5 Quick Points for Hockey Card Collectors - 21-22 Upper Deck Ice

What Stands Out from the Return of a Familiar Set

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Like many other hockey card sets, Ice's release was pushed back, time and time again, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There hasn't been a release since the 2019-20 season, with many wondering if Upper Deck even had plans to bring it back. Thankfully, your patience has finally paid off, and after skipping a season, Ice has returned with its 21-22 edition, giving collectors a chance to hunt some familiar subsets for a new rookie class.

Now that we're finally able to re-connect with it, some of you might want to buy a box or a few packs of Ice for yourself. Before you do, here are 5 things to know about 21-22 Upper Deck Ice that will help give you a better idea of what the slick set has to offer.

Breaking it Down

Not only is Ice finally back, but they've also made some changes along they way. For those of you expecting it to be the same 5-pack box it was in 19-20, you may be surprised to learn that they've expanded it to have 12 packs with 6 cards in each. Among the usual mix of inserts and parallels, each box contains its own box hit, which could be a 'Frozen in Time' card, memorabilia card, or if you're lucky enough, an hard-signed autograph.

You may also find cards from Upper Deck's popular 'Exquisite' set, which are always popular for high-end collectors. With popular rookies such as Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield, and Moritz Seider on the checklist, definitely be on the lookout for their autograph and patch-autograph cards.

Eye Candy

Ice has always been known for its flashy inserts and colourful parallels, especially with their sharp acetate cards, and this year is no different. The popular 'Ice Premieres' set now features different coloured parallels, each with its own unique serial number with some having lower print runs than others. The elusive black 1/1 cards can also be found in hobby boxes.

'Subzero' and the new 'Ice Crystals' cards also have their own parallels, but with less colours to chase. You'll find a few of their main ones in each box, which are stunning to look at on their own, but you may also snag some rarer cards if you find the right box.

More to Rip

One new insert that has been an attention-grabber is the 'Frozen in Ice' subset, featuring rip-cards that contain mini 'Ice Premieres' acetate rookie cards inside of them when you rip the opening on the back, hence the name. This gimmick isn't a new one, but it's definitely not something you get to experience in every set. Both the main cards and the smaller ones they hold have serial-numbered parallels as well. Whether you think it's worth it to tear open a

card to see what's inside is up to you.

Some (Somewhat) Good News for 2020-21 Rookie Collectors

You may have been wondering what would happen to big-name rookie cards from the class that got skipped over the year before. After all, Upper Deck delayed its release multiple times before ultimately scrapping it. Luckily for you, each box comes with a bonus pack of 20-21 Ice cards from this 'lost' set. Unfortantely, your chances of finding rookie autographs of players like Kirill Kaprizov and Dylan Cozens are extremely slim. The rookie checklist is a very small one with many big names missing, and the ones that made the cut only have 11 total patch-auto cards each to chase. You can still find their 'Ice Premieres' cards in these bonus packs, but the top ones are rarer, making them harder to find.

The Sky's the Limit, but Also Hard to Reach

Collectors love Ice because it's a mid-end product with a high ceiling in terms of getting your money's worth, with most hobby shops charging around $170 (Canadian) for a box. There's definitely potential for you to find a very valuable card or two, but it's hard to find the big names. Don't be surprised if you pull an autograph of someone who hasn't played in the big leagues yet, and maybe never will. Like with any product, you're always taking a risk when you buy a box or a pack. Either way, if you fully know what you're getting yourself into, you should have no problem successfully adding some more shine and shimmer to your collection.

Want to see some more cards from the new Ice set? Check out the Puckdrop Cards & Breaks Facebook Group