Life is Just a FANtasy...

Brad Ference
2003-04 In The Game Action -
NHL All-Star FANtasy Team Sets #495

It's funny how some things annoy me while other things offer amusement...

Never a fan of parallel sets (especially ones that are easily confused for the base set)...

Found this one in a re-pack years ago, and it caught my attention right away.

"In the game Action" has lots of great-looking cards.

Part of the reason I enjoy the card is the nostalgia of the Phoenix Coyotes uniform -
The funky green Kachina (in use from 1998-2003).

This is a really great jersey - Aside from the somewhat busy desertscape that isn't really visible in this shot (which probably makes it look better).

(They came out with a "Reverse Retro" version of the uniform in 2023, deciding that purple might suddenly spark the sales, but I digress...)




Back to the cardboard in question: Clearly stamped with an obnoxious silver foil logo of the 2004 NHL All-Star Game in Saint Paul, Minnesota

In my cynical adult mind, I assume they excess stock and decided to stamp the worthless pieces of cardboard with the All-Star Game logo right smack in the middle.
(rendering the card worthless? Or more valuable?)

Since the number of hockey fans in Phoenix is surely lower than the number of cards produced, they were unable to give them away so they ended up in re-packs.

This is purely my guess (and a bad one at that).

(If a card company s looking for advice on how to completely ruin a parallel set, check out Upper Deck MVP 2019-20 Silver Script for some inspiration)




Still, this card doesn't bother me because I could tell right away that the card was a parallel.
Therefore, it was relatively easy to look up.

It's actually kinda neat to have an oddity like this.
Now that I've confirmed what it is, some additional curiosity over where it came from.


2003-04 In The Game Action -
NHL All-Star FANtasy Team Sets
Total Cards: 624

Brad Ference
2003-04 In The Game Action -
NHL All-Star FANtasy Team Sets #495
(card back)

They must be relatively rare, because only about 5% of the images have been uploaded to TCDB.
(This certainly doesn't mean it's valuable, as they've done a remarkable job of flooding the market with incredibly rare cards of little value)


I'm going to stick up for this set because I like it. Overall it's fairly underrated.

True, the photographs may not be as epic as some of the one's we've come to expect from competitor Upper Deck...

But I'll give these cards a chance. I only have a handful of them in my collection, so it's not really a fair sample. Most seem to contain a photo that is scan worthy.


Just to add a bit of confusion into the mix, there's also a serial parallel set called "NHL All-Star FANtasy" (minus the "Team Sets" suffix).

Fortunately there's only 10 numbered copies of each card, so those particular specimens are highly unlikely to find their way into my collection. (The serial number is stamped on the front, in huge numbers beside the All-Star emblem to make the card even less desirable).

The Bear-Shark Project...

Joe Thornton
2010-11 SP Authentic #34

After Joe Thornton departed from San Jose, I decided to take a look at other Sharks players who wore jersey number 19.

Joe Thornton facts from Wikipedia:

San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in points per game with 1.01.

Only player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy while switching teams in his winning campaign – 2005–06.

Marco Sturm
2003-04 Upper Deck #158

Being a relatively new franchise, San Jose only a few players don the number 19 jersey before Thornton arrived.

Coincidentally, Marco Sturm was one of the players traded to Boston for Joe Thornton).



San Jose Sharks players to wear number 19 before Joe Thornton:
Marco Sturm (1998-2006)
Jeff Friesen (1996)
Doug Zmolek (1993-1994)
Brian Mullen (1992)

Brian Mullen
1992-93 O-Pee-Chee #260

Brian Mullen was one of the first San Jose Sharks to wear number 19.

From the back of the card:

"In November he [Brian Mullen] scored a wrap-around in overtime to clinch the Sharks' first-ever win over LA"

Joe Thornton
2005-06 Upper Deck MVP #28

Joe Thornton with the Boston Bruins, during the pre-beard era.
(I swear that he and Brent Burns must have had a contest going)

Mariusz Czerkawski
1995-96 Collector's Choice #50
(Player's Club Parallel)

Some of the Boston Bruins players to wear number 19 before Joe Thornton:
Rob DiMaio (1997-2000)
Kevin Sawyer (1996)
Mariusz Czerkawski (1994-1996)
Dave Poulin (1990-1993)
Ray Neufeld (1989-1990)
Tom McCarthy (1987-1988)
Normand Leveille (1982-83)
Bobby Lalonde (1980-81)
Ab DeMarco (1979)

Joe Thornton
1999-00 Stadium Club #75

Curiously enough, Joe Thornton actually wore number 6 at the very beginning of his career.

Being an older franchise, numbers 2 thru 9 had already been retired by the Boston Bruins - with the exception of jersey number 6.

A relatively low number for a centreman, Thornton wore 6 from 1998 - 2000.

Number 19 became available in Boston when Rob Dimaio was traded to the NY Rangers.
Joe Thornton wore number 19 with Boston from 2000-2006.

Dick Redmond
1981-82 O-Pee-Chee #9

Some of the Boston Bruins Players to Wear Number 6 Before Joe Thornton:
Alexei Kasatonov (1995-1996)
Glen Featherstone (1992-1994)
Gord Kluzak (1983-1991)
Dick Redmond (1978-82)
Mike Forbes (1978)
Dennis O'Brien (1978)
Clayton Pachal (1977)
Darryl Edestrand (1974-1978)
Nick Beverley (1973-74)
Ted Green (1961-1972)

SHARK WEEK (Day 8): Fish Heads, Fish Heads...

Evgeni Nabokov
2003-04 Upper Deck #163

It's the Shark Week Edition of Freaky Mask Friday!

Evgeni Nabokov 's Shark mask features what appears to be a skeleton feeding (or baiting) a Shark with fish heads.

Evgeni Nabokov
2003-04 Topps #168

Another card from the same year.
The teal-colored border really goes well with the Shark's uniforms.

Evgeni Nabokov
2004-05 Upper Deck Artifacts #83

2005-06 Upper Deck Artifacts
Total Cards: 242
(100 base cards, the rest are serial numbered, with rookies distributed through redemption exchange)

Only have six cards from this set - And FOUR of them are goaltenders!

Back of the card makes mention of his shutouts in previous seasons...
Nabokov managed an incredible 9 shutouts in 2003-04.

Diggin' Like a Badger...

Jeff Friesen
2003-04 Upper Deck #112

Didn't realize that Jeff Friesen was briefly member of the Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks from 2000-2002.

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Mighty Ducks in the Stanley Cup Final.

This means Friesen was playing against (some of) his former teammates.
(The Mighty Ducks had missed the playoffs the previous season)

Impressively, Friesen scored 10 goals (and added 4 assists) for 14 points during the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Martin Brodeur
2003-04 Upper Deck #117

Undeniably the best-known member of the New Jersey Devils...

Eyes on the prize, the veteran netminder is poised to snatch that puck before anyone has a chance with it.

In addition to the stellar play of Martin Brodeur, he evolved into somewhat of a spiritual leader in the locker rom.

2003-04 Upper Deck NHL Hockey

(#285 Steve Sullivan)

400 base cards
(Series I & II: 200 cards each)
70 Young Guns cards
(Plus Insert Sets)

Taking a look at one of my favorite NHL card sets, from a better time in hockey... The Ducks were still Mighty, and the Penguins had restored their "Skating Penguin" logo. (Whoever decided to change their logo immediately after they won the cup in '92 should be chained to the net and have pucks fired at them)

Simplicity, brilliant photographs and neat stats... A good balance of action shots, hits, slapshots and saves makes it a really fun set to flip through.

Anaheim & Colorado

(2003-04 Upper Deck: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche...)

Sergei Federov, Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne had all signed with new teams, and are grouped with their updated teammates. The blue All-Star jerseys seem to cleverly blend in with the Ducks/Avalanche motif.

"Ducked Out"

(#49 Paul Kariya - card back)

After leading the Anaheim Mighty Ducks to a heartbreaking loss in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Paul Kariya departed for the Colorado Avalanche during the off-season. On the back of Kariya's card, you can see a partial Mighty Ducks logos on his jersey and helmet.

"Scarface"

(Steve Shields #20 & #229)

Series II features a couple players from Series I who have since changed teams...
Steve Shields has a card with Boston and one with Florida. Gotta love that mask!
Steve Konowalchuk also gets 2 cards, one with Washington (#197) and one with Colorado (#290).

Blazin' Speed

(#128 Tom Poti)

Love the motion-blur effect on this card.
There appear to be coaches wearing gloves & skates in the background...
Yet Tom Poti seems to be dressed in full game gear.

Stone Cold

(#370 Garth Snow, #190 Olaf Kolzig)

Another reason I like this set is because it has great cards of lesser known goalies like Olaf Kolzig, Corey Schwab and Garth Snow. I remember seeing all these guys when they played in the minors. My favorite seats were right behind the net, so the goaltender was always in view.

Comic Book Cover Foreshortening

(#374 Brian Leetch)

Love the angle, plus the determination and co-ordination displayed by Brian Leetch on this card.

(#362 Corey Schwab)

I think this snapshot of Corey Schwab is one of the coolest in the entire set... He seems to be flying out of the void towards the camera... He's really just stretching during the pre-game warmup.

Horizontal Hockey
Not usually a fan of horizontal cards, but this set has quite a few... And they're awesome. The wide-angle shot can capture plenty of action.

(#6 Rob Niedermayer, #166 Keith Tkachuk)

Siblings Rob and Scott Neidermeyer battle it out in the Stanley Cup Finals. Keith Tkachuk gets knocked down while still protecting the puck... I actually have this same poster of Tkachuk on my wall... (The "American Airlines" advertisement on the board has been airbrushed out on the card photo.)

Goaltending Clinic

(#144 Robert Esche, #422 Nikolai Khabibulin)

A lot of goaltender cards are horizontal, but they're particularly effective when they're making a wicked save.
Robert Esche of the Philidelphia Flyers with an acrobatic save, while Nikolai Khabibulin displays the form that would help win the Tampa Bay Lightning the Stanley Cup.
(Useless Fact: Out of 62 goalie cards in the set, 35 are vertical, 27 are horizontal.)


Absent from this set: Miikka Kiprusoff. Only notable because Kiprusoff led the Calgary Flames to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004. The set already features three Flames goaltenders - Kiprusoff was still with the Sharks when Series I was released, and had a card in the 2003-04 Upper Deck MVP set.


Young Guns (1:4)
45 Young Guns in Series I (Cards #201-245)
25 Young Guns in Series II (Cards #446-471)


Only managed to collect 29 of 70...

(#234 Marc-Andre Fleury)

Luckily, one of them was Marc-Andre Fleury. Also busted Nikolai Zherdev out of a pack.

(#451 Nikolai Zherdev)

Still on my 2003-04 Upper Deck Wish List:
Young Guns: #206 Eric Staal, #236 Ryan Malone, #245 Young Guns Checklist (Staal/Fleury/Horton)

Back of the Deck...

Petr Klima
1992-93 Upper Deck #551

Another card, buried deep within 1992-93 Upper Deck. Some really great horizontal cards in this set, but don't normally have the binder flipped that way to appreciate them...

Former Oiler Paul Coffey (shown here with the LA Kings) attempts to check Petr Klima.


What a brutal tape job on Klima's stick... Done on purpose as a distraction or something?

Petr Nedved
1994-95 Pinnacle #58

From Petr Klima, to Petr Nedved (of the St. Louis Blues). This card has always made me curious... Nedved appears to be laughing or mocking (still not fully dressed for the game) while showing off his stick tape to an opposing player.

It's feasible that Nedved might even be poking fun at Klima - Who would have been a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the time.

Citizen 'Canes...

Kevin Weekes
2003-04 Black Diamond #82

Surprised that I didn't have any cards from 2003-04 Black Diamond until pulling this Kevin Weekes card from a re-pack.

The vicious cat graphics on his pads are pretty wild...

Also enjoy the fact that his rather unorthodox jersey number 80 is more or less visible in this photo. (Just noticed that the jersey number is also printed on the card front, bottom right side...)

Jamie Storr
2003-04 Beehive #17

Another Canes' goaltender from the same season...
This time it's Jamie Storr's card from 2003-04 Beehive.

Jamie Storr's mask has been painted in Carolina red, but still has the silver dragon from his days with the LA Kings.

Red Wing Robitaille...

Luc Robitaille
2003-04 O-Pee-Chee #212

Another great looking card featuring Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille.

Seen here with the Red Wings, but was surprised to learn that Robitaille had returned for his third stint with the LA Kings before the 2003-04 season began.

The Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators would meet in the playoffs in 2004.

It was Nashville's first trip to the playoffs, and they were eventually overpowered by a more experienced Detroit team... But it was still a pretty thrilling series to watch.

Hand-Over-Stick Handling...

Darren Helm
2017-18 Upper Deck #71

I like the way he's reaching with his hockey stick, almost as if trying to knock the puck forward.

With an opposing player and random stick in the mix, it's an interesting composition.

The card earns another point for pizza ad on the boards.

Mats Sundin
2003-04 O-Pee-Chee #140

Reminds me of this card...
Matt Sundin reversing the grip, presumably after the puck.

Bonus point for Mark Messier cameo.

Thunder Road...

Daren Puppa
1994-95 Select #45

Suddenly noticing all kinds of Tampa Bay Lightning VS New York Islanders within the cards of my collection...

Possibly because both teams were together in the Atlantic Division from 1993 to 1998, and a big chunk of my collection falls within that era.

Is that an Islander glove in the foreground?

Chris Gratton
1995-96 Topps #70

Always liked this card. Actually looks as if the defender is trying to get out of the way.

Patrick Flatley
1995-96 Topps #139

Just happened to pull an extra copy of this card from a re-pack...
As one of my favorite cards from the set, just had to include it.

Brad Richards
2003-04 O-Pee-Chee #221

Brad Richards won the Con Smythe trophy as Playoff MVP during Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup victory in 2004.

Noah Welch
2009-10 Upper Deck #92

Possibly my all-time favorite Lightning uniform is the white "away" jersey from 2007-08, which were also used as third jerseys until 2011.

Vegas VS Minnesota

Mark Stone
2019-20 Upper Deck MVP #49

It still looks weird to me...

The Vegas Golden Knights against the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 Playoffs.

Another expansion team matchup. The relatively shiny new Golden Knights managed to make it all the way to the Finals during their very first year (2017-18).

The Vegas Golden Knights have never missed the Playoffs during their short existence, and have emerged the series winner 5 times.

Los Angeles, San Jose and Winnipeg were knocked out by the Knights en route to the Finals in 2018. After that incredible first year, Vegas was dealt a first-round elimination in 2019.

One of my very first Vegas Golden Knights cards was probably Mark Stone from 2019-20 Upper Deck MVP. Appropriate, as he's since been named Captain of the team.

Andrew Brunette
2003-04 Upper Deck #94

The Minnesota Wild (established in 2000-01) made a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals in 2003. This counts for 2 of the 4 playoff series victories in the team's history.

The Wild have defeated Colorado twice, with the other series wins coming over St Louis and Vancouver.

Digging into the earliest Minnesota Wild cards that I actually collected, Andrew Burnette's card caught my attention, having played for expansion teams Nashville, Atlanta and Minnesota.

He had two different stints with the Wild. From 2001-2004, and again from 2008-2011.

Carolina VS Nashville

Mike Commodore
2007-08 Upper Deck #184

The old guard in the Central Division (Dallas, Detroit and Chicago) are on the outside of the Playoff picture looking in...

Meanwhile, 2021 is the first time that the Carolina Hurricanes will encounter the Nashville Predators in the playoffs.

The Canes have a Stanley Cup to their name in 2006, which was preceded by another valiant attempt in 2002.

Carolina still seems relatively new team, at least for me... The Whalers became the Hurricanes in 1997-98 during the weather trend phenomenon (Lightning, Avalanche, Hurricanes).

In 2022, the Carolina Hurricanes are set to eclipse the number of years played as the Hartford Whalers.

David Legwand
2003-04 O-Pee-Chee #78

Guess I still consider Nashville to be "new". The Predators have been around for more than two decades, and the franchise has a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals under its' belt...

Card from 2004, the very first year that the Predators made the playoffs. Legwand is probably the franchise's most iconic player, and these white (home) jerseys are my favorite Preds uniform.

Morphin' Rangers...

Andy Bathgate
2011-12 O-Pee-Chee #516

Taking a look at cards of the New York Rangers. Some of them are new to my collection, others I've had for a while.

I believe that jersey number 9 is now retired by every single one of the Original Six teams.

The New York Rangers have actually honored two players under that digit:
Andy Bathgate & Adam Graves, both in 2009.

Note the Rangers logo used from 1967-1971.

Pavel Bure
2002-03 O-Pee-Chee #16

Before number 9 was retired it was briefly worn by Hall of Famer Pavel Bure, who was with the NYR from 2002-2003.

Bure must have chosen 9, as number 10 was occupied by Sandy McCarthy.


Eric Lindros and Sandy McCarthy are visible on the bench in this snapshot.

Ed Giacomin
1991-92 Ultimate Original Six #20

Another retired NYR number is the oldschool goalie jersey number 1.

Eddie Giacomin was the Rangers goaltender for a decade (1966-1976).

His was the second Ranger number to be retired (after Rod Gilbert's number 7).

Chuck Rayner
2003-04 Parkhurst Original Six New York #87

Jersey number 1 was also worn by Chuck Rayner, the Rangers starting goaltender for 7 seasons (1945-1953). Won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1949-50, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.

Note the even older Rangers logo used from 1936-1947.

Ron Duguay
1982-83 O-Pee-Chee #221

I kinda thought it was only for a short while, but the Rangers had "New York" on their blue road uniforms for almost a decade (1978-1987). Their white home uniforms still had the word "Rangers".

Brian Leetch
1999-00 O-Pee-Chee #30

The popular blue Statue of Liberty jerseys were first introduced in 1996. A white version was also briefly worn during 1998-99.

In the 1999-00 O-Pee-Chee set, both Brian Leetch and Peter Nedved are depicted wearing this jersey.

Brian Leetch's number 2 jersey was also retired by the Rangers in 2008.

Double Shot with Ice...

Martin Straka
2003-04 Upper Deck Ice #40

2003-04 Upper Deck Ice
Base Card Numbers: 1-100
(Serial Numbered Rookies: 101-130)
Total Cards: 130

Have only two cards from this set... Surprising that I don't have more, as I collected pretty hardcore that season. (also have most of the Upper Deck Ice base cards from 2005-06 thru 2009-10)


Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Martin Straka was traded to the Senators and eventually the Islanders. He signed with the Panthers, and during his second stint with the Penguins, was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

He would only play 32 games in a Kings uniform.
Following the lockout, he joined the Rangers for the final 3 seasons of his career.

Nikolai Khabibulin
2003-04 Upper Deck Ice #79

The eventual 2003-04 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning only had 2 players featured in this set. (Lecavalier and Khabibulin)

Tampa Bay's team color is blue, which probably looks best with this UD Ice set design.

This would be only the fifth release of the Upper Deck Ice brand. Upper Deck Ice was not produced during 2004-05 (lockout year) nor 2006-07.

(After an absence during the 2012-13 shortened season, the brand had been released from 2013-14 thru 2019-20)

Nikolai Khabibulin
2003-04 Upper Deck Ice #79
(card back)

Overall, I like the look of the cards... I realize the back mirrors the front, but it just looks a bit too weird for my taste. Would probably add the set to my collection if I found it, but it's not at the top of my list.

The next two releases (2005-06 & 2007-08) would feature alternate photos on the back. (2008-09 would recycle the photo, while 2009-10 offers an alternate)