Freaky Mask Friday (Chico Resch, New York Islanders)

Chico Resch
2004-05 In The Game #375

I don't have nearly enough "old time" goalie masks in my collection... So I'll gladly settle for "modern" cards with old photos printed on them.

These masks are downright creepy - And I love 'em!

Looked like a random splash of orange paint until I saw the back...

Chico Resch
2004-05 In The Game #375
(card back)

It actually looks like Long Island is the orange field painted on his forehead.

A Few Good Comrades...

Igor Larionov
2004-05 Upper Deck
All-World Edition #87

More cards from 2004-2005 Upper Deck All World Edition.

Located within the base set, really glad to find this pair of unforgettable characters for my collection.

Igor Larionov was part of the Stanley Cup winning Detroit Red Wings, and nicknamed "The Professor" by his teammates.

Vladislav Tretiak
2004-05 Upper Deck
All-World Edition #90

Possibly the most famous Russian goalie of all time, despite never playing in the NHL.

In today's league, Russian netminders are slowly becoming more and more common.

The World in Your Hands...

Brad Richards
2004-05 Upper Deck
All-World Edition #25

2004-2005 Upper Deck All World Edition
Total Cards: 120

Another obscure little hockey card set that I knew nothing about until acquiring a random handful of cards.

Looking back to the NHL lockout that caused the entire 2004-05 NHL season to be lost...

Many familiar NHL players played hockey overseas to help stay in game form.

When I first saw this card, thought it looked like Brad Richards playing for the Minnesota Wild...

It's actually the uniform of Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Super League.

Apparently, Richards' Tampa Bay teammates Khabibulin and Lecavalier also joined that team for the season.

Hakaan Loob
2004-05 Upper Deck
All-World Edition #55

I only knew about this guy because of a random 80s card that I added to my collection (1984-85 O-Pee-Chee #229)

Hakaan Loob left the NHL in 1989. Here he is nearing age 45 playing for Farjestad BK of Sweden.

Alex Tanguay
2004-05 Upper Deck
All-World Edition #81

With so many ads on the apparel, looks just like NASCAR...
Alex Tanguay (a member of the Colorado Avalanche at the time) joined HC Lugano of the Swiss National League.

Dave's Not Here...

Dave Andreychuk
2004-05 Upper Deck #157

I seem to recall Dave Andreychuk contemplating retirement after he captained the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2004. That was right before the next season was cancelled due the lockout (2004-05).

He actually did return in 2005-06 for half a season in Tampa before calling it quits.

Appropriately enough, Martin St. Louis (who was instrumental in Tampa's cup run) makes a cameo on the background.

Andreychuck wore number 25, while St. Louis wore 26.

Art of Collecting...

Art Ross
2004-05 In The Game Franchises #68

Recently stumbled upon this article:

Art Ross Trophy | 5 Things You Didn’t Know
https://thehockeywriters.com/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-art-ross-trophy/

"Art Ross Was a Defenseman

I had erroneously assumed that because the trophy that bears his name is for the league’s top scorer, that Art Ross himself would have been a high scoring forward.

The reason that the trophy is named for Ross is because he donated it to the NHL sometime after he retired."

A week later, I pulled this card from a re-pack.

Looking Out For Number One...

Craig Billington
1995-96 Upper Deck #112

Nobody cares about a stack of loose cards from 1995-96 Upper Deck. Since there are huge gaps in my collection, I'll snatch up random handfuls for the simple pleasure of sifting through them.

Craig Billington wore the oldschool number 1 jersey for every team he played for, including Boston Bruins.

Kinda find it strange to see jersey number 1 still being worn in Boston...

Most of the Original Six teams have retired the number 1 jersey, and honored it with the name of (at least) one former netminder.

Gerry Cheevers
1968-69 O-Pee-Chee #140

This got me wondering about Gerry Cheevers' number 30, not currently retired by the organization.

He won 2 Stanley Cups as a member of the Boston Bruins.

(Jersey number 30 has subsequently backstopped the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011, worn by the now controversial Tim Thomas)

While Cheevers did briefly wear jersey number 1, he's more commonly associated with number 30.

Just happened to add this one to my collection a few days later.

Tiny Thompson
2004-05 In The Game Franchises #331

Also couldn't resist scanning this one, found in a re-pack.

Current goalie Tuukka Rask has recently become the all time wins leader in Bruins history, second only to this guy...

Hall of Fame goaltender Tiny Thompson helped the Bruins win their first ever Stanley Cup in 1929. He also won the Vezina Trophy four times during his ten-plus seasons in Boston.

It was a different era, and while the Bruins may never raise this guy's name to the rafters, the fact that his name still stands with 252 wins in a Boston uniform is pretty impressive... Especially since the NHL season was considerably shorter back then.

Just glad to have neat little tidbits like this.

Mikhail Shtalenkov
1995-96 Upper Deck #91

Only have a couple cards of goaltender Mikhail Shtalenkov.

This one caught my eye because of the action in front of the net. An opposing player has been knocked down, with a visible skate of another player in the mix.

Jim Carey
1995-96 Upper Deck #344

Blessed and cursed by sharing a name with a Hollywood celeb (albeit with different spelling). This earned him goofy nicknames like "The Net Dectective", but didn't stop Jim Carey from winning the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender in 1995-96.

He quietly left the hockey world around the turn of the millennium.

Jim Carey
1995-96 Upper Deck #344
(card back)

A better look at Carey's AHL Portland Pirates mask. The color scheme actually fit perfectly with the original Washington uniforms. He did get another painted mask with an eagle at some point.

Washington Capitals That Wore 8 Before Ovechkin

Looking at players who wore number 8 with the Washington Capitals before Ovechkin came into the league in 2006.

Larry Murphy
2004-05 In The Game Franchises #441

Larry Murphy (Defense)
Playing Career: 1980-2001
Teams: Kings, Capitals, North Stars, Penguins, Maple Leafs, Red Wings

Wore number 8 with the Caps from 1984-1989, and (North) Stars from 1989-1991.

The Hall of Famer switched to number 55 when he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins, and wore it for the rest of his career.

I also never realized that he started with the LA Kings, wearing number 5.

Bob Rouse
1990-91 Upper Deck #389

Bob Rouse (Defense)
Playing Career: 1983-2000
Teams: North Stars, Capitals, Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Sharks

I tend to associate Bob Rouse with number 3, but here he is wearing number 8 for the Washington Capitals from 1989-1991.

He managed to wear number 3 for every franchise he played for except Washington. He also briefly wore 22 and 28 with Minnesota and Toronto respectively, before switching to number 3, presumably when it became available.

Bob Rouse
1998-99 Upper Deck MVP #175

In addition to the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, I also never realized that Bob Rouse spent his final seasons with the San Jose Sharks.

Dmitri Khristich
1993-94 Upper Deck #135

Dmitri Khristich (Left Wing)
Playing Career: 1990-2002
Teams: Capitals, Kings, Bruins, Maple Leafs

Actually had two different stints with the Washington Capitals, beginning and finishing his career with the team.

Also wore 29, 12 and 19 when his usual number 8 wasn't available.

Jan Bulis
1999-00 SPx #162

Jan Bulis (Center)
Playing Career: 1997-2007
Teams: Capitals, Canadiens, Canucks
Wore number 8 for the Washington Capitals from 1998-2001, before switching to number 38.


















Other Caps to briefly wear the 8 include Ken Sabourin (1991), Richard Zednik (1996), Josh Green (2003) and Steve Eminger (2004).

Strangely enough, thirteen additional players wore number 8 from 1975-1983 (a span of eight years).

SP Authentic 2003-04, 2004-05 & 2005-06

Adam Oates
2003-04 SP Authentic #34

Was lucky enough to sample a few consecutive years of SP Authentic.

2003-04 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-90)
Total Cards: 158

Adam Oates
2003-04 SP Authentic #34
(card back)

2003-04 has a good overall design. Catches my eye, but is just somehow lacking something to make me want to go out and grab the whole set.

Still wouldn't mind finding a few more of these.

Marian Hossa
2004-05 SP Authentic #61

2004-05 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-90)
Total Cards: 150

One of my least favorite designs. And from the lockout year, I might add...

Marian Hossa
2004-05 SP Authentic #61
(card back)

Seems they often try too hard when there's no season happening. It's definitely not overdone, but just something about the overall mood of the card...

I'd give it more artistic merit than its' predecessor, although the stats are a bit difficult to read.

Bill Guerin
2005-06 SP Authentic #33

2005-06 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-100)
Total Cards: 290

Probably my overall favorite design of the group. Already had a few of these.

Bill Guerin
2005-06 SP Authentic #33
(card back)

Visually appealing, without trying to be too busy or complicated. Would definitely like to add more of these to my collection.

2004-05 Upper Deck

Niko Kapanen
2004-05 Upper Deck #58

My first and only card from 2004-05 Upper Deck (the year in which the entire season was cancelled due to the lockout).

I had actually been pretty hardcore during the previous season, having collected every single base card.

Niko Kapanen
2004-05 Upper Deck #58
(card back)

The design actually looks like a blend between 2001-02 and 2003-04.

The 2019-20 Upper Deck design also seems to borrow from this one.