Three weeks into the Hockey IPO season and we see an IPO week like none before! Topps had obviously seen something during weeks one and two that spurred this outstanding week. Chock full of short prints, this week was one of the finest weeks for IPO's. This is what drives collectors to chase eTopps cards, not those million or so chase sets. It is the opportunity to have cards in limited quantity that everyone wants. Week 3 - for our purposes we shall call it "3H2" (3rd week Hockey 2002) - had an average 7-day increase of 29% across the board. Yes, there was Stevie Yzerman leading the pack with his short print and 106% increase… but hold on a minute. Did you happen to notice the 837 Michael Peca's or the 922 Mike Modano's released? Are you kidding me?

Mike Modano is a four-time All-Star and has won the coveted Stanley Cup. He is a proven player who has played with the same organization for over 12 years. He has helped lead the then-Minnesota North Stars and now Dallas Stars to the playoffs 9 times - count em, NINE! I will be honest with you - he is not the best goal-scoring forward out there but two ways he is hard to beat. He is a very strong forward who enforces the NHL laws. Now he also does a fair bit of scoring, racking up over 430 goals and 1000 points over 12 seasons. I found room for him in my port as I think his card has a lot of potential to climb past its 7-day average. I would bet that if he has a good season that 15% increase will turn into a 40% or so increase. Either way that's a good investment. Then you look down the road at the numbers eTopps will be bringing in as far as members and surely the short prints (a.k.a. "shorties") will be like dinosaurs… .non-existent. If you find a card with a sub-1000 print run you need to jump on it, especially when it's of a proven player. This leads us into another shorty for 3H2, Michael Peca.

Peca is something of a journeyman in the NHL, having played with the Sabres, Canucks and now the Islanders. He was the best defensive forward in the NHL during the '96-'97 season. He has also helped lead his team to the playoffs six times. He has helped carry each team he's played on to the playoffs. Michael is extremely physical and of the Modano mold, scoring goals but also enforcing deep in enemy territory. I was shocked when I saw his print run of only 837. I was then relieved I had gotten one. I have watched as his IPO climbed from $6.50 all the way to $10.00 today, February 4th. It looks to be on the way up as the shorty of the year so far for hockey. However, we still have a ways to go. Peca owners, like the Mashburn people will be watching and waiting. Unfortunately, shorties are far and few between unless it is designated one like eTopps did with Steve Yzerman.

Steve Yzerman got the deal of a lifetime with his 1000 PR. He was designated a shortie, which is a trend to keep an eye on. Unfortunately, eTopps' baseball earnings would take a beating if there was ever another player with a PR this short. There are probably three to four times as many baseball eToppers as Hockey, which is fine with me. I also got the Yzerman and am holding onto it for a long time. It has a 7-day average of $19. You will be hard-pressed to find one on eBay for under $18. Every one I see under $18 I bid on. This card is going to be the gem of the hockey '03 set unless eTopps pulls another trick out of its hat. All the rookies of which people expect great things sell out for Topps (which they like). So rookies like Cole and Hemsky will continue to get PR's of 2K.

Cole and Hemsky are two of the rougher rookies out there. Not as flashy as your Nash or Heatley, but still good enough to pull their load and contribute in the NHL, which they are doing! I personally am a big fan of Cole, buying all I can. I see a lot of potential in his cards. Surprisingly, both are running under 5% returns. I think that they will turn their second halves around or continue on their slow glide path upwards and each raise their IPO about 5%. Not a lot, but a good measure for a couple of rookies in the rookie-heavy sport of hockey. The last card of H3 is Nicklas Lidstrom, a great skater and scorer. With returns averaging $7.14 for the past seven days he is also staking claim to being a mainstay in hockey sets. He is one of the finest defensemen in the NHL. He also happens to play for the World Champions, which does not hurt a bit.

Champions or not, this year's hockey is leading the pack. 90% of their cards will appreciate in value from 1% to 200%. It is not a gamble as it usually is in other sports. It is a pleasure to see hockey doing so well, seeing as how it's the coolest game on the earth. I would watch this week's crop for a long time. Compare the running averages, whether it be 7/50/100/200 day averages. Do the leg work and invest wisely. Buy low and sell high. Now time will tell as the following weeks unfold in 3H2.