Set Review: 1972-73 Los Angeles Sharks

Before the Sharks took up residency in San Jose, there was another team by the same name. The Los Angeles Sharks - no relation to the current team in San Jose - was a founding member of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Unlike some of the luckier teams in the WHA who had the benefit of a Bobby Hull or Gordie Howe playing for them, the Sharks did not have much in the way of star power. They finished 6th out of 12 teams in 1972-73 and dead last during their second and final season. In their first year, they issued an ugly set of 19 cards. (Full Story)

Set Review: 1972-73 Quebec Nordiques

The World Hockey Association was founded in 1972, and placed several teams into markets that yearned to have an NHL presence. One founding member of the WHA was the Quebec Nordiques, giving the province of Quebec another team to call their own. Longtime Montreal Canadiens' defenseman J.C. Tremblay was the Nordiques' first captain, while a 20-year old Richard Brodeur was breaking into pro hockey as the Nords' backup. Released during the season was a postcard set featuring the Quebec's inaugural roster. (Full story)

The Wrapper Gallery hits the 100-mark

Ten more sets have been added to the Wrapper Gallery:

• 2011-12 Victory - wrapper
• 2008-09 Power Play - factory set box
• 2008-09 SHL Elitset - wrapper and box
• 2005-06 Phenomenal Beginnings - factory set box
• 2000-01 MVP - wrapper
• 1993-94 EA Sports NHL '94 - factory set box
• 1993-94 Fleer Power Play - wrapper
• 1990-91 Bowman - wrapper
• 1987-88 Panini Stickers - wrapper and box
• 1979 Panini Stickers - wrapper and box

This brings the total number of sets represented to a cool 100. It was a lot of work to scan, re-size and get all of these images (155) on the site, but I am pleased with the result thus far.

2010-11 SP Authentic Box Break #2

Warning: Lack of sleep has made me loopy and belligerent. Read this box breakdown at your own risk!

Yep, I bought a second box of these while at The National. Unfortunately, I didn't do as well as I did in my first box.

109 Base Cards - Well, at least I got the cards that I needed to complete my base set.

4 SP Essentials - Mark Messier, Mikko Koivu, Mike Cammalleri and Alexandre Burrowsssssssssnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

What? Oh sorry, I must have fallen asleep at the keyboard because these cards are so boring.

1 Future Watch Rookie Card - Mike Moore? Isn't he that socialist film-maker? He sure did lose a lot of weight. And why is he jumping off of a tree branch?

SHINY CARDS MAKE RAINBOWS!!!

Autographed Future Watch Kaspars Daugavins - This guy spent more time signing 999 of these cards than he did actually playing in the NHL (1 game) last season. Oh yeah, I went there.

Autographed Future Watch Chad Kolarik - Meanwhile, Kolarik over here (who's name sounds like a medical procedure we'd all dread) has played 6 games with 2 NHL teams over the past 2 years. Coming to a dollar box near you.

Oh wait...

What's this...

A Redemption Card for a "regular card auto-patch variation numbered to 100" of...

DRUM ROLL

Patrice Bergeron.

Never heard of him.

OK, actually I have.

That was the lack of sleep talking. Off to bed...

Puck Junk is 4 today

October 5, 2007 to Present

Puck Junk is 4 today.

But October 5 is an important day for two other reasons:

Yep, both Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy were born on October 5, 1965. Coincidentally, I recently purchased the two Topps Rookie cards you see above. I guess today was the "right" day to share them here. 

But getting back to my original point, four years is a pretty long time for a website to exist. How many sites and/or blogs have you seen come and go since 2007, card-related or otherwise?

In retrospect, I'm glad that I started this site for 3 reasons:

1. Having a blog about hockey cards has helped me keep up with what's going on in the world of card collecting.

2. Maintaining this website has led to a lot of great opportunities--writing for Beckett Hockey in the past and The Hockey News this season, as well as appearing on The War Room radio program (I'll be back on it again this season, too).

3. Best of all, having this website has allowed me to meet other hockey card collectors, either in person or via the interrwebs. Some of them I've traded cards with, while others have just sent me stuff out of the kindness of their hearts. Hobbies are fun, but they are more fun when shared with others.

With thousands of cards released over the past 100 years, and new cards coming out all the time, I'll never run out of things to collect--or talk about.

So here's looking to the next four years.