BOX BREAK - 2006-07 Be A Player

CONTEST OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 13TH -------------------------->


After seeing a successful box break of this stuff over at Wax Stained Rookie, I scooped one off eBay. The total cost of the box including shipping and taxes was just over $72.00. I might have payed a little too much but for me (as I have said before) it comes down to the numbers. Was the investment worth while? Beckett will tell us that, and you will too! You'll see what I mean...let's get to it.

First I might as well show the three other cards I owned prior to this set...

I picked up these two almost identical cards of Luc Bourdon for 10 cents each in a flea market in New York. Story can be found here.

I also picked up this Ryan Malone AUTO a while ago too...story here.

PACK 1

The box promises 4 inserts numbered to /999 or less. This Phaneuf insert is numbered to an even better /499!

Wow, first pack and we have pulled a current Canucks player! Sweet! This card shows Ballard in his Coyotes days. Even though he was in and out of the line up last year I think he'll have a pretty permanent role playing alongside Chris Tanev next season. After all if you scratch a guy out of 3 games in the Stanley Cup Finals and expect him to play game 6 faultless, your dreaming. If coach AV plays him a little more consistently, he'll do just fine. Nice pickup that goes right into my Superman tin (A.K.A - Canucks AUTO and GU tin).

Beckett Value of Cards: $18.50

Box Cost: $72

Value Lost/Gained: - $53.50

PACK 2

Along with this Cristobal Huet insert I pulled Lidstrom, Doan, and Spezza base cards.

Hmmm...not sure how I feel about Vrbata. Don't really have much of an attachment to this card, I guess it's just nice to look at? He's wearing a Hawks jersey, so I dunno about him.

Beckett Value of Cards: $16.60

Box Cost: 72$

Value Lost/Gained: -$36.90

PACK 3

Bolland is one of the higher end rookie cards in the set, this card alone is valued at $15. But he's still wearing a Hawks sweater...

Now we're talking! Very happy to pull a Rookie AUTO, especially since this is officially my lowest numbered card in my collection! This beaut is numbered to only /10 copies. Problem is, Beckett does not list this card due to the scarcity of the card. Therefore, I can't put an official value on the card. So that's where you come in. Value this card for me, I already have a good idea of how much it would go for looking on eBay and stuff. But, I wanna know what you think it's worth. Let me just say though, this WAS NOT the best card of the box...

Beckett Value of Cards: $16.75 (+ RC AUTO)

Box Cost: $72

Value Lost/Gained: - $20.15

PACK 4

Looks like we're on the right track here. Next I pulled 4 base cards along with the Dual Auto this box offered me...

I was originally a little bit disappointed with not only the players but the team as well. But after looking at the quality of the signatures I began to start liking this card. Both are nice sigs and both use numbers so they compliment each other well. Plus, this is my very first Dual AUTO card! This box is definitely a box for the record books...it gets better!

Beckett Value of Cards: $17.25

Box Cost: $72

Value Lost/Gained: -$2.90

PACK 5

I'm going to be straight up with you, this was my least favorite pack of the box. All around pretty...bleh? I'd take the Luongo base I pulled in this pack over the AUTO to tell you the truth. I also picked up a Gagne insert.

Beckett Value of Cards: $17.00

Box Cost: $72

Value Lost/Gained: + $14.10

PACK 6

Okay, so here is the big one! This pack was just slightly bigger than the rest and I thought it was a little suspicious. As I pulled the Ian White RC off the next, the next card didn't look like it had the same design as the other AUTO's. Here's what I saw!

YUP, numbered to only /10 copies! 2006-07 Be A Player Up Close & Personal Autograph of Michael Ryder!!! A great pull in my books! But I still have a problem. Much like the O'Sullivan RC AUTO, this is not listed in Beckett due to scarcity. So I need YOU, again. Tell me what it's worth! I have not seen any of the other 9 cards on the market so I have no price range for this card.

Including the three base cards and the Ian White RC numbered to /999, here's where I am.

Beckett Value of Cards: $10.25 (+ Up Close & Personal AUTO)

Box Cost: $72

Value Lost/Gained: + $24.35

PACK 7

This pack is kinda a "whatever" pack. One bonus is the Raycroft insert will fit well into my goalie project.

Beckett Value of Cards: $15.50

Box Cost: $72

Value Lost/Gained: + $39.85

PACK 8

Nice looking pack! This Schultz RC will look nice alongside my Bourdon RC's. Plus, I started liking Kovalev after watching his shootout routine at the All Star Game. If you don't remember what it was like, he did some sweet soccer moves...check it out if you have the time.

Beckett Value: $21.60

Box Cost: $72

Value Lost/Gained: + $61.85

So after all the math looks like WITHOUT the O'Sullivan and Ryder AUTO's I'm still up on my purchases by over 60 bucks! 

Now it's your turn. Since Beckett doesn't have the value listed in it's annual, it's your job to value the two cards below...

PATRICK O'SULLIVAN RC AUTO /10

MICHAEL RYDER UP CLOSE & PERSONAL AUTO /10

WHAT ARE THEY WORTH?

With the Luongo base card and the Raycroft insert here's where my Goalie Project is at:

Alex Auld - 3/3 COMPLETE! 26 TOTAL
Murray Bannerman - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Martin Brochu - 3/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Richard Brodeur - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Gary Bromley
Bruce Bullock
Sean Burke - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Frank Caprice
Jacques Caron
Dan Cloutier - 3/3 COMPLETE! 30 TOTAL
Ed Dyck
Ken Ellacott
Bob Essensa - 3/3 COMPLETE! 14 TOTAL
Mike Fountain
Troy Gamble - 2/2 COMPLETE! 21 TOTAL
George Gardner
John Garrett - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Glen Hanlon
Johan Hedberg - 3/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Rick Heinz
Corey Hirsch
Charlie Hodge
Arturs Irbe - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Jason LaBarbera - 2/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Ken Lockett
Roberto Luongo - 3/3 COMPLETE! 40 TOTAL
Drew MacIntyre - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Cesare Maniago - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Bob Mason
Dave McClelland
Steve McKichan
Kirk McLean
Rob McVicar - 1/1 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Alfie Michaud
Tyler Moss
Mika Noronen - 3/3 COMPLETE! 6 TOTAL
Maxime Ouellet - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Félix Potvin - 3/3 COMPLETE! 27 TOTAL
Andrew Raycroft - 1/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Curt Ridley
Dany Sabourin - 2/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Curtis Sanford - 3/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Cory Schneider - 1/2 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Corey Schwab
Petr Skudra - 3/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Gary Smith
Garth Snow
Kevin Weekes
Steve Weeks - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Kay Whitmore - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Dunc Wilson - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Wendell Young - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL

GO NUCKS GO!

THE GOALIE PROJECT - Martin Brochu (Part 1)

CONTEST OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 13TH ---------------->


First a little update on my contest. I have 6 people participating thus far. Only 2 of those 6 have put a plug on their own blog (Brad and Paul) so they are the only ones with the 5 extra Bonus points. Now for what everyone wants to hear - THE PRIZES. The prizes will consist of one auto or memorabilia card plus a package of cards from your personal favorite team or player set.

Now onto the project. This post needs some context first. I've taken care of my Canucks cards very well, each card has it's own slot in a 9 page folder in one of my 4 Canucks binders. But a problem arose once I started my Goalie Project. I wanted all my goalie cards (former or current) all to be in one place. So for a few days I got into the nitty gritty and sorted through my well organised yearly binders of hockey cards and picked out ALL my GP cards from my 3,000+ Canucks cards.

Now they are all in one big binder organised in alphabetical order by last name. Like Mr. Martin Brochu below:

As you can see the goaltender's name is on the top left hand corner. Then the cards are arranged from oldest to newest. In this case, the first two cards are considered RC's by Beckett, we also have Martin sporting Caps gear and finally a third card of him in some more Nucks gear. So there we have it, a perfect 3 for 3. Plus I think they look even better in the 9 slot pages instead of the stacks they use to be in.

Alex Auld - 3/3 COMPLETE! 26 TOTAL
Murray Bannerman - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Martin Brochu - 3/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Richard Brodeur - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Gary Bromley
Bruce Bullock
Sean Burke - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Frank Caprice
Jacques Caron
Dan Cloutier - 3/3 COMPLETE! 30 TOTAL
Ed Dyck
Ken Ellacott
Bob Essensa - 3/3 COMPLETE! 14 TOTAL
Mike Fountain
Troy Gamble - 2/2 COMPLETE! 21 TOTAL
George Gardner
John Garrett - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Glen Hanlon
Johan Hedberg - 3/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Rick Heinz
Corey Hirsch
Charlie Hodge
Arturs Irbe - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Jason LaBarbera - 2/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Ken Lockett
Roberto Luongo - 3/3 COMPLETE! 39 TOTAL
Drew MacIntyre - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Cesare Maniago - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Bob Mason
Dave McClelland
Steve McKichan
Kirk McLean
Rob McVicar - 1/1 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Alfie Michaud
Tyler Moss
Mika Noronen - 3/3 COMPLETE! 6 TOTAL
Maxime Ouellet - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Félix Potvin - 3/3 COMPLETE! 27 TOTAL
Andrew Raycroft - 1/3 COMPLETE! 6 TOTAL
Curt Ridley
Dany Sabourin - 2/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Curtis Sanford - 3/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Cory Schneider - 1/2 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Corey Schwab
Petr Skudra - 3/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Gary Smith
Garth Snow
Kevin Weekes
Steve Weeks - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Kay Whitmore - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Dunc Wilson - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Wendell Young - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL

GO NUCKS GO!

PACK RIP - 2010-11 Pinnacle (GU HIT!)

CONTEST NOW OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 13th --------------->


I've promised a pack rip for a while now but simply haven't found the time to post up my cards. I originally promised a pack rip of this years Series 1, but after pulling all base I decided to spare you the anticipation and rip a fairly new pack of Pinnacle. I've only ripped one other pack and I pulled a GU hit of Ryan Suter. I'm not gonna lie though I did feel out the packs to nab the thickest one. I figure that I rather pull GU cards more than anything these days because I'm in need of building that part of my collection greatly. Plus at five bucks a pack I'd be pretty choked pulling only base.

Here are just a few base I pulled from the pack.

Great pictures as usual from this product, this is growing on me more and more.

Now for the good stuff, my GU card I pulled. I had picked up this pack from the bunch knowing pretty well that there was a GU card inside, and the car ride home was a long one in the anticipation of what the card might be. I might have gotten more excited than I should have because the card wasn't as great as I thought it would be, but nonetheless nice to have.

Damn smudge on the scanner is really stating to make me mad. Anyways, it's a TO City Lights card. Weird how the paragraph on the back isn't about the player but instead about the city. This card reminds me of an older set....hmmm...that's a possible topic for the future. In any which way, it's a small blue piece of Hanson's jersey so I'm happy!

GO NUCKS GO!

THE GOALIE PROJECT - Cleanin up the Mess

Okay so a very delayed and random Goalie Project for today. First I have a couple of cards I received about a week back from my friend Sal over at Puck Junk. I'm sure all have already visited his site but if not do it...now!

A while back I debated about a Bob Essensa RC. It was from 90-91 Score (which was his rookie year) but wasn't listed by Beckett as an official RC since it was part of the All Rookie Team subset. So to make it official Sal sent me a true Bob Essensa RC from 90-91 Score and a Wendell Young RC also! Thanks Sal!

Now here comes the difficult part, all the Goalie cards I cashed in on my box break of 01-02 Victory box break need to fit into my Goalie Project. Here we go...

JOHAN HEDBERG

That triple "Victory Prospects" card has Hedberg on the bottom and is considered a RC, which means I'm finished all my Johan cards.

MAXIME OUELLET

I have about 3 other of his RC's kicking around but this is the only one I have actually pulled.

MIKA NORONEN

I've finally completed all Noronen's for my project and so this card definitely fits in well.

SEAN BURKE

KEVIN WEEKES

Kevin's doing great as a colour commentator for CBC these days I have a bunch of his cards to fire out also.

ARTUS IRBE

FELIX POTVIN

These cards are just kind of extras for the Potvin cards I already have.

ROBERTO LUONGO

I'll take Lui any time of the day, nice card to grab. 

DAN CLOUTIER

Good old Clouts!

So after cleaning up the mess here is where I stand:

Alex Auld - 3/3 COMPLETE! 26 TOTAL
Murray Bannerman - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Martin Brochu
Richard Brodeur - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Gary Bromley
Bruce Bullock
Sean Burke - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Frank Caprice
Jacques Caron
Dan Cloutier - 3/3 COMPLETE! 30 TOTAL
Ed Dyck
Ken Ellacott
Bob Essensa - 3/3 COMPLETE! 14 TOTAL
Mike Fountain
Troy Gamble - 2/2 COMPLETE! 21 TOTAL
George Gardner
John Garrett - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Glen Hanlon
Johan Hedberg - 3/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Rick Heinz
Corey Hirsch
Charlie Hodge
Arturs Irbe - 1/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Jason LaBarbera - 2/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Ken Lockett
Roberto Luongo - 3/3 COMPLETE! 39 TOTAL
Drew MacIntyre - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Cesare Maniago - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Bob Mason
Dave McClelland
Steve McKichan
Kirk McLean
Rob McVicar - 1/1 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Alfie Michaud
Tyler Moss
Mika Noronen - 3/3 COMPLETE! 6 TOTAL
Maxime Ouellet - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Félix Potvin - 3/3 COMPLETE! 27 TOTAL
Andrew Raycroft - 1/3 COMPLETE! 6 TOTAL
Curt Ridley
Dany Sabourin - 2/3 COMPLETE! 2 TOTAL
Curtis Sanford - 3/3 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Cory Schneider - 1/2 COMPLETE! 7 TOTAL
Corey Schwab
Petr Skudra - 3/3 COMPLETE! 4 TOTAL
Gary Smith
Garth Snow
Kevin Weekes
Steve Weeks - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Kay Whitmore - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Dunc Wilson - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL
Wendell Young - 1/3 COMPLETE! 1 TOTAL

Now that the contest sign up time is complete and I see that only 5 have committed to submitting a design I'm just going to keep the contest open to anyone that wants to join. But remember you must submit your design before August 13th! I'll update with some prizes later!

GO NUCKS GO!

QUICKY + Contest Update

So I've been absent from the blogging world over the past 5 days and it looks like for at least 3 more. My summer job (which I love) involves the occasion traveling (when my parents permit) and this time it takes me to a smaller island off of Vancouver island. I'll be working all day in the bright sun, on the sunshine coast for the next few days. Therefore, no blogging will be done.

I promise though that I will get back into the run of things once I get back. Like I've mentioned before I have a whole mess of Goalie Project cards from that Victory box break. Plus, Sal over at Puck Junk sent me a few nice RC's to add to the GP also which I will showcase shortly. Thanks Sal!

As for other incoming hockey card lovin' I still have a pack of this years Series 1 to share AND I just won a very nice box on eBay. I was inspired to search after this box after seeing Dave's (Wax Stain Rookie's) very successful box break of 2006-07 Be A Player! So look for that coming in over the next couple weeks or so.

As for the contest, I've only had 5 entries out of a possible 20 come in. My more realistic goal was to have 10 sign up, so make sure you click the link on the top right hand corner and sign up before July 22nd!

More to come very soon...

GO NUCKS GO!