Upper Deck

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey Cards

Episode #206: December 7, 2024

After a three-week hiatus, the Puck Junk Podcast is back. This week, the guys talk about the 2023-24 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey set. Plus, a recap of the recent Chicago Sports Spectacular, how the Canadian Postal strike will affect buying and trading hockey cards, and more. It’s 109 minutes of hockey goodness. 

Show Notes and Links
2023-24 Skybox Metal Universe Checklist & Images (Trading Card DB)

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2024-25 Upper Deck Series One Hockey Cards

Episode #204: November 5, 2024

Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk about the new 2024-25 Upper Deck Series One Hockey set, which has a lackluster design and way too many inserts, but also has a promising group of Young Guns. They discuss this weekend’s Fall Sport Card Expo in Toronto as well as the big announcement about the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention. It’s 86 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. ■

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2024-25 NHL Season Preview

Plus: Jeremy Swayman Gets Paid
Episode #202: October 11, 2024

In Episode #202 of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal and Clemente ask their biggest questions for the 2024-25 NHL Season. Plus, will Jeremy Swayman redefine the goalie market now that he signed a new contract, how will Connor Bedard’s deal with Fanatics affect Upper Deck, and more. It’s 67 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes and Links
Clemente’s Interview with Macklin Celebrini (Puck Junk)
Fanatics’ Deal with Connor Bedard (Fanatics)
Upper Deck Files Suit Over Major Card Theft (Sports Collectors Daily)

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 Credentials Hockey Cards

Plus: Our All-Time Favorite Young Guns
Episode #201: September 28, 2024

Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk about the 2023-24 Credentials Hockey card set, which boasts a 1990s aesthetic and has some great inserts. But will collectors love – or overlook – this late-season release? Plus, the guys talk about their favorite Young Guns rookie cards of all-time, the new Fanatics’ NHL jerseys, and more. It’s 95 minutes of hockey goodness. 

Show Notes and Links
2023-25 Credentials Hockey Checklist (Trading Card DB)
Dallas Sports Card Show Chicago (Dallas Card Show Website)

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. ■

2023-24 Upper Deck AHL Hockey Cards Box Break

Many collectors overlook minor league hockey cards – and that is a shame, because the 2023-24 AHL hockey card set by Upper Deck is definitely worth a look. It is a great mix of up-and-coming NHL prospects along with longtime AHL stars. The set consists of 100 base cards plus 50 short printed “Star Rookies,” and has a fabulous, old-school design. 

The 2023-24 Upper Deck AHL set was released mid-July, well after the ’23-24 season had ended – and that is a good thing, as the later release date allowed Upper Deck to get up-to-date photos of players with their current teams. No outdated photos here. 

Another great feature of the 2023-24 Upper Deck AHL set is its retro-esque design Cards are printed on low-gloss stock much like today’s O-Pee-Chee cards. Anyone who collected hockey cards back in the 1980s, the 1990s, or even the 2000s would love the look of this set. 

A box of 2023-24 Upper Deck AHL costs about $60 for a 12-pack box. Each box has 10 cards, with an average of one autographed card and two numbered parallels per box. 

I recently opened a box of 2023-24 AHL. Let’s take a look at what was inside.  

Continue reading “2023-24 Upper Deck AHL Hockey Cards Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 Allure Hockey Cards

Episode #198: August 30, 2024

This week, Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk about the 2023-24 Allure Hockey Card set, which looks great has a ton of inserts and oh, so many parallels. The guys also discuss the “Happy Gilmour” jersey that sold for $40K, and even talk a bit of baseball history. No joke! It’s 88 minutes of hobby goodness! 

Show Notes and Links
Babe Ruth ‘Called Shot’ Jesey sells for $24.1M (Sports Collectors Digest)
“Happy Gilmore” Bruins Jersey Nets $40K (Propstore Auction)
Sal’s tweet about the Connor Bedard Allure card (X/Twitter)
Sal’s second tweet about the Connor Bedard Allure card (X/Twitter)

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: Fanatics Fest NYC & 2023-24 Synergy Hockey Cards

Episode #197: August 23, 2024

In this episode, the guys talk about the first-ever Fanatics Fest, which was held in New York August 16-18. The show had its ups and downs and was a very different experience than traditional card conventions like the National. Plus, a long discussion about the 2023-24 Synergy Hockey card set. It’s 99 minutes of hobby goodness!

Show Notes and Links
Fanatics Fest NYC Delivers Glitz and Glamour (Sports Collectors Digest)
Why Fanatics Fest Was Better than National for Hockey Fans (Puck Junk)
“Heavy Metal” by Sammy Hagar (YouTube)
Four Hobby Phrases That Should Be Retired Now! (Puck Junk)
2023-24 Synergy Hockey Checklist (TCDB)

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey Cards

Plus: More Sport Card Crimes!
Episode #196: August 16, 2024

Sal, Tim, and Clemente talk all about the 2023-24 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey Card set, which has yet to catch on with collectors, despite all the good cards packed into it. Plus, a discussion about recent sport card-related crimes, and a look at the upcoming Fanatics Fest. It’s 104 minutes of hobby goodness! 

Show Notes and Links
$275,000 in Cash Stolen from Vehicle at National (Sports Collectors Daily)
2 Arrested for Bar Code Switching on Card Boxes (Sports Collectors Daily)
Preview of the First Fanatics Fest in NYC (Sports Collectors Digest)
Video: WKRP in Cincinnati Turkey Drop clip (YouTube)
Video: Sal Pulls a Bedard Auto from ’23-24 Black Diamond (Puck Junk)
Upper Deck Answers My Burning Questions (Puck Junk)

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. ■

Tim’s Take: COMC & e-Pack – The Race to the Bottom

In January 2016, Upper Deck launched an online platform that gave collectors a way to collect and trade digital trading cards. They called this platform e-Pack. As part of that experience, they added the ability to parlay those digital cards, via the act of “combining” various quantities, to create actual physical cards. For the user, the process was simple: collect cards, trade cards, or have your cards shipped directly to you. 

At the same time, Upper Deck also announced a partnership with an online marketplace to act as the fulfillment center for their physical product. That marketplace was Check Out My Cards, or COMC as the hobby has grown to know it. After the initial glitches were worked out, it became an easy way for collectors and users of their platform to make a few bucks on their digital-to-physical cards. Emphasis on a few bucks.

Continue reading “Tim’s Take: COMC & e-Pack – The Race to the Bottom”