Upper Deck president Jason Masherah said it was pivotal for the company to involve the Indigenous community in producing the cards in order to do it right.
"We're thrilled to give these iconic players the recognition they deserve," Masherah said, "and get the cards in the hands of excited community members."
Upper Deck began rolling the cards out last week. Packs were distributed at games where Indigenous NHL alumni teams played in Indigenous communities in St. Paul, Minnesota, Alberta and Tallcree First Nation. Fans attending the Mushkegowuk Cup, an annual minor hockey tournament that brings First Nations teams together from Feb. 17-19 in Timmins, Ontario, also will receive packs.
So will teams and fans attending the Little Native Hockey League Tournament in Nipissing First Nation, Ontario, from March 13-18. In addition, packs will be distributed at 3 Nolan Hockey Camp, run by Nolan and his sons, former NHL players Jordan and Brandon Nolan; Hockey Indigenous Development Camp; and First Row Collectibles, an Indigenous-owned hobby shop in Winnipeg.
Nolan said he's looking forward to handing out the cards. Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round (No. 78) of the 1978 NHL Draft, Nolan had 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 78 games as a forward with the Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins from 1981-86.
He went on to coach the Buffalo Sabres (1995-97 and 2013-15) and New York Islanders (2006-08) and won the Jack Adams Award, voted NHL coach off the year, in 1997.