My $0.02 – 2010-11 Score Hockey

2010-11 Score - Tyler Bozak (Base set)

Now, this blog isn’t about being the first to review new products.  In fact, its focus is almost entirely on old, arguably shitty products.  However, I feel the need to talk about 2010-11 Score Hockey, as I am having more fun with this set than I’ve had collecting a set in years.

Upper Deck doesn’t have a card monopoly with the NHL anymore, as Panini has jumped in, and in doing so revived the Score name which has been out of action in hockey for a while.  I’m not into full reviews, box breakdowns and that kind of stuff, but let’s go through some highlights:

The price: It’s $1 or less a pack.  You get seven cards in a pack.

The feel: I’ve bought other value brands like UD Victory in the past, but with this set I feel like I’m actually getting something.  The base set has a retro look and feel, much like the original 1990-91 Score set, and honestly, if you don’t feel some nostalgia for that set, there’s something wrong with you.

2010-11 Score - Andy Greene (Glossy parallel - but you can't tell in the scan! HA!)

The photography: The photography is pretty good and features some unique shots you don’t see every day.  Also, there is a good selection of teams wearing their alternate and retro jerseys, which is always good to see.

2010-11 Score - Sudden Death - Sidney Crosby

2010-11 Score - Net Cam - Henrik Lundqvist

The inserts: The “inserts” are more like the classic Score subsets of yesteryear, and there are some fun ones.  There are parallels – glossy, French back and 20th Anniversary.  Not a huge fan of excessive parallels, but a couple isn’t bad.

The set size: 550 cards in the base set, and fun as hell to sort by teams.  It’s what the blog is called, it’s what I do.

2010-11 Score - Season Highlight - Jonathan Toews

As for the “big hits,” there are some buyback 90-91 autographs thrown in, but the odds on those are pretty steep.  This set isn’t about relics, it’s not about autographs, and it doesn’t have to be.  It’s about having fun collecting hockey cards, and 2010-11 Score comes through on that one.

Too Cool For Cardboard – Bo Jackson

1990 Score - Bo Jackson (Front)

1990 Score - Bo Jackson (Back)

1991 Score - Bo Breaker (Front)

1991 Score - Bo Breaker (Back)

Bo wasn’t just too cool for cardboard.  In his prime, he created a new echelon of cool, one that is exceedingly difficult to reach.  In order to achieve this rare, Bo-like coolness, you need to have a card company produce special one-off cards of you for at least two consecutive years.  That is the rule.  Deal with it.

Case in point, Bo Jackson, 1990 and 1991 Score baseball.  There was no explanation on the back of either card as to what the purpose of the card was, just the word “Bo.”  The card fronts speak for themselves.

That’s cool.  Bo Knows.

Manly, Magical Mustaches – The Reverse Mustache – Michel Goulet

1990-91 Score - Michel Goulet

1992-93 Parkhurst - Michel Goulet

Today, a new phenomenon known as THE REVERSE MUSTACHE.

Yes.  Believe it.

Michel Goulet was famous for his mustache (see above, 1990-91 Score), but towards the end of his career, he lost the mustache (see above, 1992-93 Parkhurst), and he just wasn’t the same player after.

Goulet’s loss reminds me of the first time I saw Tom Selleck without his mustache, and to be honest with you, it scared the hell out of me.

Haircuts I Wish I Could Pull Off – The Czechoslomullet

Although remnants of it can still be found today, the Czechoslomullet had its heyday in the early 1990’s.  Popular among hockey players from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it is noticeable by the following three characteristics:

1. Extra-long flow in the back.  Beyond the level of what was expected from your average hockey haircut.
2. Often found hiding under one of several models of horrible Jofa buckets.
3. Usually attached to flashy, offensive-minded players.

1992-93 Upper Deck - Jaromir Jagr (SIDENOTE: How cool were these multiple image cards back then? This should be its own category. Who runs this fucking blog?)

1992-93 Score Dream Team - Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr (above) is often credited with making the Czechoslomullet famous, and was basically the poster boy throughout his career.  Jagr definitely clung to it long after he should have let go and moved on, but when you get 1599 career NHL points, you can do whatever you want.

1990-91 Pro Set - Petr Klima

Petr Klima wore it well in the early 1990’s for the Edmonton Oilers.  Klima allegedly once said, “I’m not here to work hard, I’m here to score goals.”  Some might say this taints the Czechoslomullet, but I disagree.  I would suggest this type of cocky behaviour only adds to the mystique.  Plus, his Jofa was arguably the worst of all the Jofas.

1991-92 O-Pee-Chee - Petr Svoboda

Petr Svoboda, an elder statesman of this ‘do, was a rare exception by sporting a North American style CCM lid.  However, substantial doubt remains as to whether he wore shoulder pads, as well as just what the hell happened to the second “e” in his name.  Get over yourself, Petr.

1992-93 Upper Deck - Michal Cerny

Although Michal Cerny never played a game in the NHL, he combined long flow and bad helmet at the 1993 IIHF World Junior Championship as well as anyone else in history, and he deserves to be commended for that.  Michal, you have done your homeland and the game of hockey proud.  For that, we thank you.

There you have it, the Czechoslomullet.  I call for a reunion tour.  Anyone?