Upper Deck Launches NHL Rookie Debut Jersey Program
Upper Deck has hammered out an agreement with the NHL to acquire full game-worn jerseys from rookie players’ debut games and use swatches from them in cards.
The first Debut Rookie Jersey cards will be included as part of the 2025-26 Upper Deck Extended Series (due for release in the summer).
“We’re always working to create fresh, exciting, and premium collecting experiences. The introduction of our Debut Game Jersey Program will allow collectors to connect even further with their favorite players and teams – all in an incredibly approachable and accessible way,” Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck, said in a press release. “With an exceptional NHL rookie class coming in this season, not only will we capture theirs and future classes’ debut moments on the ice for fans and collectors to hold onto for years to come, but we will take their entire debut jerseys and insert them across several distinct trading card designs.”
Unlike Topps, which has introduced a successful Rookie Debut Patch in a variety of sports, Upper Deck is acquiring full jerseys. With more material to use, each Debut Jersey Card will have three versions:
- Debut Game Jersey
- Debut Game Jersey Autographs
- Debut Game Jersey Auto Black Variations
The autographed versions will be numbered to match a player’s jersey number, while the Black Variations are 1/1s and have prime patches or fight strap tags.
Among the players in the collection are Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Beckett Sennecke, Brady Martin, Isaac Howard, Sam Dickinson, and Easton Cowan.
The cards include a photo-matched image of the player from their NHL debut game, the date of their debut, and a certificate of authenticity from Upper Deck.
