How to Collect Hockey Cards

The NHL, like all professional sports leagues, has its share of passionate collectors seeking hockey cards and other cherished items, both to trade and sell. Fans who collect cards often develop a greater connection to the game of hockey, a better understanding of the players and a true loyalty to the sport.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Plastic or magnetic card sleeves

1. Collect the cards of NHL teams and players you support. While there are dozens of strategies to sports card collecting, the most important is to enjoy the collection process.
2. Start a rookie card collection. Rookie cards are the first cards released for new players, and while they are reasonably priced at first, they grow in value (and cost) as the player improves and develops his potential. You'll have to wait a while, but your collection could become quite a commodity over time.
3. Look for Upper Deck hockey cards if you are searching post-2004. As of the 2005-06 season, Upper Deck is the only manufacturer officially licensed by the NHL. If you collect older cards, you'll find additional brands, like Topps, Pacific and Be A Player (now called In the Game). Visit Upper Deck's website to find updated trading cards, new releases and series checklists to help you organize your cards (see Resources below).
4. Meet with your local collectible dealer to buy trading cards, develop a wishlist, and get his input about rounding out your collection. If you can't find a dealer locally, visit Sportlots Trading Cards to browse through millions of trading cards up for auction by independent dealers (see Resources below).
5. Subscribe to "Beckett Hockey Magazine," a comprehensive pricing magazine for NHL collectors (see Resources below). Released six times a year, Beckett's includes lists of "hot cards," from reader and editorial perspectives, along with current price lists for NHL cards.
6. Purchase plastic or magnetic sleeves to protect your collection. You can find a variety of trading card protection options at Bags Unlimited (see Resources below).
7. Search for memorabilia cards of your favorite players. These cards, which include an insert with a small piece of a jersey or hockey stick belonging to the player, are bound to be the crown jewels in your collection. These rare designs are found in several product lines, such as used In the Game cards, Be a Player Ultimate Memorabilia cards, and Private Stock Reserve cards.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect hockey cards with a child, parent or other relative in a joint effort. You may even create an heirloom card collection designed to pass on your love for hockey to future generations.
• Avoid shoving your collection in a shoebox or other container. Protect your investment with acid-free products designed to maintain card integrity and show off your collection.