Card Stock...

Alexander Ovechkin
2019-20 SP Authentic #100

A small pile of these cards stacking up as well (and printed on extra thick cardstock).

Figured it was special to land Ovechkin.

Have collected 21 cards from this 251 card set.

Eric Staal
2019-20 SP Authentic #27

Possibly the first card I have of Eric Staal in a Minnesota Wild uniform.

2013-14 SP Authentic

Andy Moog
2013-14 SP Authentic #55

Another guy featured in an SP Authentic set with a team that people might not commonly associate him with...

Andy Moog debuted with the Edmonton Oilers from 1981 to 1988.
He was traded to Boston in exchange for Bill Ranford.

Moog wore number 35 for his entire career (Edmonton, Boston, Dallas, Montreal).

(Ex-Oilers Grant Fuhr and Paul Coffey are also featured in this set)

2011-12 SP Authentic

Jaroslav Halak
2011-12 SP Authentic #13

2011-12 SP Authentic
Total Cards: 150

Another set that I missed out on a couple years ago...
Just happened to find a near-complete set sandwiched between a few other sets within a random binder purchase.


Really digging these retro style St Louis Blues jerseys.

Jaroslav Halak is currently backstopping the Boston Bruins with Tukka Rask (and a pair of young goaltenders).

Brendan Shanahan
2011-12 SP Authentic #59

Part of the fun of the SPA sets are the random cards featuring players like Bobby Orr and Gretzky...

For some reason, they decided to feature Brendan Shanahan's brief time with the Hartford Whalers.

Shanahan had 79 points in his 76 games with the Whalers.
It's also the only time he'd wear number 94 for an NHL team.

With yet another Whalers card added to my collection, I now have approximately 11% of the Hartford Whalers cards ever produced.

Dany Heatley
2011-12 SP Authentic #92

Another "retro" jersey that's slowly growing on me... At least it's better than some of the other uniforms worn by the Minnesota Wild.

Wasn't aware that Dany Heatley had been with the Wild. Scored 102 points in 194 games during his 3 seasons with the team.

Jose Theodore
2011-12 SP Authentic #104

Can't say that I recall Jose Theodore ever playing for the Florida Panthers...

He actually finished his career in Florida, playing 53 games in the 2011-12 season, and 15 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

King Me...

Jonathan Quick
2019-20 SP Authentic #17

2019-20 SP Authentic
Base Card Numbers: 1-100
Authentic Moments: 101-116
Serial Numbered: 117-251
Total Cards: 251


The second card from 2019-20 SP Authentic to go into my collection.

Simple design, goes well with the LA Kings motif and Jonathan Quick's goalie gear.

A thrifty collector like myself doesn't land many of these, so considering it's a goalie card, it's probably the catch of the day.

More Random Cards...

Sandis Ozolinsh
1997-98 SP Authentic #41

My first card from the very first year of SP Authentic...
Future incarnations of the product would be brilliant white, while the early years are "Ooh, shiny!".

The "SP Authentic" brand effectively replaced the original brand simply known as "SP" (which had three releases, 1994-95, 1995-96 and 1996-97)..

Since it's debut in 1997-98, SP Authentic has been released every single season.

Dominik Hasek
2018-19 SP #95

Seems they revived the regular "SP" brand in 2018-19 & 2019-20, after an absence of 22 years.

The card numbers and player photos are the same, but the SP Authentic set has considerably more insert cards...

My research suggests that it's basically a more affordable alternative to "SP Authentic". Perhaps the regular SP is more suitable for those of us who simply enjoy to collect the base set.

Tomas Vokoun
2010-11 Upper Deck #117

I'll always think of Tomas Vokoun as a member of the Nashville Predators, but here he is with the Florida Panthers.... Either way, he still has a vicious cat painted on his mask.

Just noticing that Vokoun catches right.

Eric Fehr
2013-14 Score #529

Always enjoy cards where a player has just scored a goal... This one has it all, from ecstatic fans to dejected goaltender.

Flashing The Leather (Goalie Glove Saves)

Wendell Young
1993-94 Topps Premier #166

Just felt like scouring my collection for some nice glove saves.
Love this one, done with style.

Frank Pietrangelo
1993-94 Parkhurst #352

Not your ideal glove save, but I'm pretty sure he got it.

Ken Wregget
1995-96 Topps #190

A sweet save by Pens backup goaltender Ken Wregget.

Brian Boucher
2002-03 O-Pee-Chee #55

Brian Boucher of the Flyers with a nice underhanded catch.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere
2002-03 Upper Deck #2

Playoff MVP Jean-Sebastien Giguere scoops this one up.

Pekka Rinne
2009-10 SP Authentic #23

Casual no-look grab by Pekka Rinne.

Jon Gibson
2016-17 Upper Deck #1

Pretty sure this one just hit his glove... I don't think he knew where the puck was.

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.

Scoring Machines

Jonathan Cheechoo
2006-07 SP Authentic #18

2006-07 SP Authentic
Total Cards: 250

Filed this card into my collection, and discovered that I had two others from this set (in my post-lockout Upper Deck binder). Barely have any cards from 2006-07.

Card design is relatively good. Certainly not my favorite SPA design, but I've seen much worse. Team-themed color scheme actually works quite well against the white background with light grey/silver.

Jonathan Cheechoo
2006-07 SP Authentic #18
(card back)

Here's another case of me preferring the look of a card's back than the front.

They did an outstanding job on the back... It's simple, neat, and accomplishes a lot without being cluttered.

Jonathan Cheechoo scored 170 goals and 135 assists for 305 points in 501 career games.

Didn't realize that he also won the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals in 2005-06. (season following the lockout)

Martin Havlat
2006-07 SP Authentic #79

Next card in my binder is Martin Havlat.
Too bad the Hawks weren't able to keep him... Instead, he was dealt to Minnesota and then San Jose, where he was never heard from again. (Might as well be playing on Mars)

Both the Sharks' teal and the Hawks' red look particularly good on this card design.

Martin Havlat
2006-07 SP Authentic #79
(card back)

From the back of the card:

"A dangerous scoring machine anywhere on the ice, Havlat is highly valued for his ability to play all three forward spots."

Martin Havlat scored 242 goals and 352 assists for 594 points in 790 career games.

Random Repacks...

Brayden Schenn
2018-19 SP Authentic #53

It's always fun to flip through some "new" cards, so I picked up a few of the re-packed variety. Going into it, I knew I'd find plenty of Score, Pro Set and Bowman...




















So else what did the hockey gods have in store? An assortment of old & new, from a dozen different sets.
Obviously, most are from the 90s... A good handful from the last 5 years, plus a random scattering from the turn of the century.

Kyle Turris
2019-20 Upper Deck Artifacts #47

I guess one good thing about so many brands, is that there's always going to be something I've never seen before.


Was surprised to find a lone card from 2019-20 Upper Deck Artifacts within the repacks, especially considering that the set was released not even 5 months ago...

Kris Letang
2017-18 Upper Deck #393

Also found a few from 2017-18 & 2018-19 Upper Deck. Just guessing that this shot of Kris Letang took place during a home game in Pittsburgh to honor the 2017 Stanley Cup Champs.

Friday the Thirteenth...

Gary Bromley
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #330

Molded face masks were still being worn by NHL goaltenders when Jason Vorhees was barely old enough to wield a machete.

John Garrett
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee #77

Aside from re-printed shots, I had no oldschool goalie cards - Until picking up a bunch of mixed 80s & 90s stuff.

Ron Low
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #348

The exact same photo of goaltender Ron Low also appears on his 1979-80 and 1980-81 cards. (From 1977 to 1980, he went from the Capitals, Wings, Nordiques, and then to the Oilers...)

It's much easier to sneak a 2-3 year old photograph into a set when the player hasn't been traded...

Grant Fuhr
2013-14 SP Authentic #81

Was pleasantly surprised to find this modern card...
Watched Grant Fuhr play wearing a helmet/cage in the 1990s, but recall seeing older photos of him with an old school mask. Happy to add this one to my collection.

2009-10 SP Authentic

Chris Drury
2009-10 SP Authentic #81

This card that sold the set for me...

Found a lone Chris Drury from 2009-10 SP Authentic in a binder of mixed cards.

I liked the look of the card so much that I grabbed the entire set after seeing it advertised locally.

Chris Drury
2009-10 SP Authentic #81
(card back)

Even the back of the card is done quite well. Neat and clean, with all the vital statistics.

In lieu of a photograph on the back, having the player's last name in big bold letters is a novel idea.