A cracked....hockey stick?

Recently Julie from A Cracked Bat and a Hot Dog sent me a box of cards...I had no idea what would be inside said box, but it turned out to be hockey! Lots of hockey! It looks like we are starting to convert Julie to a hockey fan herself, and that's very understandable because the game is very addicting, as I have not gone a day without watching it since November.

In the box, Julie sent me a lucky 13 new sets, ranging in age from 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee (also the oldest card in the box) up through 2016-17 Parkhurst! There were also- I think- 22 new people for my collection! I thought I had everybody in my collection documented, but I found one player that was not on my chart yet the Database showed me it was my 8th card of him, and another player who the Database said was my first yet he appeared on my chart. (it's possible he was on the promos I have not been able to list due to not being able to find a checklist, though, because everything else is listed). In total, I got 99 new cards, and I still have one pack left waiting to open. The cards covered a wide variety of sets and players, and scanning all 99 of them would take me a while- so I'll show just some of the highlights.

I'm also so far backlogged- from mid-February through earlier today I had not typed anything into my chart, and I was sent three large boxes of hockey cards in that time, including this one from Julie. So I may not have the cards attributed to the correct person,so you may see one from Julie in the post from Shoebox Legends, coming soon. But I think these all came from Julie.

I think this one might be my favorite- or the last one I will show. I just can't decide.

 Henrik Lundqvist has quickly become one of my favorite players, and this is my first rookie card of him...only my 5th card of him overall. This is also my first card from 2005-06 Power Play.

My first card of McDavid!

Here's that 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee I mentioned. To me this qualifies as vintage. I know others have different systems but I define anything older than myself as vintage, and anything made after I was born non-vintage. Since I was born in October 1984, this BARELY qualifies, as the season would have been a few days running before I was born, I think, but I should point out that don't limit myself to one area or era and I am thrilled to get any card from any year.

These semi-holograms from 1992-93 Upper Deck are neat cards. But they are partly hologram so that goes without saying. Except I said it!

My first cards from 2001-02 Ice and 2015-16 Ice, both of which are printed on clear plastic. I really enjoy the clear plastic cards!
The back of the Rinne really shows it well.

Those are just spectacular. I can't think of a better word to describe them.

There were three packs of 2016-17 Upper Deck series 1, and this was my favorite photograph. I seem to be favoring the wide angle shots.

I managed to beat the odds and pull a Young Gun!

Considering they are one in every 4 packs and I pulled one from 3 packs, I would say that's beating the odds.

These Summit Ice parallels are also pretty spectacular in hand. Mesmerizing, almost. She sent two, here is the one that scanned better.

It's Jari Kurri if not clear.

But the one giving Henrik Lundqvist a run for his money is this one. I am, if nothing else, consistent.

Holograms will always be my favorites, or contending for them, when I get one. To me, Holograms are the best insert concept ever made. Well, considering the SPx brand, sometimes base cards too. This gift contained some serious star power too- Mario Lemieux is no slouch, and Wayne Gretzky may be the Great One, but there was more than one card of him in there. I didn't scan any of them though...so backlogged, of my own doing. This is my second card from the 1991-92 Upper Deck Award Winners insert. 7 to go. I also have the aforementioned Gretzky.

Thank you so much Julie!

As an aside, this is what is going on today.

That's somewhere around 18 to 20 inches of snow. Somewhere under there is my brother's Chevrolet Cobalt...with possibly 10 more inches yet to come! (think it's done though) The snow eventually did cover the rear quarter panel but this picture is better. As long as we don't lose power, I will be happy.

It was also 2 months ago today I revealed I was now an NHL fan. In that time my friends from the Trading Card Database and the Blogosphere have sent me over 1000 different hockey cards. Incredible. Thanks to everyone! I hope to be able to repay that kindness someday.