It was Epic in it's Awesomeness.

That should get some headline writers rolling over in their graves...

Anyways, while out on a play date last night, I witnessed one of the greatest sights to be seen in pro hockey in decades.

Yes.

The return of the Los Angeles Kings golden sweaters.

It turned a game I wouldn't have given the time of day to, into a game that I watched very closely.
The only downside, if there was one, is that unlike Jonathan Bernier a couple of years ago when the Kings brought out the royal purple sweaters, was that current goalie Jonathan Quick did NOT have a vintage style mask and pads prepared for the event. *

still the same boring silver and black. Looks good on the Raiders, and that's it.
I sure hope to see these wee beauties a few more times in the near future. Since the Kings won easily 5-3 with above pictured Tyler Toffoli scoring his first hat trick, maybe we will.
I know at least Tyler will want to.

* as first reported by @OscarGamblesFro

More card show finds...

I picked up a few odds and sods at the card show. This post and one other post is all I have left to show. Promise. The first three cards shown came to me for $5.

A P.K. Subban OPC rookie that I haven't been able to pull from a pack yet...... the best part of this card is the young lady in the background with her sign stating her rather amorous love of Maxim Lapierre. If you read french, cover your eyes before reading it...

 and two more 10/11 OPC Rainbow Retro parallels for my set.
Travis Moen...

 and Hall of Famer Butch Bouchard. The seller and I had a great conversation about Mr Bouchard's facial expression. We both settled on him being ecstatic over just killing someone in the corner and was now rushing back up ice...

 I finally managed to finish my 10/11 Victory set. I've been two cards short, forever.... two sellers and $2 later and these two cards were mine.

 Set finished. Figures it would a bloody Bruin for the last card.

 I picked up a Carey Price base card from a baseball set (2009 Goodwin Champions) for $1. Of course when I got home, I found out I already had it.

 These last two cards came from the same seller. I just remembered I bought something else from this seller that I haven't scanned. So you'll see that later. The three cards, including the two seen here cost me $5.
An 08/09 OPC rainbow retro of Hall of Famer Frank "The Big M" Mahovlich #/100

 and a Carey Price insert. It scanned horribly but looks really sharp in person. It's from the 2007/08 SP Authentic set. An SP Holo FX.
As I found out later, this is from Carey Price's rookie year. Is it a true rookie card? Probably not. But it's shiny!!! And as my inner 7 year old collector comes out, it's a goalie card, and he's In Action!!!! Woot!

so that's it for this post. Someone remind me to scan that other card in and post it. I need opinions on it. And if there's one thing collectors and bloggers have, it's opinions.

the rest of the quarter box....

to finish off my quarter box post, I'll tease you with these scans. I say that because they're the only cards from the quarter box that I haven't already put into binders. It's rare when I'm organized and efficient, but when I am, it's also inconvenient. Go figure.

Anyways. A few of the retro inserts from this year's version of OPC. I love these. Have I said that before? LOVE THEM!

The best player in the game that's currently able to stand up without getting seasick, Alexander Ovechkin

 The best pure goal scorer in the game that's currently able to stand up without getting seasick, Steven Stamkos.

 This year's Rookie of the Year. Logan Couture.

 and a Rainbow shiny retro insert of the Captain, Jarome Iginla. If you live in Calgary, and you find a non base card of Iggy for .25, you buy it.

 Case in point.

 I grabbed 4 of the Crown Royale base cards with the die-cut crown...
Sniper Mike Cammalleri. I love this guy. The bigger the game, the better he gets. The leading scorer in last year's playoffs, and was leading after the first round this year when Montreal got eliminated.

 Pekka Rinne SHOULD be the Vezina trophy winner this year. But Luongo will win it instead.

 Jaroslav Halak, reminding me that we traded the right guy.

 and finally Jimmy Howard. I went on a little run of Mr Howard....

 this insert numbered /299

 and his freakin' rookie....

 plus a Double Diamond... all for .25 each.

 Staying with Black Diamond, a Double of Mike Cammalleri again...

 a Triple Diamond of Mr "O" Tony Esposito

 and finally, a QUAD Diamond of Don Cherry. Nice suit.

That's all I remembered to scan out of the quarter box....

Next up tomorrow, either some retro Anniversary inserts or some game used.... let me know if you have a preference.

Alright, so I haven't had time (read: been too lazy) to post the last couple of box breaks, but rest assured, they're coming. Well, maybe one anyways before I have to leave town for another week for work. But we've got all the time in the world, right?

So because I was out of town last month, I missed out on the monthly card show. Even with the 8 inches of snow I woke up to this morning, I still managed to get to the one today.

Unfortuantely only 5 dealers bothered to show up. But that's okay. We spent 45 minutes chatting about the hobby and the sport in general.

I managed to spend $16 on 8 cards.

The first $15 went to a seller who I usually buy vintage from. But today he had a stack of retro inserts from this year's OPC that I've been chasing.

The Black Border Retro Rainbow inserts fall at 2 per box, and are numbered out of /100.  I'm chasing the Montreal team set in all three parallels, so I grabbed the following.

A high number SP of Hall of Famer Larry Robinson.

 Brian Gionta

 and shut down D Man Jaroslav Spacek.

 I also found a regular Rainbow Retro of the giant Hal Gill

 and just for fun, a Jimmy Howard Black Border /100

 and living in Calgary, you can never have too many Kipper cards lying around. Also /100.

My last loonie went to purchase these two cards, which will be sent out for ttm auto attempts when I get back on the 11th.

There's six Olympic Gold medals smiling at you in those two faces.

Not too bad if I do say so myself.... now if it will only quit snowing................

Neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom of night.....

This weekend was Card Show weekend here in south Calgary. Only one problem. I woke up Saturday morning to almost 20 inches of snow in my driveway. And it was still snowing. And the wind was blowing.

Two options. Back to bed, warm and safe. Or venture out in the insane weather just to go to a card show.

A no brainer if you ask me. On to the card show!

An it's a good thing I did. Although I spent 50 bucks. And I never spend that much. Oops. Let's see how I did. Then you can vote, Epic, or Epic Fail.

First up, table #1, 3 cards for $2. All for future ttm attempts.

A 1972/73 OPC Frank Mahovlich with razor sharp corners...

 an '88/89 OPC Adam Oates card that I was told was his rookie, but turns out it's not. I knew that, but I bit anyways. Oh well.

 and a '74/75 OPC Lanny McDonald rookie. And this is his rookie. Not bad for .67 cents.

 Table #2 brings us to 6 cards for $5.

A Black border rainbow retro box hit #/100 of Ducks sniper Bobby Ryan...

 and another of Derick Brassard, also #/100

 A '10/11 OPC retro of Johnny Bower. I've been looking for a good card to send to Mr Bower for an autograph. This will do nicely. No way am I sending out his rookie or anything....

 An older insert of Miikka Kiprusoff.

 An Adam Pardy Young Gun rookie...

 and Sid the Kid #/999.... all that for $5.

 Now this next part, all from Table #3, is my favourite buy from the show. What you see fom here, cost me $15. A steal. There's currently a warrant out for my arrest.

First, seven '10/11 OPC retro inserts on my quest for a complete team set....
Carey Price, All Star Goaltender.

 Brian Gionta

 Jaroslav Spacek

 Benoit Pouliot. There's a drinking game involving watching Pouliot play, but I won't get into that here...

 Travis Moen

 The older Kostitsyn brother, Andrei

 and Holy Frak! A P.K. Subban retro insert SP rookie. Pernell was also at the All Star Game.

 now, five of the '10/11 OPC Rainbow Retro inserts, again, in pursuit of my team set.

Roman 'I can't believe he's still playing' Hamrlik

 Tommy Pyatt

 Maxim Lapierre. Max was traded to Anaheim a wee while ago....

 our leading scorer, Mike Cammalleri

 and Hall of Famer, a SP of the Big Bird, Larry Robinson.

 finally for our $15, I grabbed two 2010/11 Donruss team sets...

one of Montreal

 and one of Calgary.

Can you believe it? All that for $15??? Sweet.
As I was leaving, I also grabbed a complete 2006/07 Parkhurst set for $8 and a box of Ultra Pro pages for $15. I'll feature some of the cards from the Parkhurst set later... it's a really cool set featuring some of the all time greats.

So? How did I do? Was I a thief? Or should I have stayed in bed?