Break out your hockey sweaters and prepare for an exhilarating ride, folks—SP Game Used Hockey has rolled back onto the ice rink for its 25th year, retaining its title as the undisputed champion of memorabilia-based hockey cards. Although Upper Deck’s past attempts to make SP Game Used a household name in baseball, football, and basketball fleeted away like a rookie on thin ice, the hockey fans have embraced the brand’s thrilling allure for a quarter of a century.
This milestone year isn’t just about skating on past victories, though. The latest chase to make collectors’ hearts race centers around cards adorned with relics from the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off, an epic battle held in February 2025 that saw the mighty USA, Canada, Finland, and Sweden clash on the ice—a collector’s treat that stokes the flames of international rivalries and elevates the joy of pulling such cards to an epic level.
Don’t think you can just waltz onto the ice and grab these treasures easily. Standing like stalwart goalie guards in front of these treasures, each hobby box tempts collectors with a single, precisely nine-card pack. It’s like a perfectly executed power play, offering collectors an irresistible medley that includes:
Four hits—autographs, memorabilia, autographed memorabilia, or premium inserts—you know, the stuff that makes collectors swoon.
Three base cards, possibly batting Authentic Rookies, or the snazzy New Grooves inserts ready to jostle for attention.
And not to be outdone, two parallels of base cards, Authentic Rookies, or New Grooves, adding that much-needed sparkle.
Cracking open the checklist, we find ourselves staring at the stalwart 200-card base set; a meaty roster packed with glittering current NHL stars, revered retired legends, and Authentic Rookies prepped to snatch the spotlight (and your wallet, if luck permits).
Parallel seekers will eagerly be on their quest for these shiny baubles:
Red parallels aren’t numbered—because they don’t need to be to look fabulous.
Gold parallels, with a slick /149 numbering, glint with allure.
Rainbows, meticulously serial-numbered matching the player’s jersey, make the hunt—a game within a game, if you will—a delightful challenge.
Purples, numbered /5, will send hearts skittering with intrigue.
And the Holy Grail of them all, the Green 1/1 parallels that are rarer than a unicorn sighting on a hockey rink.
And, of course, the suite of autographed and relic parallels will keep collectors’ binders stuffed and their wallets just a tad lighter.
As “SP Game Used” directly suggests, it’s the relics that truly skate into the spotlight. Upper Deck spared no effort in acquiring game-used gear from standard NHL tussles, electrifying Stanley Cup playoffs, the cosmopolitan NHL Global Series, the celebrated Stadium Series, and the iconic Winter Classic—not to mention the brand-spanking-new 4 Nations Face-Off. A veritable treasure trove of memorabilia!
Collectors eager for relics to complete their hoards will chase after sets such as:
Rookie Sweaters (/299), as cozy as they are collectible.
Troupe Threads (/199), rallying a delightful vibe.
Game Day Gear (/100), that packs in the thrill of the moment.
Rookie Jumbo Patches (/25), because no patch is too big when it comes to rookie gear.
Supreme Materials (/15) and their super-sized counterparts, Supreme Patches (/15)—this year featuring those coveted relics from the 4 Nations tournament. More patch? Absolutely.
Let’s not forget the fan favorites making a roaring return. Puck Relics flaunt pieces of game-used pucks, while Net Cord cards provide pieces of history from pivotal NHL debuts and milestone games, capturing memories worth keeping.
Draft Day Marks make a comeback as well, showcasing manufactured letter patches autographed by rising rookies. Spell out an entire player’s name letter by letter? That’s collecting’s holy grail right there.
Inked brilliance comes in Pillars of Paper with the popular Inked Rookie Sweaters (/99) offered in a rare Patch parallel (/25), along with veterans showcasing their prowess through tough-pull Inked Sweaters at 1:100 packs, complete with their Patch parallels (/25).
Banners sliced melodramatically from events like Draft Days, Stanley Cup Finals, and Winter Classics are back, with fancy autographed versions if you fancy something special.
Keeping collectors more than busy, the ultra-cool inserts strut back with New Grooves, highlighting invigorating rookies alongside parallel options like:
Red /499, to keep them fiery.
Gold /149, twinkling in their sheen.
Rainbow /99, encapsulating the ethereality.
Purple /5, mysterious as ever.
A Green 1/1 surprise for the thrill-seeker.
Adding a new spin to the line-up, the numbered NHL Masters (/299) insert set debuts—offering both Jersey and Patch variations that include rookies, current stars, and all-time legends of the icy rosters.
For the curious (and strategically planning) collector, here’s the breakdown of boxes—they bear the secrets of coveted cards:
Cards per pack: A concise 9 (with one precious pack per box, a mystery awaits).
Boxes per case: 20 stalwart cases divided into two 10-box inner sanctums.
Set size: A thorough yet exhaustive plunge into 200 cards.
Release Date: January 2026 (though subject to change, a skillful deke that Upper Deck has been known for).
Inside every carefully curated Hobby Box, you’ll unearth:
Four sublime Autographs, Memorabilia Cards, or Premium Inserts
Two tantalizing Parallels
Three luminous Base, Authentic Rookies, or New Grooves inserts
Prepare to face some icy thrills and wallet chills as SP Game Used Hockey takes the rink for a breathtaking 25th anniversary, promising an epic adventure into the realm of collecting. The game has changed, the stakes have risen, and treasures await the bold.
