Why do you collect?

[Tachyon]

Keeps me off drugs, mainly because I could never afford a second addiction

Too true. That's why I didnt collect for several years. I couldn't afford two hobbies. Then I realized that you actually get something in return from collecting cards so I went back to collecting :)

When I was growing up my city was a huge hockey town. Some of the best times of my life was watching those Ontario Junior A games. The fights were great, the crowd was great, back then occasionally the fans would razz the opponents in the penalty box so much the player would actually climb over the glass and brawl!

Now THAT is hockey :P That's how I started collecting in 1990 when I was 7. There was a flea market literally a stones throw from my house so you could imagine how many early 90's cards I have from Score, Parkhurst, Upper Deck etc :)

[pacadie]

Some of the reasons that keeps me in this hobby have been stated: the joy of opening packs/mailers, my love for the great sport of hockey and the desire to give my childs something they will cherrish.

Two others elements are a big part of my love for this hobby. First: the Quebec Nordiques. When I was a kid, this team was EVERYTHING to me. I was 18 when the Nords moved to Denver and I cried like a baby that day. So now, trying to get as much different Nordiques cards as possible is always a trip down the memory lane. And it feels good.

The other is less poetic. See, I am a mean man (I am not so proud to say that, but that is a fact). And I find very rewarding to build my PC without spending too much on it (wich is, you know, relative). I am a deal chaser. Chasing a rare card is one thing. But if you have some money, getting it would not be too tough. For me, getting it at a good price is much more exciting.

[blueshirtfan2136]

I've been a ranger fan and a hockey maniac for as long as I could remember. When I was 9 I got into a few trading card games (pokemon, magic, that kind of thing), but usually my cards ended up just in a binder because no one around would play. Then I decided that if I was going to just have things on display, it may as well be something thats only designed to look good. So I started ripping open hockey stuff. I cooled down on collecting when I was 11, the first time my mom was diagnosed with cancer. When I was 17 (the summer before the 09/10 season), I was in a card shop after a Magic tournament, and saw packs of victory and MVP on sale for $1 a pack. I ended up buying all they had in the box. Quickly went to the beckett site anf got ripped off

[whatsabluejacket]

Without me realizing it, my 8 year old son started to amass a decent handful of hockey cards. It actually probably started from the cards I would receive as 'handouts' at Jackets games that I would bring home and give to my kids (I had no use for them). Apparently, all on his own, he saw these cards as treasures. He also got mom to buy him a pack every now and then at the grocery store.

Fast forward to about 6 weeks ago when I took him downstairs to show him my small baseball card collection and go thru his hockey card collection together. That sparked my curiosity and I started doing some research online. In the past 6 weeks, I've quickly become obsessed with hockey cards!

So I guess I'm doing it so that he and I have something we can love and share together, but now I am completely hooked!