As March goes out like a lion in the winter that wasn't, it's natural that collectors' minds turn to spring, warmer weather ... and, naturally, ice hockey.
Capping off an otherwise forgettable season, the cellar-dwelling Columbus Blue Jackets hosted Jewish Heritage Night on Wednesday, March 28 during their game against the Detroit Red Wings.
This presents the perfect opportunity for JewishSportsCollectibles.com to provide an overview of the collectibles associated with the men on skates who Ron Kaplan refers to as "JICE" -- that is "Jews on Ice."
The lansdmen who share the frozen water include:
- Michael Brown, winger, Toronto Maple Leafs;
- Michael Cammalleri, center, Montreal Canadians;
- Jeff Halpern, forward, Washington Capitals;
- Eric Nystrom, winger, Dallas Stars;
- and, Dylan Reese, defense, New York Islanders.
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Michael Brown
A winger who has played for the Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs during his short NHL career, Michael Brown has numerous cards available to Jewish hockey collectors. The problem is finding them, if you're shopping online.
Given the commonality of Brown's name, isolating his cards can be tough. Doubtless, Beckett.com lists Browns pasteboard, but isolating hockey's Mike Brown from any football player named Mike who played for the Cleveland Browns during the team's long history can prove daunting.
eBay
, which allows shoppers to filter results by numerous attributes, may be the easier option. I found more than 200 possible results, although many of the items listed included multi-card and you-pick-your-cards lots. Your best bet (and best for small businesses!) may be to shop for Brown's pasteboard at your local sports card and collectibles shop.
Wherever you might buy them, Brown's cards include numerous rookie and standard issues, along with a few serial numbers, signed and memorabilia cards. These appear to be relatively common, selling for $1-$5, depending on condition. Brown's limited edition issues can fetch as much as $10-$12.
As a baseball fan and collector, I'm a bit out of my league when it comes to hockey. Perhaps readers can weigh in with a list of Brown's cards and other memorabilia? Comment below!
Michael Cammalleri
Beckett.com lists more than 175 different cards for Michael Cammalleri. These include cards from all of the major manufacturers -- including Donruss, O-Pee-Chee, Pinnacle and Score -- including limited edition, memorabilia and autographed cards.
Cards in the Beckett Marketplace sell for between $0.25 and $40, for some of the center's limited edition rookie cards. Most of the more popular of Cammalleri's standard issue cardboard sells for $2-4 on eBay
.
In addition to hockey cards, collectors can also find a 2009/2010 McFarlane Hockey figurine for Cammalleri. Both standard issue and autographed/serial numbered editions exist. Expect to pay $15-25 for the standard figurine and as much as $100-150 for the autographed edition on eBay.
A bevvy of Camalleri autographed and unsigned photos, signed pucks, sticks, jerseys and photos can be found on eBay for a wide range of prices (as always, buyer beware!).
There's even a plush toy and Fathead wall decoration for collectors who like to include JICE as a decor element.
What Camalleri items do you have in your collection?
Jeff Halpern
There are nearly 300 different cards for Jeff Halpern listed on Beckett.com, including base cards, parallel issues, autograph, memorabilia and limited edition variety from all of the different manufacturers.
Standard cards in the Beckett Marketplace and eBay
sell for between $0.25 and $3. Haplern's less scarce memorabilia and autograph cards are available for $4-10, while graded and limited edition cards are available for $15-$50.
Collectors can also find Halpern autographed and unsigned photos, autographed pucks, sticks and jerseys can be found on eBay for a wide range of prices.
Halpern is also profiled in Jewish Sports Stars: Athletic Heroes Past and Present.
Do you have a favorite Halpern item in your collection?
Eric Nystrom
Collectors can choose from nearly 200 different cards featuring Dallas Stars winger Eric Nystrom, according to Beckett. These include cards featuring Nystrom in his pee wee hockey and University of Michigan college uniforms, as well professional cardboard of all manner. Nystrom is well represented across all manufacturers, and has signature, memorabilia and limited edition cards available.
Nystrom's common cards can be found for $2 or less in the Beckett Marketplace and on eBay
, while memorabilia cards generally command $10-20, and as much as $50 for extremely limited edition varieties.
eBay shoppers can find dozens of Nystrom autographed photos, pucks and jerseys (many of them team signed items), along with sticks and team logo merchandise. Standard eBay cautions apply when shopping for signed items.
As a veteran player, certainly collectors can also find Nystrom in team programs and yearbooks. What other Nystrom memorabilia can you suggest?
Dylan Reese
For a player who has spent only parts of each of the last three seasons with Islanders, there are a surprising number of cards available to Jewish hockey enthusiasts seeking to add Dylan Reese to their collection.
Beckett.com lists 41 different pieces of pasteboard for the defense man, including limited edition and serial numbered cards, memorabilia and autograph cards, and 1-of-1 printing plate variations.
Reese's signature and memorabilia cards are very reasonably priced on eBay
, with sellers generally asking between $2-$10, with the same cards in the Beckett Marketplace fetching between $4-8.
Islanders team signed items, including Reese's autograph are readily available on eBay. Single signed-pieces, not as much. A recent search yielded only one signed puck and one autographed photo. There was, however, a Reese game worn, minor league sweater (i.e. - jersey) available for $500. As always on eBay, buyer beware.
What other Reese memorabilia do you have?
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As I mentioned above, I'm a lifelong baseball fan and Jewish baseball collector. So, I'm a bit out of my league when it comes to hockey.
What JICE hockey memorabilia do you have I overlooked? What's the best piece in your Jewish hockey collection?
Share your favorites in the comments below. If you email photos of your Jewish hockey memorabilia to jsportscollectr@gmail.com, I'll be happy to publish them.
