Carlsbad, CA, Wednesday August 19, 2009
In an effort to provide collectors with new and exciting content of hockey greats, Upper Deck is pleased to announce that a deal was recently inked with Hall-of-Famer Steve Yzerman to provide autograph trading cards in its 2009-10 products. Yzerman led the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships as a player and one as Vice President of Operations. He was also a gold-medal-winning Olympian for Team Canada in 2002.

Yzerman has not signed licensed NHL trading cards for a number of years so this deal is unique in that there is a very short supply of his autographs in the market. Collectors will likely be excited about the prospect of pulling autograph cards of his in new 2009-10 Upper Deck releases since they have gone so long without them.

“Steve Yzerman amassed a multitude of awards and accolades during his playing career both with the Detroit Red Wings and as a member of the Canadian National Team,” said Josh Zusman, Upper Deck brand manager for hockey. “To be able to provide collectors access to a player like Yzerman who is so popular in key hockey markets like Detroit and throughout Canada provides a huge boost to our new hockey releases for the upcoming season. We know collectors have been waiting a long time to see content from this legendary player and Upper Deck is thrilled to deliver his autograph.”

Hockey fans can look for the first Steve Yzerman autograph cards in 2009-10 NHL Black Diamond, which is scheduled to arrive in stores in December. Things will really get revved up with products like 2009-10 NHL SPx and NHL SP Game-Used Edition.

“For SPx, collectors can look for him to appear in the popular ‘Flashback Fabrics’ set, but we will also have autographed ‘Dual Winning Combos’ cards of Yzerman paired with legends like Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux,” said Matt Bromley, Upper Deck product manager for hockey. “SP Game-Used will feature some really great multi-signed autograph cards with Yzerman signing on cards with players like Lemieux and Gretzky, Howe and Lidstrom, even current Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg. The cards should command huge values and be the centerpiece of a true hockey fan’s collection.”



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