Players growing beards during the NHL Playoffs is has become a fun tradition for the sport. In 2011-12 O-Pee-Chee we will be paying tribute to that tradition by producing a 50-card set of current NHL players who have rocked the playoff beard look before. These will be numbered the same as the base version, but will have a different photo of the player with their playoff beard featured. Collectors can find about four of these playoff beard variation cards per box. It should be a creative way to immortalize this unique tradition through trading cards.
Scott Hartnell has a great track record of growing a grizzly beard in the NHL Playoffs. He will have a playoff beard variation card in 2011-12 NHL O-Pee-Chee.
We get into our work here at Upper Deck and as the NHL Playoffs came close to starting, more than a few of us decided we would do a pool for who could keep a playoff beard the longest. I lasted about a week before I had to take the clippers to the patchy mess on my face. It’s not easy to start and keep a beard for over a month with your work and personal life in the way. Two Upper Deck staff members were able to accomplish this achievement however, so my hat is off to them. And now we ask you the fans, who wears it better?
First up is Mark Kramer, our resident intern extraordinaire. You may remember Mark from a couple videos he wrote, directed, produced and starred in about EVOLUTION and about why you should only purchase from Certified Diamond Dealers. He is a huge help on the Marketing side of our business and we are expecting great things from this up-and-comer in the future. Check out his beard:
Mark Kramer wants to take down the title of "Best Upper Deck Playoff Beard." Do you think his beard is the best?
Up close and personal with Kramer's playoff beard...
Next up is Mark Shaunessy, our Hobby Policy Enforcement Specialist. Before taking on that position, Mark worked in our Quality Assurance Department and before that in our Game-Used Room. You may remember Mark from a brief appearance on ESPN’s E:60 when the Sports Guy Bill Simmons paid us a visit at UD Headquarters. He takes his position very seriously and he is very serious about growing his beard as well. Take a look at his beard:
Mark Shaunessy is hoping his beard can bring him the title and prize pool. With this cap, there's no doubt of Shaunessy's Irish heritage.
Shaunessy's beard is very thick, but is it thick enough? Is this the better of the two playoff beards? Let us know in the comment section below!
They have both made it to the end of the NHL Playoffs (as long as they don’t slip up between now and Game 7). Both beards appear to be very similar in terms of coloring and thickness. But our question to you fans is who wears their beard better? Kramer or Shaunessy? Give your vote below in the comment section so we can award the victor the prize pool!
40 Comments
My pick is Mark Kramer. Looks more like a non beard guy who put in the “work” lol
Kramer
Kramer
i’m voting for Shaunessy. i love the multi color thing going on !!
Hard to pick a winner here, they are both so good. Since it is a NHL Playoff beard contest, I think I have to go with Kramer. I’d be a little intimidated if I saw him on the ice flexing like that.
Mark Shaunessy’s! Mainly because he called me one day and Mark Kramer hasn’t so much as written me! 🙂
Shaunessy
I have to go with Kramer. With his scruffy look, plus his “Yukon Cornelius” smile, he gets my vote. BTW: Is he actually trying to flex? Yeah, Kramer looks haggard, while Shaunessy looks like he could sport that beard year-round.
Shaunessy’s beard for sure
I think I just got Shaunessy’ed…
The hat sold me Shaunessy!
Gotta go with the guy who bleeds NY Rangers blue!Shaunessy!
Shaunessy for sure! To have the dedication to keep it going without using Just For Men on that gray…
Kramer, looks like he could fill in for Boychuk
Definitely Shaunessy
I will have to go with Kramer for only one reason he seems to have Hockey’s feisty spirit…..there is no cool calm and collective in playoff Hockey……
Shaunessy, he is the man!
I am going to pick Mark Shaunessy!
Have to go with my boy, Shaunessy!
MY vote is for Shaunessy!
SHAUNESSY’s is better! And the hat just makes it.
Shaunessy for sure! Not only does the beard look great, but he pours me coffee in the morning.
Just about anyone can grow a bread to look like the Brawny Paper Towel Man. Not just anyone can look like a crazy Irish man after a wind storm. Go Shaunessy!
SHAUNESSY!!!!
Shaunessy gets my vote just for the Rangers shirt
Shaunessy…BOOM!
Even though his taste in hockey teams is terrible, I have to vote Shaunessy.
I’ll go with Krammer as I always like the underdog.
As a professional beard evaluator for the Czechs in the late 1990’s I developed a comprehensive measure for ranking beards. Without divulging my secret system I would Judge Shaunessy’s better by a score of 81-78.
Shaunesy for sure.
SHAUNESSY GETS MY VOTE HANDS DOWN. CONTEST OVER !!!
Have to go with Shaunessy. Liked the hometown boy, with the USD shirt but save the growling for the ice. The hat, confident look and Ranger shirt all spell success! Shaunessy wins!
Kramer looks a lot like Casey Abrams from American Idol.
But I am going with Shaunessy because he has style…he can part his beard on the side!
It’s gotta be Shaunessy!
I am going with Shaunessy! I like the hat also!
Shaunessy. The grey hair looks distinguished.
lol shaunessy should win it with that hat and grin….. ( =
SHAUNESSY!!!! gross. but i’ll vote for him!
My vote is for Mark Shaunessy! Love the beard…go Mark!!
Thank you to everyone who voted. Hope you had as much fun with it as Kramer and I did. Congrats to the Bruins for thier win of Stanley’s Cup and I look forward to defending my title of UD’s Playoff Beard Champion.
Shaunessy all the way! Can’t believe the grey – but its definitely a family trait!