REVIEW: CLASSICS HOCKEY 2012-2013

At Panini America, no seasons end. With hockey in a lockout...to take away the boredom for the puck fans you have to open up some hockey cards to feel like the puck is on the ice again. This is the highest end product I have ever opened and it was a fun bust. One auto per pack. And being a partial growing hockey fan, this was a great product to turn to.

First off, I would like to say thanks to the WONDERFUL people at Panini America for providing us with this box to review. Here are many places you can find Panini America: official site, blog, Twitter, and Facebook. If you don't follow them at all..you should! They talk to you on Twitter, have contests on their blog and Facebook and the site is also fun to visit!

Box Break Down:

• 6 Packs Per Box, 5 Cards Per Pack
• Find (6) Autograph Cards per Box!
• ONE AUTO PER PACK!
• Boxes will run ya $180

Base Card

Back of Base card

More base

BASE CARDS: This is a product for the old-school-hockey collectors,  as the name suggests its a Classic with Classic players and players autos. As for the base card, its a simple throwback design. Making it have a very Classic appeal. A base set would take you awhile with only 30 cards in a box with 6 of those being autos and 6 of those being the insert cards. But that would be a fun one to chase and you have the chance to bust it a few times.

INSERTS: You get one of these die cuts per pack. I have always been a fan of die cuts. I do wished a player picture was involved instead. But still not bad in terms of design.

AUTOGRAPHS:With one per pack and possibly a hot box with 8 autos in it this product is all about its on card autographs and its nice checklist (look below for a link to one). We pulled the usual 6 autos in our box. I like the design and classic appeal to the base cards so throw in on card autos and you got a winner. The Notable Nicknames are cool with a signed Nickname of the player...I do wish they had signed their name as well to go with it but the design is very well done.

JERSEY/PATCH CARDS: N/A

OVERALL THOUGHTS:This product has appeal. Classic autographs you may not see everyday and a classic overall feel. I love the old photography on the base cards reminding us of great moments on the ice and taking the boredom that some of us might have waiting for the NHL to get over its lockout and move onto the season. I also hope Panini turns this to a football product as well. On card autos, a deep checklist, nice look and a chance at a hot box of 8 autos though the price may be steep for some and the average collector, but for those who can afford it, this is a good hockey product.

RATINGS:  Bloggers Note: Our ratings are based specifically on the blaster, box or packs we opened and do not express what the overall product could bring. Ratings based on a 1-5. 1 Being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
                Packaging: 5
                Base Design: 4
                Insert Design: 3
                Memorablila/Autographs: 5
                Blaster, Hobby Box, or Pack Value: 4

And because we love ya..here is a link to the Knights Lance where you can find a checklist and SP list for this product:
 http://paniniamerica.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/the-panini-america-qc-gallery-checklist-2012-13-classics-signatures-hockey/