Today in Penguins History (10/11/67)

1988-89 Panini Sticker #322

On this day in Penguins history, the first ever game by the newly christened expansion Pittsburgh Penguins was played at the Civic Arena.  While not part of the Original 6 franchises, the Penguins were one of the Next 6 brought into the league to start the 1967-68 season.

Puck Junk Podcast - Yes, That's Two In A Row

The new episode of the Puck Junk Podcast is live and ready to share.  In this weeks episode, Sal and I discuss our favorite hockey card set that we wish could make a comeback (just like we did last week).  We also tackle the new Topps NOW stickers, the 2019-20 Leaf Superlative set, and some "too rich for my blood" sales of hockey cards online. 

Check this weeks' episode out. 

Today in Penguins History (10/5/2005)

On this date in 2005, Sidney Crosby made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in a game versus the New Jersey Devils.  Crosby skated 15:50 in that game and fed Mark Recchi in front of the net to get his first NHL point.  The Penguins went on to lose the game 1-5 but it would be the start of one of the greatest careers in NHL history.

The Puck Junk Podcast is Back!!

The wait is over.  In honor of National Podcast Day, the Puck Junk Podcast has come out of hibernation.  Our first episode in a long time hit the airwaves early this AM.  If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, give it a listen.

Sal and I get back into it, discussing Upper Deck's first release of the 2019-20 NHL season, MVP.  We also discuss Topps re-entry into the NHL sticker market.

Lucky 13

It's Friday the 13th and I wanted to take a look at who I feel are the top 10 NHL players that chose to buck tradition and go against their superstitions to wear the unlucky number #13.  Compared to many other number combinations, athletes traditionally have shied away from the #13.  In generally, I think that is because athletes tend to be creatures of habit and quite a bit superstitious.  That's not to say there haven't been any takers.  Across the other sports, players like Dan Marino, Wilt Chamberlain, A-Rod, and Roberto Clemente come to mind as famous #13s.

But in hockey, there had always been a long tradition of staying away from that fateful number.  From 1950-1980, there had only been six players to wear the number in an NHL game.  In the 1980s, there wasn't a season with more than five players donning the #13 and many of those players frequently changed their numbers.

Today In Penguins History (9/10/2009)

2009 Pittsburgh Penguins trip to the White House

Today in 2009, the Pittsburgh Penguins made the trip to Washington D.C. and visited President Barack Obama after winning their third Stanley Cup in franchise history.  Accompanied by the team owner, Mario Lemieux, as well as team management, coaches, and staff, the players flanked the President during his brief, 10-minute speech.

President Obama congratulated the team on their victory and commented on how hard it is to win the Stanley Cup.  He also credited the Penguins for the charity work, including their hockey clinic they put on earlier as part of the President's "United We Serve" campaign.  Probably the most interesting comment the President made was regarding the playoff beard phenomenon.  "All of you look pretty good without your playoff beards," he claimed. "They're pretty good looking guys without all that."  He also made a comment about how Sidney Crosby is small so he must make up for that in speed.

That photo above would later serve as the inspiration for the sketch used by Upper Deck to adorn the 2012 Goodwin Champions card of Sidney Crosby.  I'm only speculating here but I would be shocked if it wasn't.  You decide.

2012 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions