Upper Deck is launching a new trading card program using game-used jerseys worn during the rookie debuts of key NHL players, the company announced Thursday.
Created in collaboration with the NHL and NHLPA, Upper Deck will collect full jerseys worn by top rookies during their NHL debuts to create cards featuring the memorabilia.
According to Upper Deck, the jerseys will feature three different designs, paying homage to the brand’s famous 1996-97 UD Game Jersey inserts, which are best known as the first trading cards to feature game-used jerseys.
The first cards from the program will be released as part of the 2025-26 Upper Deck Hockey Extended Series set, which is scheduled to release later this 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,” Upper Deck president Jason Masherah said in a statement.
“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.”
Upper Deck has already collected a number of jerseys for the program, including debut gamers from No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, plus Michael Misa, Beckett Sennecke, Brady Martin, Isaac Howard, Easton Cowan and more.
Each Debut Game Jersey card will feature a photo-matched image of the player from their NHL debut as well as a piece of the jersey worn during it.
Additional variations include cards serial-numbered to the player’s jersey as well as a Debut Game Jersey Auto Black Variation 1/1 using the tags from the jersey.
Upper Deck’s new program is the latest for the card industry’s push to feature more game-used memorabilia attached to specific moments.
Topps launched its Rookie Debut Patch program in 2023 with special patches created for and worn only during a player’s Major League Baseball debut. Those cards have since become the most coveted for each player.
Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes’ RDPA sold for a record $1.1 million at Fanatics Collect in March 2025.
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Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the collectibles editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.