The name “Ultimate” comes with certain expectations. For 2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey, that means not only a heavy focus on autographs and memorabilia but showcasing them in a super-premium way. On-card ink, low serial numbers and patches are just some of the ways.
Four-card boxes have at least one autograph and one memorabilia card. A third is either an autographed memorabilia, premium relic or high-end insert.
2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey Checklist Overview
Every card in the 2022-23 Ultimate Collection base set is serial numbered. Veterans and Legends have 149 copies each plus Blue (/99), Gold (/35), Purple (/15) and Black (/5) parallels.
Select cards also get autographs (Veterans – 1:8 packs, Legends – 1:48 packs). These also have numbered parallels in Gold, Purple (/5) and Black (1/1). Scarce Jumbo Patch Auto versions max out at three copies each.
First-year players fall under the Ultimate Rookies banner. Many autographed, these have either 299 or 99 copies each, depending on the player. Jersey variations, which don’t have signatures, are numbered to 799 or 599. There are also Auto Patch (/99 or /49), Jumbo Auto Patch (/5) and Auto Shield Patch (1/1) versions.
Autographs
For those looking for more autographed patch cards, there’s Pro Threads (/49) and the rookie-centric Debut Threads (/99 or less).
More signature and memorabilia can be found in Emblems Auto Relic (1:9 packs, Rookies 1:4 packs) as well as their Gold (/49 or less) and Platinum (/10 or less) parallels. There’s also Ultimate Displays Auto Jersey, which have Patch and Tag (/6 or less) versions.
Sticks are the theme for Stick with Me (/79). Parallels come in Blue (/49) and Gold (/10).
Other autographed relic inserts include Ultimate Material Signatures, Ultimate Premium Material Signatures, Rookie Signature Premium Materials, Signature Masterpieces (1:8 packs) and Signature Materials Laureates.
The 1999-00 Ultimate Victory design is the basis for a new set of Retro Autographs (1:48 packs) and Retro Rookie Autographs (1:32). Gold versions have just 10 copies each.
Rookie Accents and Ultimate Signatures are a couple more places to grab autographs.
Memorabilia Cards
Goalies are the stars in new Ultimate Tendys. Base swatch versions are 1:24 packs while Patch (/20) and Tag (1/1) parallels are also available. Some get further upgrades with autographs.
Multi-swatch themes in 2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey land in Ulti-Mates (1:8 packs), Ultimate Power Play Combos (1:42 packs) and Ultimate Quad Materials (/99 or less). All three have Patch and Tag versions as well.
When it comes to product hits, Rookie Tandem Shield Patches (/2), Ultimate Shield Patches (1/1) and Ultimate Shield Patch Autos (1/1) rank high.
Ultimate Introductions
For more rookie content, Ultimate Introductions return. These start as standard inserts landing 1:3 packs and 1:80 for Showcase, which has the top players. Gold (/49), Black (/25) and Purple (/5) parallels kick things off.
There are also Autographs (1:4 packs, Showcase 1:96 packs) that have further Gold, Black (/10 or /5) and Purple (1/1) versions.
2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey cards at a glance:
Cards per pack: Hobby – 4
Packs per box: Hobby – 1
Boxes per case: Hobby – 16 (two 8-box inner cases)
Set size: TBA
Release date (subject to change): TBA
What to expect in a hobby box:
- Autographs – 1
- Autographed Memorabilia, Premium Memorabilia or Premium Inserts – 1 Total
- Memorabilia Cards – 1
- Base, Parallels, Ultimate Introductions or Ultimate Rookies – 1 Total
Recent Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey releases:
The full 2022-23 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Hockey checklist and team set lists will be up as soon as they’re available, likely shortly before the product’s release.