You'll Always Remember Your First Piece (The Origin of the Justin Faulk PC)

 

Upper Deck 2015-2016  #36


    Every Collector has a story! A moment in which their fandom began! A time in their life when they decided to take on an project, task or hobby for the sole purpose of fun. This is my story! I have always been aware of the NHL. Having grown up 30 minutes from "The Ice Palace" in the days in which the Tampa Bay Lightning were just a mere expansion team I attended my fair share of hockey games as the likes of Dino Ciccarelli, Darren Puppa and Roman Hamrlik were Lightning staples. I remember being there to boo former top pick ( #3 over in 1993) Chris Gratton when he returned after signing  with the Flyers after the 1996 playoff run. I was there for former number one overall pick (1992) Roman Hamrlik return with Edmonton in 1998 as well.  However, I was never what you would have called a serious hockey fan. Hockey never occupied a huge place in my life, and why would it this was the Dungy/ Gruden Era of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and I did not have time for the cellar dwelling Lightning.

    Fast Forward to 2008 and a stationing in Norfolk Virginia with the United States Navy and the 2009 NHL playoffs where a fiery Canes team sparked by Hot shot scorer Eric Staal, and Grizzled Vet Rod Brind'amour caught my eye as they made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals only to lose out to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins in a sweep. 

    Family and deployments followed until a chance stationing in North Carolina provided me with an opportunity to see the Hurricanes in person as a guest of the True Defenders Program. A program sponsored by Justin Faulk, Jean Michael-Liles and James Wisniewski. The Canes lost 2-1 to Vancouver in overtime and after the came we had the privilege of meeting Faulk, Liles, and Wisniewski. They were all so gracious but I remembered Faulk specifically he had his mouth stitched up and a black eye due to a rough game but he could not have been a better host. I left that night a full blown hockey fan.

The next day on a whim I bought a blaster of Upper Deck 2015-2016 and pulled a Justin Faulk (actual card pictured above) card from it. Having collected cards as a kid and facing a long physical layup due to an upcoming hip surgery I figured why not start collecting again? Then came the question that would change everything how hard would it be to run down a copy every Justin Faulk Card ever made?

Six years have passed since I asked that question, and my collection sits at 265 of 623 ( having taken a brief hiatus to deal with personal issues as well as the pandemic). Faulk is now on the St. Louis Blues yet the hunt continues. All started by a pack of cards, a surgery, and a question. Thanks for reading and Redvolution!


The Caniac Collector

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forgotten Canes: Mike Commodore and his bathrobe.

Image
Whether he is flying up the ice with his trademark red afro flowing behind him, warming up during the pregame of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his bathrobe, or continuing his personal feud through his entertaining Twitter Account ( seriously folks follow this guy on Twitter @Commie22) with Maple Leafs Coach Mike Babcock eccentric would be a fair word to describe Former Canes Defenseman Mike Commodore. Commodore signed with Carolina in 2005 after bouncing between the New Jersey Devils and Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) the previous 2 seasons A staple on the blue-line during the  Stanley Cup Championship of 2006, Commodore was a hard nosed stay at home defenseman Commodore was second amongst defenseman in points with during the magical season that was 2006. Commodore provided the physical presence needed serving 138 penalty minutes while remaining second on the team in +/- at 10. In 2 two and a half seasons in Raleigh, Commodore appeared in 195 games ringing up 13 goals and 41 assists f
Read more

Eric Staal is the most Underappreciated Hurricane of All Time

Image
  Eric Staal 2014-2015 Upper Deck Premier Rink of Honor     In case you did not hear already, Carolina Hurricanes Legend Eric Staal has been named the Captain of The Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey team. I tell you that to tell you this, beyond being a Justin Faulk Collector I also collect Eric Staal. The Former 2nd Overall Pick (2002), Stanley Cup Champ, the arguably legitimate Conn Smythe Winner with 28 points in 25 Games, and former Hurricanes Captain has managed to etch out a borderline Hall of Fame Career.   However, even with all that listed I would argue that Eric Staal remains the most underrated and underappreciated Carolina Hurricane of all time.  Why? Eric Staal's captaincy happened in the midst of turmoil. Having it given to him with the stripping of perennial favorite and current Canes Bench Boss Rod Brindamour's Captaincy in the middle of the 2010 season. Staal's entire tenure as captain was mired in a long and miserable playoff drought and a revolving door
Read more

It's Cardboard Therapy!

Image
     Dont thank me for my service! I did not join for gratitude! I was a 23 year old single dad who had ran out of options to support his son. I needed an escape from a bad situation and the United States Navy provided it for me. Now 12 years later I along with many other veterans battle the long term effects of what at time can be crippling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).In my daily profession it was implied that I should not write about or discuss my PTSD because it could make people uneasy and uncomfortable around me! While my internal response  was "You think it's uncomfortable hearing about it?" "Well try fucking living with it every day!" Nevertheless I heeded the warning and stop sharing my experiences via social media. However, this is my blog and my rules!  I will be the first to admit I never saw combat, yet a three year period of living in constant vigilance broke my psyche beyond repair.Being seperated from my family for 503 out of a po
Read more