Page 40 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 98

40 Issue #98 March 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

Samuel & Bennett Harty Launch Hockey Cards Unlimited

By Bennett Harty

s the old saying goes, “every
Acloud has a silver lining”, and

Hockey Cards Official has been the
silver lining of the pandemic in the
Harty household. On March 17th,
2020, my younger brother Samuel
decided to start a YouTube channel

called Hockey Cards Official. What
started off as a way for him to
show off his best cards and make a
few videos has turned into a much
bigger adventure both for Samuel
and myself, along with our dad, Joe.
The hockey card industry
had basically been reduced to
almost nothing after over-production
in the early 1990’s drastically
reduced card values across the board.
Although the industry was making
somewhat of a slow and steady
comeback, the recent pandemic has
put the industry into an incredible
resurgence, and it continues to grow
rapidly.

Things got serious for us at HCO

after we produced our first “box
break” video on May 2nd, 2020,
and it has become a passion ever
since. There is a unique excitement
Left, Samuel and right, Bennett Photo Submitte
in opening sealed boxes, hoping to
pull out that special young guns or past players, to name a few. We have Quebec. After signing some cards was valued at approximately $650
autographed card. From jersey cards featured “Hockey Cards with Dad” and other items for us, he took the when the pandemic hit, which gives
and retros to rare legends, there is where we feature some of his older time to join us for a brief video clip you a real example of how much
always something cool to find, buy, cards from his childhood, RTC’s of the 3 of us breaking open some the market has escalated. Samuel’s

sell, and collect. (road trip clips) where we featured card packs. favorite card from his collection is
cards of players from the various his Matt Duchene autographed Team

The first connection we made, Creating Hockey Cards Official
stops which we made on a recent Canada card from the 2015-2016
was with local card shop owner was not possible without the help
summer camping trip, and I have Upper Deck series. The card is worth
Dave from Dave’s Sportscards in and support of our parents, Sherry
also produced themed videos for approximately $20 at this time. In
Cornwall. He has given us a ton and Joe. We would also like to

specific players and or events. We his opinion, the card is of one of his
of support over the past several thank Dave from Dave’s Sportscard
are in the process of developing favorite players, and sometimes that
months and is always good to throw Shop located at 812 Pitt Street in
“workout Wednesdays” and always is all that matters!
a couple extras in the bag when Cornwall, who has everything you’d
have a following for our “Mail Day
we purchase cards from him. In need to get into the game. We also Because of HCO, we have been
Mondays”.
general, I have found that the many would like to thank Mark Sauve lucky enough to connect with some of
established dealers and collectors After we reached 500 subs for from TippyKannoo. He helped hook the best-known people in hockey. Just
that we have met online have been YouTube, we begged for our parents us up with our logo, which he has to name a few here are some - Scott
very welcoming, trustworthy, and a to allow us to start up an Instagram used to make us some cool shirts, Gomez, Akim Aliu and more. We are
pleasure to deal with. account which enabled quicker and and he also hooked us up with Long striving to become a known name and

Over the Christmas holidays, our easier buying and selling of cards, as Graphics on Cumberland St. in we know to do that we have to start
well as an increase in our audience. Cornwall who has produced stickers local. If you are looking for something

parents helped to set up a “studio”
We are currently at about 900 for HCO.
in our house to enable us to increase to do or watch, we recommend you
followers on Instagram and continue search us up on YouTube or Instagram,
the quality of our videos with better So far, the best card I have in my
to buy, sell, and trade cards regularly.
lighting and sound. Also, I have personal collection is a 2015-2016 where you can fi nd regular content.
learned a ton of tricks in terms One of the early highlights of our Upper Deck Connor McDavid Young We hope to expand, and we are super
of editing; adding in mini clips, journey was a chance to meet George Guns canvas card that is valued at excited to see what the near future
pictures, highlights of current and Laracque at his card shop in Laval, approximately $1250. The card will bring HCO.