A BRIEF (AND INCOMPLETE) LOOK AT OLYMPIC HOCKEY CARDS

Hockey will again be the focus at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, whether NHL stars take part or not. This tournament has always been a big draw, both on the ice and in the hobby. While youʼre readying yourself for the Games, hereʼs a look at how some previous events have been presented to collectors. EARLY OLYMPIC POSTCARDS

ere were several highly collectible postcards issued that feature some of the earliest Olympic competitions. One well-known (but rarely seen) postcard pictures Canada against Britain at the first Winter Games in 1924 in Chamonix, France. In 1956, the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen represented Canada at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in 1956.

at team, including goalie Denis (father of Martin) Brodeur, was featured on a popular PC that occasionally pops up at auction. e dazzling indoor/outdoor rink at Squaw Valley, site of America’s first gold medal in 1960, is captured on another popular postcard. Scores of others were issued all around the world and make for a challenging pursuit.

1980 TEAM USA

No surprise that the most memorable Olympic team – the 1980 American squad that knocked off the Russians in the game celebrated as the Miracle On Ice – is also the group that’s been the most heavily commemorated on cardboard.

It arguably started with the 1980-81 Topps/O-Pee-Chee base set which featured RCs of several players including Jim Craig (#22), Ken Morrow (#9), and Dave Christian (#176) in their NHL sweaters but with a special USA Hockey logo in a top corner. at same season, the majority of the team was included in the 1981 Swedish

Semic VM sticker series, but