Back again for the third consecutive year is Upper Deck’s “National Hockey Card Day” release. A free set (just the right price), released only in Canada (kind of crappy for US collectors), will be handed out at participating stores on February 12th of this year, corresponding with the NHLs Hockey Day in Canada.

For all the grief I do give Upper Deck, this is actually one place where they can’t go wrong. The free three card packs will be available to kids of all ages who can try to complete the overall set of 15 cards which are spread out over three five-card subsets: Rookies, Pride and Heroes. Also available in this set will be one bonus card featuring Stanley Cup winning captain Jonathan Toews, pictured as he hoisted the Cup last June. Nice looking cards as usual, and no way to raise any eyebrows with regard to autographs, memorabilia or redemptions. An all around good gesture, albeit in the name of self-promotion, that will give kids and older collectors alike something nice to grab on the cheap. For once…


For your interest, the checklist with some sample pics interspersed amongst:

Rookies

Taylor Hall



Tyler Seguin
Jeff Skinner
Jordan Eberle
P.K. Subban




Pride

Jason Spezza
Dion Phaneuf



Jarome Iginla
Roberto Luongo
Sidney Crosby




Heroes

Patrick Roy
Mario Lemieux



Gordie Howe
Bobby Orr
Wayne Gretzky




Extra “Bonus” Card

Jonathan Toews Stanley Cup




Once Upper Deck has made clear exactly who the participating dealers will be I’ll let you know. Toys’R’Us tends to be a constant, but they do change up a bit from year to year otherwise. Grabb some when the day arrives!

Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
Facebook Group: Hockeybuzz Collectibles
_________________________________________________________________________


Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles

#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?

#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?

#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?

#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?

#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?

#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?

#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?

#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?

#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?

#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?

#21 Mark Cuban Owned An NHL Team?

#22 Should Divisional Play Be Overhauled?


Previous “Who Knew?” Articles
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#2: The Zamboni

#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

#4: Ron Hextall

#5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility

#6: The Puck

#7: Don Cherry

#8: Cam Neely

#9: The Early Years of Les Canadiens

#10: Hockey Superstitions!

#11: Olympic Hockey Pt1

#12: Jarome Iginla


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2010-11 Panini Score Hockey
2010-11 Panini Certified Hockey
2010-11 ITG Ultimate Memorabilia, 10th Edition
2010-11 ITG Heroes & Prospects
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#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7


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#2: Your desk has the right to remain collectable!
#3: Have Pads, Will Travel
#4: Pick a Pekka (Rinne) Autographed Mask
#5: Ted Lindsay Gets Kronwalled?



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#2: The Price Guide"

#3: What IS A Rookie Card?

#4: Beware the Money Order!

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