What You Should Know About Hockey Card Group Breaks

Rocco Panetta
Jun 12, 2023
7 min read

Updated: Jun 22, 2023

How Hobby Enthusiasts are Hunting their Next Favourite Collectibles

There are many ways to add more hockey cards to your collection, but one that has been soaring in popularity, especially in the past few years have been group breaks, and for good reason. They are generally more affordable buying sealed packs and boxes at full cost, especially if you're only hunting certain cards, teams, or players. In my experiences running breaks over the past year, I was always happy to see new faces in the room talking about cards. However, I would always have a few people who always had the same question: what's a group break?

And trust me, it's a very valid question. if you're new to the hobby or unfamiliar with how they work, you could easily watch a live stream without having a clue about what's going on. Everyone starts somewhere, myself included. Consider this your primer to becoming a group break expert. Whether you want to expand your collection or you're looking for a different form of entertainment, these tips and pieces of advice will help you understand what's going on so you can confidently take in the excitement of it all, and maybe even make some new friends along the way.

The Basics

It's no secret that being involved in the hobby can be quite expensive, especially for those who love the feeling of opening a new box and the freshly sealed packs inside. Even a hobby box of a lower-end product like the recently released 'Upper Deck Extended Series' can cost you around $120-$140. Whether you are looking for new additions to their collection, or a valuable card that you can sell for top dollar, buying and opening sealed product can drain your wallet more quickly than you think. Group breaks solve this issue by dividing the total cost of these boxes, which allows several people chances to go home with some cards without having to break the bank.

Prices for each break spot will vary depending on the products involved and the way teams are assigned. If there are more boxes or more higher-end products being ripped open, such as 'The Cup' or 'Premier', the price per spot will be higher, but so will the potential to land a valuable card. Collectors will always hunt highly desired legend autographs or rare rookie cards. It's also important to use common sense if you're looking to get in on the action. If there is $100 worth of product being opened and the buy-in price is $10 with 32 total spots, it's most likely not a worthwhile deal.

Once every spot is claimed and paid for, a breaker, who has the boxes in hand, will open them on video for everyone to see, and cards, often called hits, are awarded to whoever has been assigned the corresponding teams or players. It can get a bit complicated when players from defunct teams, such as the old Winnipeg Jets or Kansas City Scouts, get pulled from packs. A good breaker will always have their own consistent house rules to resolve these conflicts, though they may be slightly different depending on who makes the call. When it comes to break formats, team random and pick your team breaks are the most popular, but there are also other ways to make things interesting. One of my personal favourites is player name initial breaks, where instead of assigning teams, breakers assign the first letter of players' last names.

Rooting for your Squad

Pick your team group breaks, which are often referred to as PYT, are popular among collectors who cheer for or collect a certain team. When you buy into them, you go in knowing which team(s) you own and their players that you are looking for. Depending on the products being opened, some teams and cards will be more sought after than others, which is also reflected in the price. For example, there is a good chance you will have to pay a premium for the Minnesota Wild if a breaker is opening products from the 2020-21 season because Kirill Kaprizov is widely regarded as the best rookie in this class, making his cards more valuable. With these high-end teams, the risk is higher, but so is the potential to land some major value.

At the same time, teams with weaker rookie classes, or less cards in general, usually go for much cheaper than the average cost per spot. The Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers, who haven't developed top-end talent in the past few years (sorry, fans), come to mind as teams with lower ceilings in terms of cards to chase. However, if you like these teams or their players, these breaks are great opportunities to take advantage of some deals and build up your hockey card collection.

For Those Feeling Lucky

Team random breaks are also a simple concept. Everyone pays the same, flat price to enter a break and teams are assigned right before the breaker opens the boxes packs. It adds an element of mystery and anticipation that PYT breaks don't offer. It also means that a team like the Minnesota Wild can be assigned for the same price as the Calgary Flames, which can be a double-edged sword, depending on which teams you're given. There are a few different ways where they can be randomly assigned, but the most common involves everyone claiming a numbered spot before their names are randomized, along with the teams, using a randomizer.

The format is a favourite for those who like to take a bit of a gamble and test their luck. It's a chance to grab a good team, and hopefully some of their more valuable cards, at a cheaper price than buying them straight up in a pick your team break. If you're given a team that you may not have wanted, most breakers open the floor to trades before ripping packs open. This adds another element of strategy, but most importantly, an extra chance to get your team in a break, if you're able to find the right trade partner.

Keep These in Mind

When joining a break, there's naturally a level of trust that you're putting into a breaker. After all, they're the ones handling your cards, and it's on them to ship your hits to you ASAP, after the break. There are many breakers out there who have great reputations and create positive experiences for every type of collector. At the same time, there are unfortunately some who abuse this authority. The most common issues involve those who take an unreasonable amount of time to ship out cards, if they even do so at all. Other times, it involves transparency. It is not difficult for them to hide valuable cards or packs from the screen and keep them for themselves. Thankfully, the hobby as a whole is a supportive community who does their best to hold these dishonest breakers accountable. It's up to you to do your research on a breaker before you join their group breaks. Always look for reviews, testimonials, and vouches, so that you're comfortable with who you're putting your trust into.

Another thing to remember is that having a valuable team in a break doesn't guarantee that you'll hit big with them. It is easy for people to get hung up on the teams they have or could have, especially in a team random break. I've watched breaks where team trade negotiations have gone on for 10 minutes after they've been assigned because people are always looking for the perfect win-win deal. But as I've learned from some of the best in the game, it's not about the teams you have, it's about the cards inside. Don't get too high on yourself if you're given a chance to hit a big rookie card, and don't get too low if you end up with a lower-tier squad. You never know which team will be stamped on each pack of box's hit until you open them.

Finally, if you're not sure of something, never be afraid to ask questions. If you invest your time and hard-earned money into a break, you should know exactly what you're getting into without any doubts. No one should ever make you feel bad for not being sure of something, especially if you're still learning about the process. Everyone wants the hobby to grow, and one of the best ways to do it is to make all collectors feel welcome, which is a great way of building up good vibes in the community. When everyone is on the same page, it improves the overall atmosphere.

Most Importantly, Have Fun with It

Group breaks are like any other game of chance: when you hit big, it's a satisfying, rewarding feeling, but it's also crucial to keep in mind that nothing is guaranteed. It would be ideal if everyone involved in a group break is able to succeed, but this is often not the case. To minimize your chances of being let down, keep your expectations in check. Set a budget for yourself and make sure to only spend an amount that is comfortable for you. I've seen it many times where one person buys a fraction of the spots in a break hoping to play the odds and hit big, only for the most valuable card to go to someone who bought one or two spots. As you could imagine, there are some people who are happier than others after the last pack is opened.

Watching or joining a group break is an excellent way to connect with people who share similar interests. I have spent a lot of time on both sides of these breaks, and I'm happy to have met great people along the way who share the same passion for the game and their teams. It's like what your coaches told you when you were a kid: go out there, have fun and enjoy yourself. If you're mindful of the setting you're in, along with how much time and energy you're investing, you'll more than likely be happy that you took part in the action.