Hockey cards have evolved since O-Pee-Chee introduced them in 1933. Upper Deck has exclusive rights to Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard's images and they'll be on different platforms this season.
Trading cards with hockey players' images first were produced in 1934 by the O-Pee-Chee Gum Company, based on London, Ontario. Yep, they were packaged with bubble gum and sold at drug stores and dime stores.
If you're not old enough to remember what a dime store was, see the link below. Woolworth operated a chain of them in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Kids loved "five-and-dimes" and they were the perfect places to sell trading cards and candy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._W._Woolworth_Company
Upper Deck has an exclusive autographed trading card deal with hockey Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard and is the sole producer trading cards bearing the image of the NHL's No. 1 draft pick in 2023.
At the NHLPA/Upper Deck Rookie Showcase is Arlington, Virginia last week, Upper Deck began capturing images of Bedard, fellow Blackhawks rookie Kevin Korchinski and 33 other top NHL prospects for trading cards that will be released in various collections and formats for the 2023-24 season.
Connor Bedard rookie trading cards will be available in Upper Deck flagship products such as Young Guns, Future Watch during the 2023-24 season at hobby shops and via Upper Deck Authorized Internet Retailers (AIRS).
Bedard's exclusive cards will also be available on Upper Deck e-Pack®and the brands new Evolution platform featuring Authentic Digital Collectibles.
Here's a sneak-peek at the images.
We'll have an update on Bedard, Korchinski and others from the Blackhawks practice facility later this week as Chicago's young players prepare for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase.
