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Detroit Vipers Best-RCs Project |
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Featuring the best NHL rookie card for every Detroit Vipers player.
Welcome to my Detroit Vipers Best-RCs website! This site will help me to track my progress as I attempt to acquire the Best Rookie Card of every player to ever lace up the skates for the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League. Below is the complete list of each player and their best rookie card. While 289 players once played for the Detroit Vipers, only 145 of them actually earned NHL rookie cards. I'll be attempting 144: all but Gordie Howe. The players with no NHL rookie cards are greyed out. The cards listed in bold and underline are the ones I still need to acquire, while the cards in regular text are ones I already own. Below the rather large listing, on this page, is some additional information about the project. Thank you for taking the time to look over my site!
| Total Progress |
| 144/144 |
| 100.0% |
| Detroit Vipers players (total) | 289 |
| Detroit Vipers with NHL RCs | 145 |
| Omitted players (Howe) | 1 |
| Detroit Vipers without NHL RCs | 144 |
------------------------------------------------
By Year:
| Pre-90 | 90-91 | 91-92 | 92-93 | 93-94 | 94-95 | 95-96 |
| 14/14 | 17/17 | 11/11 | 14/14 | 16/16 | 12/12 | 10/10 |
| 96-97 | 97-98 | 98-99 | 99-00 | 00-01 | 01-02 | Post-02 |
| 6/6 | 7/7 | 4/4 | 9/9 | 14/14 | 7/7 | 3/3 |
Link: Text list sorted by player
Link: Text list sorted by year and set
Dmitry Afanasenkov
2000-01 Black Diamond 65 Dmitri Afanasenkov
Chris Albert
NO RC
Keith Aldridge
2000-01 SPx 114 Keith Aldridge
Peter Ambroziak
NO RC
Likit Andersson
NO RC
Greg Andrusak
2000-01 SP Authentic 160 Greg Andrusak
Bill Armstrong
1991-92 Topps/OPC 36 Bill Armstrong
Derek Armstrong
1994-95 Leaf 51 Derek Armstrong
Kaspars Astashenko
2000-01 SPx 116 Kaspars Astashenko
Steve Bancroft
2001-02 Upper Deck Ice 148 Steve Bancroft
Darren Banks
1992-93 OPC Premier 118 Darren Banks
Dave Baseggio
NO RC
Egor Bashkatov
NO RC
Andre Bashkirov
NO RC
Steve Beadle
NO RC
Clayton Beddoes
1995-96 Bowman 102 Clayton Beddoes
Louis Bernard
NO RC
Daniel Berthiaume
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee 217 Daniel Berthiaume
Karel Betik
1999-00 Paramount 213 Karel Betik
Andy Bezeau
NO RC
Radim Bicanek
1993-94 Upper Deck 262 Radim Bicanek
Zac Bierk
1998-99 Upper Deck Gold Reserve 181 Zac Bierk
Troy Binnie
NO RC
Jeff Blanchard
NO RC
Chris Bogas
NO RC
Peter Bondra
1990-91 OPC Premier 7 Peter Bondra
Mike Bondy
NO RC
Phil Bourque
1989-90 Topps 19 Phil Bourque
Kevin Boyd
NO RC
Travis Brigley
1999-00 Upper Deck Gold Reserve 339 Travis Brigley
Byron Briske
NO RC
Stephane Brochu
NO RC
Jeff Buchanan
NO RC
Shawn Burr
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee 164 Shawn Burr
Joe Cardarelli
NO RC
Jimmy Carson
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee 92 Jimmy Carson
Denis Chasse
1994-95 Upper Deck 414 Denis Chasse
Peter Ciavaglia
1993-94 Score 474 Peter Ciavaglia
Martin Cibak
2001-02 UD Premier Collection 81 Martin Cibak
Jozef Cierny
1994-95 Score 217 Josef Cierny
Justin Clark
NO RC
Travis Clayton
NO RC
Dan Cloutier
1994-95 Finest 145 Dan Cloutier
Sylvain Cloutier
NO RC
Ben Clymer
1999-00 Upper Deck Gold Reserve 348 Ben Clymer
Jon Coleman
1993-94 Pinnacle 481 Jon Coleman
Al Conroy
1993-94 Topps/OPC Premier 352 Al Conroy
Yvon Corriveau
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee 364 Yvon Corriveau
John Craighead
2002-03 BAP Memorabilia 332 John Craighead
Phil Crowe
1993-94 Donruss 446 Phil Crowe
Kris Cumming
NO RC
Chad Dameworth
NO RC
Jeff Daniels
1991-92 Upper Deck 564 Jeff Daniels
Joe Day
1991-92 Upper Deck 516 Joe Day
Dale DeGray
1989-90 Topps 18 Dale DeGray
Xavier Delisle
1994-95 SP 178 Xavier Delisle
Marc Delorme
NO RC
Joel Dezainde
NO RC
Robert Dirk
1990-91 Pro Set 522 Robert Dirk
Clark Donatelli
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee 458 Clark Donatelli
Mike Donnelly
1991-92 Pinnacle 299 Mike Donnelly
Doug Doull
2003-04 Parkhurst Rookie 103 Doug Doull
Stan Drulia
1992-93 Upper Deck 487 Stan Drulia
Gordie Dwyer
2000-01 Pacific 383 Gordie Dwyer / Marek Posmyk
Paul Dyck
NO RC
Nils Ekman
1999-00 BAP Memorabilia 324 Nils Ekman
Matt Elich
2000-01 SP Game Used 82 Matt Elich
David Emma
1991-92 Score American 330 David Emma
John Emmons
1992-93 Upper Deck 608 John Emmons
Len Esau
NO RC
Scott Feasby
NO RC
Brent Fedyk
1990-91 OPC Premier 31 Brent Fedyk
Brian Felsner
1997-98 Pacific Omega 50 Brian Felsner
Denny Felsner
1992-93 Pinnacle 413 Denny Felsner
Tim Findlay
NO RC
Shannon Finn
NO RC
Mark Fitzpatrick
1990-91 Upper Deck French 37 Mark Fitzpatrick
Bryan Fogarty
1990-91 Upper Deck French 548 Bryan Fogarty
Nick Forbes
NO RC
Norm Foster
1991-92 Upper Deck 465 Norm Foster
Kyle Freadrich
2000-01 SPx 119 Kyle Freadrich
Mike Gaffney
NO RC
Maxim Galanov
1993-94 Upper Deck 273 Maxim Galanov
Igor Galkin
NO RC
Gerard Gallant
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee 67 Gerard Gallant
Chris Gignac
NO RC
Jason Glover
NO RC
Alexander Godynyuk
1991-92 Pinnacle 318 Alexander Godynyuk
Erich Goldmann
2000-01 Pacific 291 Erich Goldmann / Petr Schastlivy
Daniel Goneau
1996-97 Flair 116 Daniel Goneau
Chris Gordon
NO RC
Steve Gosselin
NO RC
Chris Gotziaman
NO RC
David Goverde
NO RC
Chad Grills
NO RC
John Gruden
1994-95 Donruss 179 John Gruden
Garry Gulash
NO RC
Sergei Gusev
1998-99 Be A Player 192 Sergei Gusev
David Haas
NO RC
Len Hachborn
NO RC
Mark Hardy
1982-83 O-Pee-Chee 155 Mark Hardy
Mike Hartman
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee 16 Mike Hartman
Johan Hedberg
2000-01 Upper Deck Ice 120 Johan Hedberg
Markus Helanen
NO RC
Ian Herbers
1993-94 Leaf 423 Ian Herbers
Harold Hersh
NO RC
Kevin Hodson
1996-97 Flair 108 Kevin Hodson
Ryan Hoople
NO RC
Gordie Howe
1951-52 Parkhurst 66 Gordie Howe
Jani Hurme
2000-01 Titanium 135 Jani Hurme
Gord Hynes
1991-92 Parkhurst 235 Gord Hynes
Bob Jay
1993-94 Upper Deck 470 Bob Jay
Mike Jones
NO RC
Duane Joyce
NO RC
Steve Junker
1993-94 Upper Deck 241 Steve Junker
Konstantin Kalmikov
NO RC
Kory Karlander
NO RC
Sheldon Keefe
1999-00 SP Authentic 123 Sheldon Keefe
Steve Kelly
1996-97 Metal Universe 183 Steve Kelly
Dan Kesa
1993-94 PowerPlay 460 Dan Kesa
Michael Kiesman
NO RC
Lorne Knauft
NO RC
Rick Knickle
1993-94 Score 466 Rick Knickle
Dieter Kochan
2000-01 Titanium 145 Dieter Kochan
Trevor Koenig
NO RC
Evgeny Konstantinov
2001-02 UD Top Shelf 140 Evgeny Konstantinov
Kyle Kos
NO RC
Mikhail Kravets
1992-93 Upper Deck 542 Mikhail Kravets
Aaron Kriss
NO RC
Yuri Krivokhija
NO RC
Kristian Kudroc
1999-00 SP Authentic 126 Kristian Kudroc
Mikko Kuparinen
NO RC
Emmanuel Labranche
NO RC
Martin Laitre
NO RC
Marc Lamothe
1999-00 BAP Memorabilia 399 Marc Lamothe
Mario Larocque
1999-00 Pacific 400 Paul Mara / Mario Larocque
Guy Larose
1991-92 Parkhurst 399 Guy Larose
Mike Latendresse
NO RC
Eric Lavigne
NO RC
Paul Lawson
NO RC
Brad Layzell
NO RC
Scott Levins
1993-94 Upper Deck 433 Scott Levins
John Lilley
1993-94 PowerPlay 510 John Lilley
Lonnie Loach
1992-93 Upper Deck 466 Lonnie Loach
Jim Logan
NO RC
Tim Lovell
NO RC
Andrew Luciuk
NO RC
Chris Luongo
1992-93 Upper Deck 534 Chris Luongo
Darrin Madeley
1993-94 PowerPlay 400 Darrin Madeley
Marc Magliarditi
NO RC
Mark Major
NO RC
Kevin Malgunas
NO RC
Stewart Malgunas
1993-94 Upper Deck 425 Stewart Malgunas
Shawn Maltby
NO RC
Igor Malykhin
NO RC
Jason Mansoff
NO RC
Paul Mara
1996-97 Upper Deck Ice 149 Paul Mara
Tony Martino
NO RC
Steve Martins
1999-00 Pacific Omega 217 Steve Martins
Mike Maurice
NO RC
Alan May
1990-91 Upper Deck French 240 Alan May
Jay Mazur
1991-92 Stadium Club 272 Jay Mazur
Chris McAlpine
1995-96 Donruss 113 Chris McAlpine
Mike McBain
1994-95 SP 176 Mike McBain
Trent McCleary
1995-96 Bowman 135 Trent McCleary
Peter McLaughlin
NO RC
Bryan McMullen
NO RC
Ken McRae
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee 411 Ken McRae
Darren Meek
NO RC
Bret Meyers
NO RC
Andrei Mezin
NO RC
Max Mikhailovsky
NO RC
Craig Millar
1997-98 SP Authentic 182 Craig Millar
David Mitchell
NO RC
Michel Mongeau
1990-91 Upper Deck French 345 Michel Mongeau
Keith Morris
NO RC
Brian Mueller
NO RC
Bryan Muir
1998-99 Upper Deck Gold Reserve 314 Bryan Muir
Tim Murray
NO RC
Frank Musil
1989-90 O-Pee-Chee 217 Frantisek Musil
Luch Nasato
NO RC
Eric Naud
NO RC
Stanislav Neckar
1994-95 Upper Deck 377 Stanislav Neckar
Scott Nichol
2001-02 SP Game Used 68 Scott Nichol
Carlin Nordstrom
NO RC
Brad Norton
2001-02 SPx 205 Brad Norton
Lee Norwood
1988-89 O-Pee-Chee 240 Lee Norwood
Dan O'Rourke
NO RC
Krzysztof Oliwa
1997-98 Upper Deck 302 Krzysztof Oliwa
Mark Osiecki
1991-92 Upper Deck 533 Mark Osiecki
Dave Paradise
NO RC
Rich Parent
2000-01 SPx 115 Rich Parent
Jeff Parrott
NO RC
James Patterson
NO RC
Jason Payne
NO RC
Eduard Pershin
NO RC
Michel Petit
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee 262 Michel Petit
Robert Petrovicky
1992-93 Pinnacle 402 Robert Petrovicky
Michal Pivonka
1990-91 Upper Deck French 80 Michal Pivonka
Jason Podollan
1995-96 SP 172 Jason Podollan
Clark Polglase
NO RC
Marek Posmyk
1995-96 Upper Deck 542 Marek Posmyk
Maxim Potapov
NO RC
Chad Power
NO RC
Wayne Presley
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee 179 Wayne Presley
Mike Prokopec
1996-97 Zenith 149 Mike Prokopec
Dan Quinn
1984-85 O-Pee-Chee 234 Dan Quinn
Mathieu Raby
NO RC
Jeff Reese
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee 349 Jeff Reese
Bobby Reynolds
NO RC
Stephane Richer
1987-88 O-Pee-Chee 233 Stephane Richer
Steve Roberts
NO RC
Jason Robinson
NO RC
Scott Roche
NO RC
Dmitri Rodine
NO RC
Dale Rominski
2000-01 SPx 108 Dale Rominski
Sami Salo
1998-99 Pacific Dynagon Ice 131 Sami Salo
Sergei Samsonov
1994-95 SP 189 Sergei Samsonov
Matt Sanders
NO RC
Yves Sarault
NO RC
Cory Sarich
1995-96 Upper Deck 519 Cory Sarich
Geoff Sarjeant
1994-95 Upper Deck 375 Geoff Sarjeant
Miroslav Satan
1995-96 SP 52 Miroslav Satan
Eric Schneider
NO RC
Sverre Sears
NO RC
Brett Seguin
NO RC
Kurt Seher
NO RC
Vlad Serov
NO RC
Daniel Shank
1990-91 Upper Deck French 99 Daniel Shank
Oleg Shargorodsky
NO RC
Brad Shaw
1990-91 Upper Deck French 90 Brad Shaw
Jeff Shevalier
1997-98 Collector's Choice 127 Jeff Shevalier
Todd Simon
1994-95 Upper Deck 456 Todd Simon
Andrei Skopintsev
2000-01 BAP Memorabilia 251 Andrei Skopintsev
Zdenek Skorepa
NO RC
Darcy Smith
NO RC
Dave Smith
NO RC
Dennis Smith
NO RC
Kenton Smith
NO RC
Sandy Smith
NO RC
Bryan Smolinski
1992-93 Parkhurst 481 Bryan Smolinski
Corey Spring
NO RC
Samuel St. Pierre
NO RC
Michael Stewart
NO RC
Alek Stojanov
1995-96 Upper Deck 195 Alek Stojanov
Steve Strunk
NO RC
Jan Sulc
NO RC
Jaroslav Svejkovsky
1996-97 Flair 125 Jaroslav Svejkovsky
Petr Sykora
1995-96 SP 83 Petr Sykora
Patrice Tardif
1994-95 Upper Deck 470 Patrice Tardif
Edo Terglav
NO RC
Kahlil Thomas
NO RC
Scott Thomas
1993-94 PowerPlay 302 Scott Thomas
Tim Thomas
2002-03 Private Stock Reserve 154 Tim Thomas
Mark Thompson
NO RC
Brad Tiley
NO RC
Janis Tomans
NO RC
Dean Trboyevich
NO RC
Andrei Trefilov
1992-93 Upper Deck 345 Andrei Trefilov
Jeff Trigg
NO RC
Rhett Trombley
NO RC
Gatis Tseplis
NO RC
Stefan Ustorf
1992-93 Upper Deck 371 Stefan Ustorf
David Van Drunen
NO RC
Alex Vasilevsky
NO RC
Mark Vilneff
NO RC
Phil Von Stefenelli
NO RC
Steve Walker
NO RC
Dixon Ward
1992-93 Upper Deck 580 Dixon Ward
Ed Ward
1995-96 Bowman 105 Ed Ward
Jonathan Weaver
NO RC
Steve Webb
1997-98 Upper Deck 308 Steve Webb
Matt Weder
NO RC
Kevin Weekes
1997-98 SP Authentic 183 Kevin Weekes
Kay Whitmore
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee 232 Kay Whitmore
Jeff Whittle
NO RC
Darryl Williams
NO RC
David Williams
1992-93 Bowman 377 David Williams
Ron Wilson
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 243 Ron Wilson
Ross Wilson
NO RC
Jeff Winstanley
NO RC
Chris Wismer
NO RC
Craig Wolanin
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee 40 Craig Wolanin
Jason Woolley
1992-93 Pinnacle 415 Jason Woolley
Bob Wren
2001-02 SPx 129 Bob Wren
Dariusz Zabawa
NO RC
Jason Zent
NO RC
Thomas Ziegler
2001-02 SPx 127 Thomas Ziegler
Andrei Zyuzin
1997-98 Pacific Omega 208 Andrei Zyuzin
-- Why the Detroit Vipers?
My family started going regularly to Detroit Vipers hockey games in the 1996-1997 season, and I was there when the team won the Turner Cup Championship that season against the Long Beach Ice Dogs. Shortly thereafter, through a roundabout turn of events, I found my way into the media as a volunteer reporter for the Vipers; first for a local radio station, and then for a local newspaper. I held that media position for the final four seasons of the Vipers' existence, up until 2001 when the entire International Hockey League was forced to fold operations. The experience was a very positive one for me, as I was able to meet, interview, and talk with so many different people; not only from the Vipers, but from the rest of the hockey world as well. I decided to honor that experience, in a sense, by collecting the cards of some of those players who I worked with.
-- About the creation of the Best-RC list:
To begin, I acquired the Detroit Vipers All-Time Roster from The Internet Hockey Database. I then had to look up the full card listings for all 289 players. These card listings were cross-checked between Beckett Online's database, and the card database at The Internet Hockey Database. Next, I had to attempt to determine, where applicable, which NHL RC was the "best". I often had to compare different sets to determine which set contained the rookie cards with the highest perceived values. After careful scrutiny, I was able to select a "Best-RC" for each player on the list, aside from those who had no NHL RCs at all.
-- More on the choices for Best-RCs:
In cases of ties or near-ties in value, I opted for the set that is more widely traded and widely accepted, especially in terms of rookies and rookie cards. Occasionally, I had to be a bit subjective in my decisions. In situations where a player has more than one card in the set that features their best rookie card, at the same value, I went with the earliest numbered card printed in the set. In situations where there are two versions of the set that features the player's best rookie card (French and English), and the two versions are equally valued, I omitted marking any indication of the card's language version.
-- Why only the Best RCs?
At one point, I had considered acquiring every RC for all of the players listed above. However, I quickly realized that such an undertaking would be a massive exercise in futility. Why? Many of these players have 3, 5, or even up to around 10 different rookie cards, especially those players who made thier NHL set debuts in the early and mid 1990's. That plan would require me to attain dozens upon dozens of similar, boring, and mostly worthless cards. The concept of such a project bored me, and thus I decided to focus only on each player's Best RC.
-- Why omit Gordie Howe?
You're joking, right?
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