Upper Deck Gears Up for NHL All-Star Weekend

Just like in years past, Upper Deck’s presence will be felt in many phases of the fast-approaching 2009 NHL All-Star Game festivities in Montreal. Besides serving as co-sponsor of the NHL All-Star Trading Card and Memorabilia Show, Upper Deck is once again happy to present the annual NHL YoungStars Game, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Bell Centre. The actual NHL All-Star Game, which will be celebrating the centennial season of the Montreal Canadiens, will be held on Jan. 25.

The Trading Card and Memorabilia Show takes place as part of the Lay’s NHL All-Star Jamboree across the street from Montreal’s Bell Centre and Windsor Station. Tickets to the NHL All-Star Jamboree will be $10 apiece and show hours will be from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both Thursday, Jan. 22, and Friday, Jan. 23, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Upper Deck will have three up-and-coming NHL rookie standouts signing free autographs at the company’s booth on Friday, Jan. 23. Two 19-year-olds – Drew Doughty of the L.A. Kings, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Luke Schenn of the Toronto Maple Leafs, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – will be signing along with 18-year-old Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 Entry Draft, will be signing autographs from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. All three players will be signing oversized (5” x 7”) rookie cards courtesy of Upper Deck, and they will be available one per person on a first-come, first-serve basis. No personal items will be allowed for signing purposes.

A special 10-card Upper Deck set has been created as a show exclusive that will be available through a wrapper redemption program. Collectors who buy five packs of any current Upper Deck or Fleer hockey product (except 2008-09 Victory) will receive their choice of any three-card “show” pack. If a collector opens a full box of any current Upper Deck or Fleer hockey product containing 24 or more packs they will receive all three three-card packs, plus a special Montreal Canadiens’ Commemorative Centennial card to round out the unique collection.

The checklist, which boasts past and present Montreal standouts, as well as league superstars, is shown below:

MTL # 1 = Alex Kovalev (Canadiens);
MTL # 2 = Alexander Ovechkin (Capitals);
MTL # 3 = Carey Price (Canadiens);
MTL # 4 = Guy LaFleur (Canadiens);
MTL # 5 = Larry Robinson (Canadiens);
MTL # 6 = Jarome Iginla (Flames);
MTL # 7 = Patrick Roy (Canadiens);
MTL # 8 = Sidney Crosby (Penguins);
MTL # 9 = Saku Koivu (Canadiens);
MTL # 10 = Montreal Canadiens Centennial Commemorative card

Additionally, Upper Deck will have a P-card station set up where hockey fans can get photographed and get their own NHL All-Star hockey card made. Upper Deck will also have a “Slap Shot” game open to kids where they are just a slap shot away from winning great prizes. A special trading card zone will be set up as well to allow collectors to trade with other hockey enthusiasts. Free sample packs touting “Upper Deck U” – the company’s new virtual world and online trading card game debuting next month – will also be handed out at the booth. These activities are free to fans in attendance. And last, but certainly not least, “Coach Cardman,” Upper Deck’s popular company mascot, will be in attendance handing out free trading cards and posing for pictures.