With a face for radio and a voice for silent films, we have ventured into the world of podcasting. In the new version of our online hockey card collection, we’ve gone beyond just pictures of the hockey cards. We’ve added ‘Card Notes’ to most that takes the information found on the back of the card and goes into deeper detail.
We look at several things stemming from the information provided to us by O-Pee-Chee, Topps, Parkhurst and others. First, we try to expand on what is written in the small but usually informative piece on the back. We correct any errors that may exist – believe me, there are many error cards out there that won’t be found with UER beside them in a Beckett Guide!
Also, we look to the player’s past and future. What happened after those pieces of cardboard ended up in the hands of hockey fans? Did their careers turn out the way it might have been speculated on the back of the card?
We also take a look at what’s on the front of the card. Are there any errors in the photo? How flawed is the airbrushing(!)? Are there any cameos or photobombs worth noting?
We’ve taken a handful of those cards and rounded them up to make the Card Notes podcasts. You’ll see at our YouTube Channel that we’re also doing #shorts, short videos of under a minute in length, that feature the Card Notes of just a single hockey card at a time.
What follows here is the actual podcast/video. Below that is the transcript of the whole episode. We’d love to hear your comments on what can be improved or what you’d like to see in the future. We’d also really appreciate if you’d give the video a ‘like’ and subscribe to the channel!
Card Notes: Episode 1 [Video/Podcast]
Andre Lacroix 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Number 98 Hockey Card
Written on the back:
Speedy “Frenchy” Lacroix was a real find for Philadelphia fans. Always a star in junior hockey, Andre was twice picked as league MVP over Bobby Orr. Had four-point game for spectacular NHL debut. He’s a good skater.
A closer look:
Andre Lacroix was definitely a star in junior hockey. Playing for the Peterborough Petes in what is now the OHL, Lacroix won the Red Tilson Trophy as the league’s most outstanding player in both 1964-65 and 1965-66. In 1965-66, he led the league with 120 points, earning the Eddie Powers Trophy. Andre had 119 points in 1964-65 but fell four points behind Ken Hodge of the St. Catharines Blackhawks for the league lead.
Lacroix would go on to be a two-time scoring champion in the World Hockey Association. He led the WHA in 1972-73 with 124 points for the Philadelphia Blazers. Two years later, in 1974-75, he led the league with 147 points as a member of the San Diego Mariners.
The Four Point Night
A bit of an error on the back of this card, Andre Lacroix did have a spectacular four point night at the start of his career but it wasn’t his first game. It was his second.
On February 22, 1968, in a game played at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Andre Lacroix did put up four points. The Flyers beat the Minnesota North Stars by a score of 7-3. Andre had a goal and three assists. All three helpers were on goals by Leon Rochefort. However, Lacroix’s goal was his second of the season and it was his second game of the year (and NHL career).
The night before, the Flyers played the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Lacroix scored the lone Philadelphia goal at 4:40 of the second period, assisted by Jean-Guy Gendron.
Dan Bouchard 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Number 45 Hockey Card
Written on the back:
Dan was a first team All-Star with Boston of the American League in 1971-72, and won the AHL’s leading goalie award that season. Originally the property of the Boston Bruins.
A closer look:
With the Boston Braves in 1971-72, Dan Bouchard appeared in 50 regular season games, posting a 2.51 goals against average and adding four shutouts. He was indeed awarded the Harry Hap Holmes Memorial Award as the AHL’s top goaltender.
Originally the property of the Boston Bruins, Bouchard was taken in the second round of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, 27th overall after a year of Major Junior hockey with the London Knights. He never played for the Bruins and was taken by the Atlanta Flames in the 1972 Expansion Draft. Dan would have a lengthy NHL career with the Flames, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets.
Eddie Shack 1960-61 Topps Number 7 Hockey Card
Written on the back:
Which American born players won the Calder Trophy?
A closer look:
This Eddie Shack hockey card contains an error or, at least, an omission. At the time, there were three U.S. born players to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. However, on the back of this card, it lists just two of those winners.
Cully Dahlstrom and Frank Brimsek are listed as the answers to the trivia question. Carl “Cully” Dahlstrom, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, won the award in 1937-38 as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. Frank Brimsek won the award the following year, 1938-39, as a member of the Boston Bruins. Brimsek was also a Minnesota boy, born in Eveleth.
However, the trivia question ignores the first ever winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy. Carl Voss won the award in 1932-33. Voss split the season between the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
The ironic thing about the NHL career of Carl Voss, born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a city that connects to Boston, is that he played for eight different teams: the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Eagles, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons and Chicago Blackhawks. But, never the Boston Bruins.
Since Brimsek, there have been eight U.S. players to win the Calder (as of 2021-22). The next winner was 45 years after Frank and was another goalie. Tom Barrasso, born in Boston, won the award in 1983-84 as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.
Guy lafleur 1976-77 O-Pee-Chee Number 163 Hockey Card
Written on the back:
Montreal’s top offensive threat last season, Guy ranks as one of the top superstars in the NHL. Had eighteen power play goals in 1975-76.
A closer look:
Guy Lafleur‘s 125 points in 1975-76 for the Montreal Canadiens earned him his first of three consecutive Art Ross Trophy wins as the top scorer in the National Hockey League. His 56 goal total was the second in a string of six consecutive seasons topping the 50 goal plateau. He would reach a career best 60 goals two years later in 1977-78.
The mentioned 18 power play goals put him one behind league leader Phil Esposito of the New York Rangers and tied him with Pierre Larouche (Pittsburgh Penguins), Denis Potvin (New York Islanders) and Rick Martin (Buffalo Sabres).
It was the best power play goal performance of Lafleur’s Hockey Hall of Fame NHL career. Of his 560 regular season goals, 154 were scored with the man advantage.
Bruce Gamble 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee Number 44 Hockey Card
Written on the back:
Usually, when a player is said to be “streaky” it’s a knock. But not Bruce Gamble. The robust goalie often gets a hot hand, and once ran off four shutouts in eight games. He’s also played for New York and Boston.
A closer look:
This card contains an error. In 1965-66, Bruce Gamble played much of the season in the CPHL with the Tulsa Oilers. However, he had a ten game stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He actually had four shutouts in five games, not eight games as stated on the back of the card. On March 3, 1966, Bruce stopped all 31 shots in a 4-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens at the Forum. Two days later, he turned away all 33 shots in a 5-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at home.
He played the following day in Boston and the Maple Leafs won again but by the score of 5-3. The shutouts began again on March 9 with a 1-0 home win over the Detroit Red Wings. The shot total that game reached 35. Finally, on March 12, Bruce turned away all 27 shots in a 6-0 win over the Bruins at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Bruce then let in eleven goals in two game and Johnny Bower was reinstated between the pipes for Toronto.
Of course, Bruce Gamble is infamous for a game later in his career while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers. Gamble had a heart attack during the game and continued to play.