09-10 Artifacts Hockey 3 Box Break and Product Review

Last weekend, I busted three boxes of 2009-2010 UD Artifacts Hockey. Artifacts was a highly anticipated product for me this year. I just got back into the hobby last season and 08-09 Artifacts was one of the first products I busted. Despite hitting an amazing dual patch of Vincent Lecavalier and Paul Ranger in my only box, I found myself passing over Artifacts for other products. However, my feelings towards Artifacts began to change after hanging out on the Clouts'n'Chara website (http://www.cloutsnchara.com/). I started to see the value in each box, which averages a "hit" per pack and regularly produces patch cards.

Prior to my three box break, I purchased a spot in CnC's 09-10 Artifacts group case break. I drew St. Louis and thought I wouldn't have much success, but ended up with a Paul Kariya patch card numbered /5. I have not yet received this and my other hits in the mail, but will post once I do.

Now, onto the break. In general, I was very happy with the break for a number of reasons. I hit a patch card in each box, one was a Sabres personal collection (PC) "hit". One of the boxes was an autograph hot box (3 autos instead of the typical 1). I hit some of the more recognizable rookies including Artem Anisimov, Riku Helenius and Luca Caputi. Finally, all of my memorabilia cards had a print run of /100 or less. All in all I felt it was a great break and definitely see myself picking more up in the future.

Before I get into showing some of the nicer hits, I want to run down some statistics from the break. Keep in mind I purchased three boxes.

Box - 10 packs, 4 cards per pack

Price per Box - $80 USD (purchased at The Card Store in Cheektowaga, NY)

Base Set (100) - 58/100 (58%) 29 duplicates as well

Artifacts Legends (35) - 5/35 (14%)

Artifacts Stars (15) - 2/15 (13%)

Artifacts Rookies (50) - 7/50 (14%)

Rookie Redemptions (42 - 1 per box) - 3/42 (7%)

Parallels (Avg. 1 per box) - 1 base parallel (/50), 1 rookie parallel (/25), 1 legend parallel (/75)Autofacts (97 - Avg. 1 per box, except "hot" boxes which average 3 per box) - 5/97 (5%)

Game-Used Memorabilia (Avg. 3 per box, including one multi-player card per box) - See below for scans of memorabilia cards.

I will now do a quick run down of each box. Most everything is for trade or sale. If you see something you like, you can contact me on the CnC website. My username is: southbuffalo39. Also, all "hits" from the break and my other traders can be found in my photobucket found here (http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/southbuffalo39/).

Box 1

Parallel - Sam Gagner Base (46/50)

Legend- Steve Yzerman

Star - Patrick Kane

Rookies - Mikael Backlund, Brandon Segal

Rookie Redemption - Ottawa

Autofacts - Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Michael Peca, Drew Doughty

Game-Used -

Phil Esposito Frozen Artifacts Jersey (06/25)

Jonathan Toews Treasured Swatches Jersey (25/25)

Ray Bourque Frozen Artifacts Jersey/Patch (08/35)

Box 2

Parallel - Rookie Alexander Sulzer (24/25)

Legend - Alex Delvecchio

Star - Henrik Lundqvist

Rookies - Riku Helenius, Artem Anisimov

Rookie Redemption - Ottawa

Autofacts - Derek Sanderson

Game Used -

Curtis Joseph Frozen Artifacts Jersey (26/50)

Sam Gagner/Patrick O'Sullivan Tundra Tandems Jerseys (060/100)

Jason Pominville Treasured Swatches Jersey/Patch (15/25)

Box 3

Parallel - Legend Peter Stastny (74/75)

Legends - Clark Gillies, Lanny McDonald

Rookies - Luca Caputi, Michael Sauer

Rookie Redemption - Colorado

Autofacts - Doug Weight

Game Used -

Nicklas Backstrom Treasured Swatches Jersey (49/50)

Nicklas Lidstrom/Pavel Datsyuk Tundra Tandems (37/50)

Al Macinnis Frozen Artifacts Jersey/Patch (24/35)

In Conclusion - All in all I was very happy with the product and the break. As noted, I think there is great value in Artifacts which affords the collector a good opportunity to hit patch cards, autos and some good parallels. As a Sabres collector, I know there are a ton of cards and parallels to chase. I have heard of some quality control issues with the memorabilia cards in Artifacts. My only issue was on the Derek Sanderson Auto, which had an imprint at the bottom. Based on what I've seen of the product and my breaks, I would give this product an 8/10. Thanks as always for the look! UD Black recently came out and UD Series 1 is coming out this week. I have never busted a box of either, but am thinking about it and will be sure to post results and reviews of these and all of the 09-10 Hockey products I bust this season.