Upper Deck Readies Priority Signings Cards

The first autograph card of 2009 No. 1 draft pick John Tavares will be part of ‘Priority Signings’ Lineup at the NHL Fall Expo.

Hockey fans and collectors from across the globe will descend upon the Toronto International Centre on November 13, 14 and 15 to take part in the annual NHL Fall Expo, one of the industry’s largest hockey-focused collectibles show.

One of the attractions will be Upper Deck's annual "Priority Signings" wrapper redemption promotion.

Collectors who open one sealed box of either Upper Deck’s 2009-10 NHL Artifacts or Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey product at the Upper Deck booth will receive an exclusive 2009 “Priority Signings” autograph card.

A total of 35 different NHL players, past and present, comprise Upper Deck’s 2009 “Priority Signings” autograph card list. Some of the biggest names in the game are part of the autograph redemption card lineup including legends like Phil Esposito, Gordie Howe, Frank Mahovlich, Mark Messier, Bobby Orr, Steve Yzerman and Wayne Gretzky, as well as up-and-comers like Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltender Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson and 2009 No. 1 overall draft pick John Tavares of the New York Islanders. All of the redemption cards will be hand-numbered. Some of the more sought-after cards will no doubt include Howe’s and Gretzky’s (both numbered to 9) and the industry’s first autographed card of Tavares, which is numbered to 25. Other notables on the “Priority Signings” list include Martin Brodeur, Henrik Zetterberg, Patrick Roy, Marc-Andre Fleury, Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby.

There will be a limit of one redemption card per person, per day, while supplies last. All card packs must be opened at the Upper Deck booth in front of a company representative.

Friday, Nov. 13 – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14 – 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 15 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Collectors cherish autograph cards, especially hand-numbered versions, so that’s why our ‘Priority Signings’ program continues to resonate with hockey fans at this show,” said Karvin Cheung, Upper Deck’s senior product manager.

Upper Deck’s 2009-10 Series One Hockey launch hits store shelves this week.