Archive for Hockey
The Upper Deck NHL Rookie Boot Camp Series Continues; Ryan Ellis Was Bad With Money
Posted by: | CommentsEvery year we have a great time at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase where Upper Deck has the opportunity to spend time with the top NHL rookies. One of our goals we have leaving the event it to come up with a fun way to introduce the new rookies to fans and for the last few seasons we have done that with our Rookie Boot Camp videos which have been pretty popular with hockey fans around the world. After all, one of these players will likely end up being the next big Upper Deck rookie card, so fans should get to know them.

Ryan Ellis who was recently called up by the Nashville Predators is the lead character in UD's new Rookie Boot Camp video.
And fans of these videos will have a whole new series of videos to enjoy throughout the course of the season with the second video launching today. After two successful seasons, Upper Deck put Coach Ron Cherry on the bench and brought in Coach Dewey Schuntz who is widely regarded as the worst rookie in NHL history. It was our hope he could teach the players what not to do and we think he did a great job. Watch this second video where Coach Schuntz works with Ryan Ellis of the Nashville Predators to help him get better managing his money. Also, look for two small cameos from Jake Gardiner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Marcus Kruger of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Get Closer To The NHL Than Ever Before; Become A UD Stick Kid!
Posted by: | CommentsThousands of fans will be descending on Ottawa, Ontario for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, but one fan will get to experience the event like no other courtesy of Upper Deck. We are looking for a youngster (boy or girl) to represent Upper Deck at the 2012 NHL All-Star festivities working with the players as a Stick Kid. Former Upper Deck Stick Kids have all claimed this was one of the best experiences of their lives as they came face to face with the greatest stars in the NHL.
Upper Deck Stick Kids serve UD at the NHL All-Star Superskills Challenge and also get great access to the players during the event. It is a dream job for the kid chosen and to have the opportunity to win is not that difficult. Youngsters in the Ottawa area simply need to submit an essay as to why they feel they should be selected as Upper Deck’s Stick Kid for the NHL All-Star Festivities.
We will be taking applications at the Bell Cup and kids can also submit their application to us via e-mail at Stick_Kid@upperdeck.com up until Friday, January 13, 2012. Good luck to all those participating!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Guns A Blazing: Upper Deck Young Guns Deliver Value to Every Level of Collector
Posted by: | CommentsI am an old school collector at my core and enjoy cards that take me back to a more simple time. I came of age in the ‘80’s when a simple cardboard rookie card was enough to make my day. I still have a special place in my heart for a nice old fashion RC.
When done right, they don’t need all the extra bells and whistles of crash numbering, memorabilia or even autographs. That is easier said than done. In a collecting landscape dominated by cards featuring autographs and memorabilia swatches, finding a definitive rookie card of a player can be tricky. That is unless you are a hockey fan.
Upper Deck helped to usher in the modern trinity of collecting. First with the epic Reggie Jackson Heroes hand-numbered autograph card and then in 1997 with the release of the game-used- jersey cards. This makes it all the more interesting that the company that had a major hand in the creation of the high-end market also produce one of the singe greatest base rookie sets of the modern age.
As with most things cardboard this set has humble beginnings in the early ‘90’s.
The 1990-91 UD hockey set was great for many reasons and not the least of which being the first Young Guns set. The first set had the two biggest rookies of the era with Russian imports Sergei Federov and Pavel Bure.
The set was a huge hit and cemented UD as hockey heavyweight. The Young Guns were popular but didn’t hit full stride until about 15 years later.
The set hit legendary levels in 2005-06 when Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin came on the scene in a very memorable season for collectors. The Crosby Young Guns cards made huge waves as they sold for well over $100, especially when graded. Not since the mid ‘90’s had a regular rookie card you could pull from a $3 pack sold for triple digits. For an old school collector like me, it was a very exciting moment and I had to take notice. The base rookie was back!
The trend has continued with each year’s Young Guns rookies being they cards that every level of collector will chase. No matter what other novelty rookie cards are out there, the core card of any new star is still his Upper Deck Young Guns rookie card.
It gives even a collector on a tight budget a way to get a hold of a “hot list” level card of the new stars and becomes a commodity that even the high-end collector needs in his set to be perceived as credible. So whether you are a kid collecting with your dad or the dad collecting for yourself; Upper Deck has you covered.
Kevin Wade is a devout Minnesota sports fan and writer for the hobby blog mojobeardy.wordpress.com. Kevin spends his free time collecting cards with his wife and kids. He has been collecting since the mid ‘80s and has a tendency to wax poetic about the late ‘80s/early ‘90s card boom.
Popularity: 2% [?]
2011-12 NHL Artifacts Rookie Redemption Checklist Revealed
Posted by: | CommentsCollectors are still enjoying 2011-12 NHL Artifacts and with plenty of great content, but those who have pulled rookie redemption cards have been very curious about which players they may receive. Upper Deck waits until December to finalize this list to give enough teams to call up rookies and get them some ice time. Even by waiting, some teams did not call up a rookie that played in time like the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins. Collectors holding cards for those teams will receive a card of a rookie from another team, in effect making those “wild” cards.
Photo selection and design is underway on these cards and production should start after the first of the year. In the meantime, take a look at the checklist for the set! And if you are looking for the autograph rookie redemption checklist, click here.
| 201 | Devante Smith-Pelly | Ducks |
| 202 | Mark Scheifele | Jets |
| 203 | Anton Lander | Oilers |
| 204 | Zack Kassian | Sabres |
| 205 | Roman Horak | Flames |
| 206 | Justin Faulk | Hurricanes |
| 207 | Brandon Saad | Blackhawks |
| 208 | Gabriel Landeskog | Avalanche |
| 209 | Ryan Johansen | Blue Jackets |
| 210 | Kevin Marshall | Flyers |
| 211 | Brendan Smith | Red Wings |
| 212 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Oilers |
| 213 | Erik Gudbranson | Panthers |
| 214 | Viatcheslav Voynov | Kings |
| 215 | Brett Bulmer | Wild |
| 216 | Louis Leblanc | Canadiens |
| 217 | Craig Smith | Predators |
| 218 | Adam Larsson | Devils |
| 219 | David Ullstrom | Islanders |
| 220 | Tim Erixon | Rangers |
| 221 | David Rundblad | Senators |
| 222 | Sean Couturier | Flyers |
| 223 | Andy Miele | Coyotes |
| 224 | Robert Bortuzzo | Penguins |
| 225 | Harri Sateri | Sharks |
| 226 | Cade Fairchild | Blues |
| 227 | Brett Connolly | Lightning |
| 228 | Jake Gardiner | Maple Leafs |
| 229 | Eddie Lack | Canucks |
| 230 | Cody Eakin | Capitals |
| 231 | Matt Read | Flyers |
| 232 | Mika Zibanejad | Senators |
| 233 | Gustav Nyquist | Red Wings |
| 234 | Lennart Petrell | Oilers |
| 235 | Dmitry Orlov | Capitals |
| 236 | Raphael Diaz | Canadiens |
| 237 | Alexei Emelin | Canadiens |
| 238 | Peter Holland | Ducks |
| 239 | Colten Teubert | Oilers |
| 240 | Corey Tropp | Sabres |
| 241 | Stefan Elliott | Avalanche |
| 242 | David Savard | Blue Jackets |
Popularity: 3% [?]
Upper Deck Trading Cards Make Great Holiday Decorations!
Posted by: | CommentsI know our fans love their collections and most enjoy the holidays as well, but I don’t think people realize how they can incorporate their love for collecting cards into their holiday decorations. I want to share some great ideas on how you can incorporate your passion for cards into your holiday decor and for those of you who choose to do so, you will have the opportunity to score a FREE box of Upper Deck cards for the holidays.
First, let’s go through how you can use Upper Deck cards as Christmas ornaments. My wife had our tree a little to fancy so I decided to invite some of my favorite sports stars to join the holiday party. First thing I did was grab a few Ultra Pro semi-regid holders and a hole punch. You want to punch a hole right up top in the middle for vertical cards and along the side for horizontal cards.

Punch a hole in the holder where the arrows are based on whether it is a vertical or horizontal card. Make sure to punch it in the middle so it hangs straight.
Next step is to put your card in the holder and put a hook through the hole. I know what you are thinking, “Did Upper Deck really make basketball cards for Jackie Moon?” Well we did, and they are glorious.
Then find a bare spot on your tree and let your favorite athlete hang out there for the holidays.
There are lots of other ways you can get creative as well. This idea can work to count down the days until Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukah or even Festivus. Just create a decorative countdown ticker and hang your favorite UD packs from them for each day. You can open a pack each day until the big event! How fun is that?
We also have seen fans create their own stockings with Upper Deck trading cards before. Check out how cool these are! This is a great project for the kids and involves all the things they love; Upper Deck cards, glue and scissors. Kids, PLEASE check with your parents before you cut up Dad’s 1989 Griffey rookies for your stocking.
We know our fans are very creative. Maybe you want to make a holiday wreath of trading cards. Maybe a Nativity scene of cards. Whatever it is, we want to see it. Get busy and create a holiday decoration using Upper Deck cards. Post an image or video to the wall of the Upper Deck Facebook page. We will select our favorite submission on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 to receive a FREE box of Upper Deck cards from their favorite sport (Football, Baseball, Hockey or Basketball). So what are you waiting for? Grab some holiday cheer and get going!!!
Popularity: 2% [?]














