One of the hotbeds of card collecting over the weekend was… Regina, Saskatchewan.
Hours before the NHL’s Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames, Upper Deck and Classic host Tim Hortons held a big event designed for those who are collecting the 2019 Tim Hortons hockey cards. It’s safe to say that what was billed as “Canada’s largest trading event” was a hit.
Trading Day at the #NHL @TimHortons #HeritageClassic is underway! Look at all these collectors excited to finish off their Tim Hortons trading card sets today! #Collect pic.twitter.com/y6i8MYSYYk
— Upper Deck (@UpperDeckSports) October 26, 2019
The annual Tim Hortons promotion (packs are sold only at the coffee and donuts chain north of the border) has become to Canada what World Cup stickers are in Europe. Millions of packs are sold from coast-to-coast and trading nights are held at restaurants across the country. This year’s promotion started about a month ago and some locations have already sold out of packs.
My friend that works at tim Hortons just told me someone went through the drive thru and bought 146 packs of hockey cards ????? wtf I am dying that’s like $330
— ♡S̟hel♡??♈️? (@vannykills92) October 25, 2019
Nothing says “It’s a happening Friday night in Canada” than the boys trading hockey cards at @TimHortons #HockeyCardTradeNights #WhalersProud pic.twitter.com/T195WDTJlF
— Beth MacMulllin (@BethyMac76) October 25, 2019
Young and adult collectors came out Mosaic Stadium (home of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders) on Saturday to swap cards and pick up packs of the annual set produced by Upper Deck.
Hockey Card Trade Day has begun at the Tim Hortons @NHL #HeritageClassic weekend in Regina! pic.twitter.com/rrKflZKJOx
— Tim Hortons (@TimHortons) October 26, 2019
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Even the general managers for the Flames and Jets did a little swapping.
How do most @NHL GM’s make trades? Over some @TimHortons coffee and with some Upper Deck hockey cards! We have some MAJOR trades happening right before the #HeritageClassic today! pic.twitter.com/qgJC5fvRjF
— Upper Deck (@UpperDeckSports) October 26, 2019
Global News dropped in on the trading card swap session and talked to fans who had driven hours across the prairie to see the game.
Upper Deck also had a “make your own card” booth that drew a big crowd (some more into it than others).
We have a strong candidate for cutest card of the day here at the #HeritageClassic! This young gun fell asleep on dad while waiting in line to get his card made. Dad was able to pose him just right so he will have a fun memory of the day. When he wakes up. pic.twitter.com/Ny2VSPxBxt
— Upper Deck (@UpperDeckSports) October 26, 2019