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PHF and Upper Deck announce new multi-year trading card agreement

By Chris Cerullo

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December 22, 2021 12:28 pm

The Premier Hockey Federation announced on Wednesday that they have agreed to a multi-year deal with The Upper Deck Company for the exclusive rights to manufacture both physical and digital trading cards. The deal also looks to include NFT trading cards in the future, similar to the recent extension that the National Hockey League signed with Upper Deck in October.

Upper Deck will produce their first-ever professional women’s hockey trading cards for release during the 2022-23 PHF season.

“This is a milestone license for the PHF and we’re extremely thrilled for our athletes, fans, and collectors of all ages,” said PHF Commissioner Tyler Tumminia. “Trading cards are a staple in professional sports and Upper Deck is at the forefront in this space offering the highest quality traditional cards and most innovative digital collections. We’re grateful for their commitment to the PHF and the opportunity to grow the game and inspire the next generation in a brand new way.”

This is the first time Upper Deck will be producing professional women’s hockey trading cards, but not the first time they’ve put out women’s hockey cards in general. In the 1997-98 NHL Collector’s Choice series, Team Canada stars were featured as part of a National Heroes sub-set. Team Canada stars also feature in Upper Deck’s yearly, popular Team Canada Juniors series.

The PHF and the NHL signing deals with Upper Deck bucks the current trend of professional sporting leagues moving away from the more traditional card companies and signing exclusive trading card deals with Fanatics.

More from the PHF:

PHF ANNOUNCES NEW MULTI-YEAR EXCLUSIVE TRADING CARD AGREEMENT WITH UPPER DECK

Physical and Digital PHF Trading Cards to be released during the 2022-23 season

December 22, 2021 (Brooklyn, N.Y.) – The Premier Hockey Federation (“PHF”) today announced a new multi-year agreement with The Upper Deck Company to be the exclusive licensed manufacturer of physical and digital PHF trading cards. The industry leaders will produce their first-ever professional women’s hockey trading cards for release during the 2022-23 PHF season.

“This is a milestone license for the PHF and we’re extremely thrilled for our athletes, fans, and collectors of all ages,” said PHF Commissioner Tyler Tumminia. “Trading cards are a staple in professional sports and Upper Deck is at the forefront in this space offering the highest quality traditional cards and most innovative digital collections. We’re grateful for their commitment to the PHF and the opportunity to grow the game and inspire the next generation in a brand new way.”

Upper Deck first produced women’s hockey cards as part of the company’s 1997-98 NHL® Collector’s Choice Series, where Team Canada stars were featured as part of a National Heroes sub-set. Upper Deck has maintained NHL and NHLPA trading card licenses since the 1990-91 season and is credited with numerous innovations that have shaped the trading card industry over the last three decades.

“As professional women’s sports have grown across North America, so has the interest from collectors and fans for unique and authentic memorabilia,” said Upper Deck Sports Brand Manager Paul Zickler. “At Upper Deck, we’re very excited to expand our product portfolio to include the Premier Hockey Federation to help capture history and connect PHF fans to their favorite athletes.”

Collectors can find Upper Deck’s PHF trading cards available next season at hobby shops nationwide and through Upper Deck’s Authorized Internet Retailers (AIRS). PHF trading cards will also be available on Upper Deck e-Pack®, a robust online platform that allows collectors to buy, open, collect and trade digital and physical cards with fans around the world.

More information about e-Pack, memorabilia, physical trading card sets, and licensed trading card NFTs will be announced prior to product launch.

Photo via PHF release

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