Upper Deck announces exclusive licensing deal with Professional Women’s Hockey League
Upper Deck, the renowned Californian trading card company, has announced a licensing deal with ice hockey’s newly launched Professional Women’s Hockey League.
This partnership positions Upper Deck as the first exclusive licensed producer of both physical and digital trading cards for the PWHL.
As part of the agreement, Upper Deck has released a free digital trading card set on the e-Pack online service to commemorate the partnership and celebrate International Women’s Day.
“This collaboration represents a shared commitment to advancing hockey and providing opportunities for all athletes to excel on and off the ice,” said McKenzie Young, marketing lead at Upper Deck.
“We’re enthusiastic about championing the growth of women’s hockey and inspiring the next generation of both athletes and collectors.”
No better time to start collecting cards than right now 🤝
To celebrate our new partnership and International Women’s Day, Upper Deck has released a fully accessible, free digital trading card set for fans to kick-start their collection, featuring six PWHL players.
📰… pic.twitter.com/2RSuOCssL0— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) March 7, 2024
Amy Scheer, senior vice president of business operations for the PWHL, echoed Young’s sentiments, stating, “Upper Deck’s unparalleled expertise in sports collectibles makes them an ideal partner as we continue to build our community. Together, we will elevate the visibility of the PWHL, inspiring fans around the world to embrace the passion of our game and connect with stars of our league.”
Upper Deck also holds a long-term trading card licensing agreement with the men’s NHL.
The PWHL’s inaugural regular season, which commenced on January 1, features a total of 72 games running through May 5, followed by the playoffs. The league consists of three teams in the United States – Boston, Minnesota and New York – and three teams in Canada – Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa.
The PWHL has secured several notable commercial partnerships, including collaborations with regional airline Air Canada, renowned equipment manufacturer CCM Hockey and the Canadian Tire Corporation.
The league has already made history by setting an attendance record for a professional women’s hockey match, drawing an impressive crowd of 8,318 at the opener between Ottawa and Montreal at The Arena at TD Place, a mark that was smashed by the February 17 clash between Toronto and Montreal when 19,285 fans turned out at Scotiabank Arena, the biggest crowd of all time for any women’s hockey game (including internationals).
Brandt had a NIGHT in Boston!
Her OT winner and second goal of the game sealed the deal. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/XXzrA6D6Ij
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) March 10, 2024
