Monday, November 14, 2016
2016-2017 Hockey Season
I got a bit
of a head start on the hockey season this year by purchasing the
O-Pee-Chee set. Some of my friends believe that I am a little too old
to be messing around with hockey cards. Thankfully, my wife has
realized, after forty some years of marriage, that I am incorrigible.
I do not
open packs of cards any more to complete sets. I leave all of that
leg work up to my friends. In this case, it is Al Wood. He used to
have the Quinte Card Shoppe in Belleville, and I know that many of my
collecting friends still use him as a contact to pick up cards. To
complete the set of O-Pee-Chee cards, by opening packs, I would have
had to spend at least $ 1 000 on packs. I picked up the set from Al
for less than $ 200. I also recommend visiting J & B Books in
Trenton. They have plenty of “traders” to help you complete sets,
and they will treat you fairly.
There are
660 cards in the set, a long way from the sets from some years ago.
There were 264 cards in each set in the Sixties; they then boosted
the number to 396. It stayed that way until the hobby went crazy with
new companies, and all kinds of insert cards. Those things are still
popular with many collectors. Not this guy, thanks.
I like the
larger set because it does help me keep up with the game, to some
extent. By this time in the season, there have been almost one
thousand players lacing up the blades. Some of them have names that I
cannot pronounce. Others play one game, then are returned to the
minors, or back to Junior teams. Naturally, I focus on the cards of
my favourite team, and also on the cards of former Belleville Bulls,
and cards with a local connection to the Quinte area.
Mike Smith
hails from the Napanee area, but has serious roots in Prince Edward
County. Montreal's Andrew Shaw spends his summers around Roblin Lake,
but he was born in Belleville. Justin Williams has had a long and
successful career, with more than 1 000 games under his belt, in the
NHL, but he is a Cobourg kid. My limited research tells me that there
has never been a County-born and raised kid to ever play in the NHL.
I do hope it happens some day, soon. I offer that as a challenge to
County kids.
Former Bulls
in the series include: Matt Beleskey, Matt Stajan, Shawn Matthias,
Philipp Grubauer, Jason Spezza, and PK Subban. Daniel Altshuller had
a very brief cup of coffee with the Bulls, and now plays for the
Florida Everblades.
Alan Quine's
card has me befuddled. It states that he was born in Belleville on
February 25, 1993. Other sources indicate his birthplace was Ottawa.
He did play part of a season for the Bulls, but hockeydb.com
indicates he was born in Ottawa.
More research required.
It is a
little disconcerting that the company lags way behind the trade
transactions. Shaw played for the Hawks last year, and is pictured in
his Hawks uniform. But he became a Hab in the Spring, on June 24th,
long before the set was produced. Someone should send them a list of
trades, so that they could “Photo Shop” heads on new uniforms!
There are 50
rookie cards near the end of the set, and these always garner plenty
of attention. There is no Auston Matthews card, for the Leaf fans.
That comes next year, the rule being that a player must get in a game
in the pro ranks before they can release a card.
There are 15
“Season Highlight” cards, including # 601 Connor McDavid. Others
in this group include: Jagr, Toews, Sedin, Stamkos, and Patrick Kane.
Team checklists and “League Leaders” round out the set to the 660
number. Many of these are not necessary, but fill the bill.
We will make
the trek across Alligator Alley a few more times this year to see the
best hockey in the world: Senators, Oilers, Leafs, Hawks, and Habs.
It is almost the same distance to Tampa Bay. That should be on the
list, for a game or two. Seems to be a fine year to cheer for the
Habs. As long as they don't have to face the Blue Jackets every
night! Yikes!
James Hurst
November 14,
2016.
# posted by James Hurst @ 4:26 PM 
