Wednesday 19 June 2013

BlackSheep217

We all know him. He’s famous to cardboard collectors. His name… is Luke. Otherwise known as BlackSheep217.  The guy is pretty cool. Actually, he is so cool that I’m spending my study break writing a review on him. No, I am not trying to be creepy. I just think we should come to appreciate Luke a little more. Not that we don’t, but we should really show it, which is what brings me here today.

Luke has a vast majority of topics, if you will. He makes all sorts of videos spanning from mail days, to reviews. Yup, he does it all. But what puts him over the top? Is it his famous black sheep? Or is it his cute little drawings of the black sheep….



Perhaps there is a little more to it. Maybe it’s because all of his giveaways. Don’t forget the box breaks. Possibly is happy spirit. Or maybe it is because he does everything because he wants to. He gives constantly. You don’t see him ever ask for anything in return. He simply gives. That is a hard character trait to establish and Luke just so happens to have it nailed down. I think that is what appeals to the audience the most. We
view at him as a collector to look up to. We all need one of those. We know his collection is amazing, so there is a lot to look up to. But he doesn’t rub it in your face. He shares it with you.

So I want to say thanks, Luke. Thanks for being an awesome fellow collector.



Check out his channel here
Don't forget to see his blog


This was written by Riley (NothinButHockeyCards)
Please be sure to comment and share with all your friends. Your views and contributions are much appreciated.
Thank you

Wednesday 5 June 2013

My Hobby-Life Day #1

So I get home from school and it is now time to relax and check that mail box. I got one package with some pretty cool cards which I will be showing off soon. I step inside and remember, the new Rookie Anthology was released today. That's right, despite the lockout, Upper Deck and Panini still try to release products after what seems to be months! Anyhow, I check out the product on my computer and it looks pretty good. Time to take a trip up to my local card shop. But first, what I got in the mail:






Not bad... right? I thought it was pretty good!

Onward with my afternoon in the hobby life. I go to my local card shop to get myself a pack of Fleer Retro and Rookie Anthology. I am on a tight budget so I got just one of each. I had always wanted to try Fleer Retro although it is quite pricey. I'd say I did alright.

Here are the packs:

Fleer Retro




Rookie Anthology




I found this pack interesting since I got two rookies of the same player....
Even funnier, one card is updated and states that he currently plays for Chicago, and the other is lacking stating he plays for Boston.

Anyways.... overall, I'm not complaining. Two packs, four hits. Not bad at all.

It's only Three O'Clock in the afternoon and I am already burning this hobby up!

Thanks for the look and as always, comments are much appreciated!


Don't forget to check out my Youtube

This was written by Riley (NothinButHockeyCards)
Please be sure to comment and share with all your friends. Your views and contributions are much appreciated.
Thank you

Tuesday 4 June 2013

What Makes The Stanley Cup Playoffs So Exciting

As I sit on the couch like a lump, I watch the Kings vs. the Blackhawks with pure enjoyment. My team, the Leafs, are out. So why am I watching this? That is a good question....

For starters, it's intense. Things can change in the blink of an eye. The pace of the game is limitless. Maybe the biggest attention drawer, there is so much on the line. You can see it in the players eyes. They really want it. Every shift counts. You start to think the players don't get tired. Then you imagine yourself out there skating and feel the need to go for a run. When you get this feeling, you know it's the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Playoffs may also be known as complete entertainment. Might I remind my readers, I am not even a Hawks fan. Nor am I a Kings fan. As I write this I look up at the T.V. every three seconds to make sure I don't miss a bit. Everything is just so exciting. You don't want to look at the game clock because you know you will be disappointed to see there is only a minute left in the 2nd period. You can't bare to wait a 10-15 minute intermission. There is too much to wait for.

Okay, so it's intense, there is a lot on the line, but it's got to be the pace that is the most intriguing. Hockey is one of the fastest sports in the world and when you reach Playoffs time, the bar is really raised. On top of that, it is a life or death situation. Someone is going down. It doesn't get much more intense than that.

So there you have it. That sums up just a portion of the Playoffs.

Why do YOU like the Playoffs?


Don't forget to check out my Youtube

This was written by Riley (NothinButHockeyCards)
Please be sure to comment and share with all your friends. Your views and contributions are much appreciated.
Thank you

Saturday 25 May 2013

Pack Attack #2 (12-13 Artifacts)

Intro/Rules 

In this series I will be giving away FREE cards in each and every episode. How do you get your hands on these free cards? It's simple. I pick a product for each episode and write about the it. I will then show a card I got in a pack(s) from the specific product and tell the story behind it. I am asking you to read my review and make one of your own through your response. 

I am looking for creative responses with good stories. It is not so much about the card but the awesome story behind it. I don't care if it is a base card, although a patch or something may get you some brownie points. It's the story that really matters. 

Pictures are encouraged 

Whoever gives the best response will win a free card from the product that is featured in the episode.  

Ready. Set. Read and respond! 

Review

Artifacts

If you watch my videos or know me at all, you understand how I feel about the product Artifacts... I love it!

Even the base cards are gorgeous. Well, besides the fact that you can't read the player's name on the card. But look at it this way, it tests your knowledge of identifying players. However, the design really disintegrates the hate you may have for the unreadable names. I mean this in the way that the design is so nice, you couldn't really care less about the names. Maybe that is just how I feel. The base design along with almost every other set in the product has a sort of shattered glass back round. I think this really makes the card pop, but in the same way, stay contained. It isn't too much on the eyes, but enough to intrigue you. Overall, I am very fond of the design.

The best part of Artifacts must be its beautiful patches. There are also some amazing sets. I mean, who doesn't like all the 1/1 sets in this product? The triple tag, the dual tag, and the patch/tag/autograph. You can get the black auto that is limited to five. You can even get black base cards. Clearly, the sets in this product are also a strong point.

If I haven't expressed my love for this product enough than I must bring up the players that are in the product. It has a lot of highly collected players such as Hall, Eberle, Seguin, Crosby, Stamkos and of course, Gretzky. The players play a huge roll in the awesomeness of this product.

Pack Attack

My pack attack pull came from a box I opened. The story is pretty funny. I had always loved Artifacts and wanted a box of my own. Here is one card I pulled.... Oh and it's a 1/1.....



I was originally going to use the box in a group break but no one would join. As disappointed as I was, (granted I wasn't too disappointed) I just had a great feeling about the box. So I asked the guys on blog with me if they thought I should keep the box for myself. After all, I had always loved the product and never had a box before. They all insisted I opened it. I decided I would. I went upstairs on the couch with my brother and opened it. Then I opened a pack, it was thick. The thick card was no decoy. No sir. So I took a peek and there was black on the card. Now I was really excited. I told my brother to grab the camera and we ran to my room. He started recording and..... well, I will let you see the rest......


Yup, pretty embarrassing but it was fun!

That is my story. I hope you enjoyed and let's hear yours!

Bonus

I have to show a video of the runner-up card....


The winners will be determined on June 1 2013


Don't forget to check out my Youtube

This was written by Riley (NothinButHockeyCards)
Please be sure to comment and share with all your friends. Your views and contributions are much appreciated.
Thank you

Thursday 16 May 2013

Pack Attack #1 (11-12 Contenders)

Intro/Rules 

In this series I will be giving away FREE cards in each and every episode. How do you get your hands on these free cards? It's simple. I pick a product for each episode and write about the it. I will then show a card I got in a pack(s) from the specific product and tell the story behind it. I am asking you to read my review and make one of your own through your response. 

I am looking for creative responses with good stories. It is not so much about the card but the awesome story behind it. I don't care if it is a base card, although a patch or something may get you some brownie points. It's the story that really matters. 

Pictures are encouraged 

Whoever gives the best response will win a free card from the product that is featured in the episode.  

Ready. Set. Read and respond! 


Review 

Contenders 

What comes to mind when you think of Contenders? Hmmm...... Booklets! On-card Autos! Rookies!  

Yes, Contenders has some cool sets in it along with some awesome aspects. But does it have depth? To me, no, it does not. It is a very basic product in my eyes. Basic is fine. Its just.... basic. Sure you can get booklets but how many sets are there really? I want a product to have that really rare card that everyone wants. This is more of a product that revolves around set-collectors rather than the collectors that want some sweet, funky, rare cards. Perhaps that is why the price dropped. Ever since it did, mine along with many others' attention has been caught. Maybe it was a good thing that the price dropped. I rarely buy boxes yet I have had 2 Contenders boxes. Doesn't that say something? The bottom line is, this price drop was a really good thing for us buyers. Sure, its a basic product, but it's extremely solid for $60. The design is nice, the autos are sweet, and the chance at a 1/1 patch/auto is pretty cool too. Don't forget the booklets as well. Overall, for the price, this product is pretty good. 

Pack Attack 

My pack attack pull came from the second box of Contenders I bought. I bought this box at the Toronto Spring Expo. Here is the pull.... 



Going into the Expo I figured I would buy a box, but what? Then, I walked into the huge room full of tables and searched for the best deals. I came across a box of Rookie Anthology for $70, and a box of Contenders for $60. I was torn. There was only one thing to do... wait. Yup, that's what I did. I continued my search (this time for cards) and let my mind think for a little bit. In the end, I bought the box of Contenders for $60. Boy was it a good investment. I went into the car to go home but before we left, I had one thing to do... bust the box! I busted it with my mom and when I saw that thick redemption I froze. Then when I saw more names than I can read without flipping out, I... well, I flipped out! 

That is my story! I hope you enjoyed and I look forward to your response!

The winner will be determined on May 23 2013


Don't forget to check out my Youtube

This was written by Riley (NothinButHockeyCards)
Please be sure to comment and share with all your friends. Your views and contributions are much appreciated.
Thank you

Thursday 9 May 2013

The Stanley Cup Winner


The Stanley Cup Playoffs. All of us hockey fans love it. It is a time to be on the edge of your seat and shout for joy or burst in tears. Who doesn't love that?

            The players in the NHL live for this moment. The moment that defies everything. The moment you hoist the Stanley Cup in the air victoriously. They put their blood, sweat, and tears for this very moment... To be known as a Stanley Cup Winner.

            The question is, what team will win the Cup this year? Could it be the fan-favourite being the Chicago Blackhawks? Or will it be the underdog being the New York Islanders? Maybe it will be the team stuck in the middle such as the Toronto Maple Leafs. How many people would like that? Maybe the real question is, how many people would hate that? Usually, the team that makes the journey to winning the Cup is not the fan-favourite, nor the bottom team, but a team like Toronto. I'm not saying Toronto will win, no sir. I'm just saying, their that kind of team that makes it. Although the question still remains, who will win the Stanley Cup?

            My opinion is what counts here, isn't it? All jokes aside, I believe the fan-favourite takes the gold in this one, Chicago. My long list of reasoning would have to start with the team's domination. Their season was started with an impressive winning-streak, shattering the record that was once held by another team. They were already guaranteed to be in the playoffs by just over the half-way mark of the season. Chicago then went on, ruthlessly, destroying anyone in their path taking 1st place in the league for the 48 game season. Clearly, they are not a force to be reckoned with. If they keep this up for the playoffs, which, so far, they have, they will be unstoppable. Will they keep it up?

            I believe Chicago will continue their path of destruction as they have too much depth in their team to let it go. They have been coached with perfection leaving little room for error. One of the key aspects in their game is the mix of players they have on the roster. They have the veterans guiding the younger stars along the way. After this leaves the young stars taking care of the rookies who are shredding it up this year. They have a complete balance of skill when it comes to age. We know they have the offensive skill along with defensive power, but who is between the pipes? In net they have a shaky yet reliable goalie being Crawford. If there is anything that is going to kill the Blackhawks it is the goalie but even this is unlikely as Crawford is a strong goalie. He can be shaky as stated before but he has a good back-up goalie and his own skill to keep him covered. As you can see, the Blackhawks seem to have everything going for them. All they must do now, is keep it going. This will be their greatest challenge. This will determine whether they are a truly deserving Stanley Cup team. Can they repeat what they did in 2010? Can they win the Stanley cup? I think so. Only time will tell....

Wednesday 8 May 2013

The Toronto Expo Experience

As we all know, this is a very big event for those in the hobby. We all come together to do what we love, collect. But we are going to talk about my day when I went to the expo. Let's start by saying, it lacked no awesomeness... I know, that's not a word. Or is it?

I got up at 8:30 am. It was a Saturday. This is important to know because how many teenagers enjoy getting up at 8:30 am on a Saturday? Not me. It was worth it. To the good part, I left for the expo at about 10:30 am and arrived at 11:00 am. As I entered I was encountered by a friend and 1000's of cards. It was like hockey card heaven. There were 100's of tables. Some run by people who were in it for the money, as expected. Some run by people who want more than just money but the experience. Those were the guys to buy from.

I acquired plenty of PC cards along with some nice trade bait like.....











Then I busted a blaster of 10-11 Series 1 and a hobby box of 11-12 Contenders. What I got was... well... amazing!

You don't expect much from a blaster, right? Well, I would recommend it for one reason, the rookie crop. This is why I got it in the first place. Ironically enough, I pulled the top pick of the 10-11 draft pick, Taylor Hall.











That was just an appetizer. What I pulled in my hobby box was a full on meal. No. It was a week's worth of meals. I pulled this....











Yup, so that was an awesome expo. Wouldn't you say so? If you can make the Fall one, please go! You might just get as lucky as I did. Not to mention the experience was amazing. The boxes just distracted me from that. Just a bit...

Last but not least, the videos I made showing off some cards from the expo.... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7eyxehnHmw


This was written by Riley (NothinButHockeyCards)
Please be sure to comment and share with all your friends. Your views and contributions are much appreciated.
Thank you

After the Expo



Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog on NothinButHockeyCards' website! 

If you don't know my names Dylan Moffatt I'm from 2 YouTube channels DMoffattHockeyTimes and I have a comedy channel called DylanMoffattTV. I was asked by Riley if I wanted to join his site and help out and I was honored to be able to. 



But most of you know that this weekend was the Expo in Toronto and it's a must attend event if you're a major collector. I was able to make it out to my first one and was I ever excited! There was a ton of people, and even better HOCKEY CARDS! 

Now you're probably wondering what I got for cards, well I'm not going to show all of them but If you have me on Facebook (My name's Moffatts Hockey Cards) you would of seen I posted them all but I will show some of the higher-end stuff! 


Here's just a taste of what I got : 



Thanks for reading, hope you all liked my first post and hope you all can check out my videos on YouTube and add me on Facebook! 


This was written by Dylan Moffatt 

Thursday 2 May 2013

Best Product of the Year [2012-Now (May 2013)]

There wouldn't be much of a Hobby without hockey or any sport products. Today we will talk about hockey products in particular. If you have another sport product that strikes you as awesome, put it down!

Now as we all know, the NHL had a lockout at the near-end year of 2012 and beginning of 2013. Therefore many products and rookies have been delayed for next year, if you will. But that hasn't stopped some products. They have kept on their feet and delivered. One product that comes to mind would be 12-13 Artifacts. I love this product. Who doesn't like the excitement of getting a patch? This was a product during the lockout. There were many awesome products that came out before the lockout. Some that come to mind would be; Prime, Dominion, Rookie Anthology, SP Authentic, and for the price, Contenders. Of course there are some to forget too.

If I had to pick my very favourite product from 2012 to today it would have to be.....

12-13 Artifacts

The winner is Artifacts. There are so many reasons for it. Where do I start....... Well out of the three boxes I have busted of it, 2 for me, 1 for a group break, I have pulled a Jordan Eberle Patch/Tag 2/2, a Rookie Auto Redemption XII, and who can forget the Kovalchuk Patch/Tag/Auto 1/1?  I'd say I've done pretty well. Wouldn't you? Not only that, but this product is decent to buy by-the-pack and by-the-box. By this I mean, if you buy a pack, you are guaranteed to get something. I like my odds there. Then, if you buy a box, the odds are you are going to get something good like a patch or something even better. It is very exciting.


Another thing that I love about this product is the value. You can get it for no more than $100. Now, it's not like we all have $100 sitting around but it is no $500 The Cup now is it? I'd say the value is very good not to mention there are 1/1's in this product along with many other short-printed cards. Just these reasons above sum this product up to be a keeper. At least in my eyes. What do you guys think? What is your favourite product?

Just for good measure.......



This was written by Riley (NothinButHockeyCards)
Please be sure to comment and share with all your friends. Your views and contributions are much appreciated.
Thank you


Wednesday 1 May 2013

Toronto Expo Card Show

It's almost here..... We wait through Fall, Winter, and some of Spring for this very event....... The Spring Expo!

Today is Wednesday and for those of you who may not know, the expo takes place this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.


This is a card I got on my first trip to the expo. This dates back 3 or 4 years. The card holds many great memories and will not be let go of.



If you collect any cards or are a fan of sports and memorabilia, this place is a "must go". You can't miss it. It is too much to experience to just miss. But it's not only about the cards. It's the community coming together to do what they love, enjoy the hobby. You meet new people, have the occasional bargain, and make some friends. How does that not sound awesome? But wait.... There's more! No taxes! I don't know about you guys but where I live, taxes are huge and they burn bad. It ruins the whole "good deal" part of buying things. But not at the expo! No sir, buy all you want, no taxes are going there! This event sounds pretty sweet so far, huh? There is so much more. Even waiting for it is awesome. You are just so excited and put in a great mood. The bottom line is, if you are able to go to the expo, go!

I can't wait to see everyone there! Make sure to do your best to make it! I will be attending on Saturday for those who it may concern. I start the day off bright and early at 8:00 am. I then go to my 3on3 hockey game at 9:30 am. Straight after that I am on the road to the expo! Well, after my shower.....

Thanks for reading and comments are always appreciated.


Tuesday 30 April 2013

What is Your Favourite Card? Why?

If you collect, you MUST have a favourite card, right? Not having a favourite card is like not having a favourite Aunt, it just doesn't make sense. All jokes aside, a favourite card of any sport you collect seems to be a necessity for many collectors.

We don't just have favourite cards for the heck of it. They have their own category of "favourite card" for a reason. Maybe it's because of the card's value. That may be one of the less interesting reasons but it's there. Usually there is more depth than value when it comes to having a favourite card. As we all know, people really like their money, but I think there is more to it with a favourite card. Could it be the memories it holds with it? That could be a serious contender with the vast options of why we have favourite cards. There are so many reasons....

For me, "memories" has to be the topic for my favourite card. Right next to "tradition".

I have a tradition with my brother..... Every Christmas my brother and I buy each other loads of awesome cards. We each spend well of $100 on each other. This event is not taken lightly. Then, on Christmas morning, we unload our cards on each other while exchanging gifts. There is nothing quite like it. This year, as one of my gift's, I received this beauty......
















This baby brings back some awesome memories of Christmas..... But enough about me. What about you? I want to see what you guys have to say and show!

What is your favourite card? Why?

Monday 29 April 2013

Why Do You Collect?

So here we are, all together doing one thing, collecting. Now, there is so much more to it and the community but why? Why do I take in these pieces of cardboard and treasure them? Is there a point?

Maybe it's for moments like this:


................... or is there a little more to it?

I have been in this hobby for a while, on and off, but I do question "why" every now and then. But here I am, the hobby always draws me back.

Not only is it just fun to get some cool cards but you find yourself getting lost in learning so many new things. Who is valued higher? Who is collected? What are products? There is so much to learn and it is intriguing. Every day you live in the card-collecting-world you learn more and more and you don't even know it. Maybe that is what keeps you into collecting......

Maybe you just love seeing those pretty cards and think to yourself "I want that". Or maybe you just want to have something with sentimental value. There are so many "maybe's" and too little answers. Is there an answer or is it something we all do for our own reasons?

Please do tell me what you believe and why you collect........