the problem with ESPN+, Patrick Kane signing with the Red Wings, Tristan Jarry’s goalie goal, Black Friday purchases, and more. It’s TWO HOURS of hockey goodness!

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on Twitter @ClementeLisi
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
PlayerFMPocketCastsPodcast AddictPodchaserSpotifyStitcher,
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: 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)

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast, PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher, and Transistor. Subscribe to the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.  

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

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

Snap Shots: Backup Goalies in the Spotlight

We are in the midst of the first round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. In this week’s Snap Shots column, we will look at some of the goalies who have been thrust into the spotlight due to injuries, the Kings making a comeback after getting clobbered in two straight games, and a scary incident where an off-ice official was hurt. Plus, Evander Kane’s career turnaround and the NHL Draft Lottery odds. 

Continue reading “Snap Shots: Backup Goalies in the Spotlight”

Snap Shots: Crosby Joins 500-Goal Club

Happy Monday and welcome to Snap Shots. This week, we will look at two NHL milestones that were reached, a recap of hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, and the long-awaited return of one of the league’s star players. 

Continue reading “Snap Shots: Crosby Joins 500-Goal Club”

Blake’s Takes: The 2021-22 Season Starts Tomorrow

The day we’ve been waiting for is almost here. The 2021-22 NHL season starts on Tuesday at 7:30 pm EST when the puck drops in Tampa Bay as the Lightning take on the vising Penguins. In addition to looking at the upcoming season, I’ll also look at a massive contract extension, and a few very notable injuries. 

Happy Monday and let’s get this season started.

Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: The 2021-22 Season Starts Tomorrow”

Blake’s Takes: Kaprizov Locked Down in St. Paul

The Kirill Kaprizov standoff has ended. The Russian-winger will suit up with the Wild this season after signing a massive extension. That will be my first take of the week. I’ll also report on new jersey patches, the league’s outlook on full arenas, and a few other interesting tidbits.

Happy Monday!

Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Kaprizov Locked Down in St. Paul”

Blake’s Takes: Outdoor Games at Lake Tahoe

Last week was perhaps the most exciting week of the NHL season. The league hosted two outdoor games at Lake Tahoe. The broadcast was incredible and the league might have created one of the most-attractive made-for-TV sporting experiences we’ve seen yet. I’ll share my thoughts on the Lake Tahoe experiment in this week’s column.

In addition to the outdoor games, the past week wasn’t short for headlines. New Jersey named their newest captain and a few other milestones were achieved. As usual, I’ll also share with you one of my favorite plays of the week.

Happy Monday!

Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Outdoor Games at Lake Tahoe”