Fans can go to one of
more than 700 hobby shops
across the United States and Canada to get a free pack of cards. The
checklist
contains 30 cards (10 rookies, 10 veterans, 10 legends), and those who purchase at least $10 of Upper Deck product at these stores will receive a special Matty Beniers Rookie Moments card. Fans should also be on the lookout for mascot cards.
"National Hockey Card Day is an annual day of celebration of both the sport of hockey and hockey card collecting," said Michael Phillips, Upper Deck executive vice president of sales and marketing. "Thanks to the continued support of our licensors, our distribution network, Certified Diamond Dealers and collectors worldwide, NHCD is the hobby's longest-running hobby 'holiday,' and just continues to gain in popularity."
There are also a number of
retail shops
that will be participating in
National Hockey Card Day
, offering free nine-card sheets of NHL players, with five total sheets to collect.
"Retailers often say that NHCD is their single biggest sales day of the year, as well as the day where they see the most new faces come through the door," Phillips said. "And that is the cornerstone of NHCD; introducing new collectors to this great hobby, and hopefully turning them into collectors for life."
The program, launched in 2009 in Canada and in 2012 in the United States, will take place days before the start of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most exciting time of year for hockey fans.
"There is no better trading card promotion in our industry than National Hockey Card Day," said Wayne Wagner of Wayne's Sports Cards & Collectibles in Edmonton. "For the past 12 plus years this program has continued to bring success not only to our shop but the overall experience it provides to collectors. We see many new collectors come into our shop hearing about the cards, the day and the fun it brings. … Tell me a single collector who does not enjoy a free pack of hockey trading cards."
This year the program will also
go international
, with Australia, the Czech Republic, Netherlands and Sweden participating.
"Together with Upper Deck, fans can experience the fun of opening a pack of NHL trading cards," NHL group vice president of consumer products Dave McCarthy said. "We hope everyone gets out and discovers the great players that play in the National Hockey League through their free trading card pack on National Hockey Card Day."
Fans are encouraged to share pictures of their cards on social media with the hashtag #NHCD.
