Saturday, April 13 marks the 15th anniversary of National Hockey Card Day (#NHCD). Founded in 2009 by Upper Deck, it promises to be the most popular National Hockey Card Day in the holiday’s decade-and-a-half history. 2024 seems to hold special significance, especially with all the excitement surrounding the release of Connor Bedard’s Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie Card earlier in the year.
Bedard fans, you’re in luck because this year’s National Hockey Card Day special from Upper Deck includes three new Bedard trading cards, two of which will be included in a free National Hockey Card Day pack (one five cards per customer pack), and another Rookie Moments card is available with a $10 purchase of Upper Deck products (while supplies last).
Paul Nguyen, Upper Deck’s senior marketing manager, talked about how special the 30-card set is for National Hockey Card Day, “It’s a really great way for first-time collectors to get into the hobby, and it’s free. At Upper Deck, we’re expecting the 2024 edition of National Hockey Card Day to be the biggest event ever and much of the hype can be attributed to the popularity of Conor Bedard.
Bedard, McDavid, Gretzky and Ovechkin are some of the cards available.
Bedard is one of 30 rookies, veterans and legends featured in the 2024 National Hockey Card Day set, which also includes legendary names such as Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, and more.
Hockey fans and hockey card enthusiasts worldwide can visit most participating hobby shops to receive a free pack and get a complete set. Canadian fans can also visit select retailers for exclusive, free nine-card sheets of exclusive NHL trading cards.
Hockey card shops are gearing up for a busy day on April 13.
Vans Sports Cards and Collectibles in Edmonton’s West End is one of the many hockey card shops participating in National Hockey Card Day. For owner Wayne Wagner, National Hockey Card Day is like Christmas, “National Hockey Card Day is a very special day for our customers and staff,” Wagner said. Last year we had people lined up outside our store at 6:30 a.m., and when we opened our doors for National Hockey Card Day, there were about 400 people in line. Last year in total, we had about 1,200 people come through our doors and this year, we’re expecting a crowd as large or even larger to visit the shop. We even have a family from the Northwest Territories come especially for the event.
National Hockey Card Day – A great step forward for young collectors
The exclusive 30-card set is a great way for first-time collectors to not only collect cards from their favorite players, but a very solid way to start and complete a set. There’s a certain satisfaction you get when you complete a set, and Upper Deck gives collectors young and old the chance to experience the feeling of getting the ultimate card. I remember that feeling well. In 1975-76 I was missing Harold Snepts to complete my 396 O’Pee-Chee set, and the day I got his card was as good as the day I got Bobby Orr, Bernie Parent and Ken Dryden. Opened a pack containing That’s part of the magic of collecting.
Upper Deck has a great page on their website where you can find out which retailers in your area are participating. Plan to visit as many stores in your area as possible, where you should be able to get a free NHCD pack, while supplies last.
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Don’t miss Upper Deck’s 15th Annual National Hockey Card Day on Saturday, April 13. As the hobby continues to grow, it will no doubt be a very special day for anyone who loves to collect hockey cards.
