Grading Chip Adds Another Layer of Authentication for Rookie Auto Patch Cards in 2024-25 The Cup
Upper Deck has been at the forefront of innovation for years when it comes to authenticity. One of the most recent examples is the introduction of an industry-first trading card authentication for highly coveted Rookie Auto Patch cards. First unveiled in 2025 as part of the release of Upper Deck’s 2023-24 The Cup hockey trading card set, the feature allows collectors to verify their Rookie Auto Patch cards are authentic, uncirculated, and have not been tampered with via patch swapping. Each card is slabbed, photographed, and serial numbered with a QR code, which displays a gallery of images from multiple angles that depict the card as it was originally issued by Upper Deck.
Now, another advancement in technology is accompanying Upper Deck’s 2024-25 The Cup Hockey. Dynamics Inc. (creators of The Authority
) today announced the launch of the Grading Chip, the world’s first and only grading label that can be permanently and ultrasonically sealed into an encapsulated collectible case or “slab.” For the first time, an encapsulated trading card can be purchased and then graded without requiring the case to be broken and the card re-encapsulated.
Each tin of 2024-25 Upper Deck The Cup Hockey includes one Rookie Auto Patch trading card encapsulated in an Authority slab with an uncirculated designation, as the trading cards were slabbed as a part of the manufacturing process prior to being available for the public to purchase.
To celebrate the introduction of ‘Grading Chip, collectors who submit any slabbed uncirculated Rookie Auto Patch from 2023-24 or 2024-25 Upper Deck The Cup to The Authority can have their card graded with Grading Chip at no cost. The Authority does not charge for submission or vaulting of Authority Slabs, so a collector can submit, vault, and grade Authority uncirculated slabbed The Cup cards at no charge. This offer is not perpetual and will expire on December 31, 2026.
Visit TheAuthority.com to learn more about the Grading Chip.
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Categories: Upperdeck Tags: 202425, adds, Another, Authentication, AUTO, Cards, Chip, Grading, Layer, Patch, rookie
UPPER DECK INKS LONG-TERM EXTENSION WITH HOCKEY CANADA AHEAD OF A NEW ERA OF INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY
Continuation of the decade-plus collaboration will allow the company to continue curating collectibles for the national teams of Canada’s beloved pastime
Carlsbad, CA (December 2, 2025) – Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is extending its licensing agreement with one of hockey’s most decorated national programs, Hockey Canada. Upper Deck and Hockey Canada have been working together for more than ten years, first collaborating in 2012, and this long-term licensing and sponsorship deal will continue to allow Upper Deck to develop trading cards and other unique collectibles that honor the history of Canada’s legacy in hockey and capture fans’ passion for their superstars and teams for years to come.
“Hockey Canada has a prolific history – revolutionizing hockey and developing individual athletes and teams that changed the game,” said Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck. “We love being able to take that and infuse it into trading cards and memorabilia, especially with the world’s largest international competition right around the corner.”
Upper Deck continues to deliver ways for fans to engage with their favorite Canadian players, including new physical and digital trading cards. Slated for early next year, 2026 Upper Deck Team Canada will include autographs from active stars and retired Team Canada legends. Collectors can also be on the lookout for future ‘Game Dated Moments’ cards available exclusively on the Upper Deck e-PackTM platform. These print-on-demand trading cards highlight key moments from events such as the World Junior Championship.
In addition to trading cards, Hockey Canada fans can add to their memorabilia collections with a variety of Upper Deck Authenticated autographed jerseys and pucks, as well as signature pieces including The Show and Breaking Through. Collections from Upper Deck exclusive spokespeople Connor McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, and Bobby Orr, exclusive athletes Matthew Schaefer, Nick Suzuki and Sarah Fillier, and other Hockey Canada players and alumni are available at UpperDeckStore.com.
“We are excited to continue our great partnership with Upper Deck to highlight and celebrate the tremendous athletes who wear the Maple Leaf and represent our country with pride,” said Dean McIntosh, Senior Vice-President of Revenue, Fan Experience and Community Impact for Hockey Canada. “For collectors and hockey fans across Canada and around the world, we look forward to connecting them with their favorite players and moments through the Hockey Canada trading cards and memorabilia collections, and creating lifelong memories for them in the years to come.”
Collectors can find Hockey Canada trading cards and memorabilia at Upper Deck’s Certified Diamond Dealer hobby shops and online. For more information on upcoming products, please visit UpperDeck.com.
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About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is a global entertainment company creating trading cards, memorabilia, collectibles, games, and online platforms that deliver the experiences collectors crave. Upper Deck has set the unmatched industry standard for quality, authenticity, and innovation and continues to bring generations of fans closer to their favorite athletes and characters with unique and authentic sports and entertainment product offerings, as well as its digital trading ecosystem. The company prides itself on creating collectibles that produce invaluable experiences for sports and entertainment’s most dedicated and loyal fans, with a goal to deliver excellence to the community across the most coveted properties as a means to develop memorable moments for collectors of all kinds.
Find more information at http://www.upperdeck.com, www.UpperDeckBlog.com or follow us on Facebook (/UpperDeck), Instagram (UpperDeckSports), Twitter (UpperDeckSports), and YouTube (UDvids).
Media Contact:
Matt Burkey, matt@carvecomms.com
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Categories: Upperdeck Tags: Ahead, Canada, Deck, Extension, Hockey, Inks, International, LongTerm, Upper
House Focus – King’s Landing
Dive into the land of Westeros with the brand new, fully PVP centered game, Legendary®: Game of Thrones. You can now play and control one of 4 houses as you out-think, out-move, and out-fight your enemies to be the winner of Legendary®: Game of Thrones and take the Iron Throne.
King’s Landing Deck
King’s Landing carries with it the full might of the Crown and the Court of King Robert Baratheon. Great knights, powerful royal guards, and the best minds in court all gather here to ensure the continuation of the Throne and end of its foes. We are going to break down all the cards that can be built into this deck: Defenders, Heroes, Allies & Henchmen, and Masterminds.
Defenders
Defenders are a new card type for Legendary: Game of Thrones, every House has them, and they protect your own Masterminds from your enemies. Each player begins with a stack of 5 Defenders with two face down, or inactive and the status of these Defenders will change wildly during gameplay.
Heroes
The core of Legendary® is about its heroes, and Legendary®: Game of Thrones is no different. Here you represent one of the powerful Houses of Westeros, like the Starks of Winterfell. You can build your deck by generating Recruit points to purchase powerful cards representing iconic characters like Eddard Stark, Arya, and others from the Kingdom of the North. Like previous Legendary products, there are 5 different classes; Strength (green), Instinct (yellow), Covert (red), Strategy (black), and Skill (blue). Paying attention to these classes can help you create powerful combos and interactions that can help you seize victory. King’s Landing focuses on collecting powerful heroes from Ser Arthur Dwayne has 7 damage and when played can have both the Skilled class, as well as a class of your choice which could set up strong combos. Council Powers can be discarded to gain ANY hero from any Hero Lineup with a cost of 8 or less, allowing you to steal a very strong hero and turn the tide against the other players.
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Allies and Henchmen
For Legendary®: Game of Thrones villains are instead called Allies as they aid you. You may support your own Allies for victory points and advancing them further or defeat other House’s Allies for victory points and gaining their cards Fight effect. How you use your Allies to maintain the field of battle is crucial to your plans for victory!
Masterminds
In Legendary®: Game of Thrones, the Masterminds are the heart of your House, and the battle concludes when all Masterminds have been defeated from a single player, or six in total from across the game. Each House has five Masterminds with strong master strike effects that can swing the fight to your favor. King Robert Baratheon starts with a mighty 12 damage but don’t play strategy cards or he loses power. His Masterstrike grants 1 victory points for each card that has the class of your choice between Strength and Instinct potentially granting you a huge boost in points. His Fight effect for being defeated is the King’s Landing House gains a wound so losing may cause issues moving forward besides losing a Mastermind. Varys, Master of Whispers has the Elusive 8 trait that protects him unless you’ve collected 8 recruit points. His Masterstrike forces other houses to discard non-grey Heroes that provide recruit points robbing your players of growing their deck that hand. The Fight effect for defeating him allows the winner to draw 3 cards and discard two giving a stronger hand for defeating him.
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What are some King’s Landing cards you are looking forward to playing? What schemes do you use when playing? Let us know how you experience the decadent King and his Empire in the Legendary Game of Thrones card game.
For details on more cards, more houses and more exciting Legendary®: Game of Thrones details make sure to check out the Upper Deck social media on all social media as @upperdeckent or upperdeck.com/legendary-got.
Ours is the fury!
© 2025 The Upper Deck Company. GAME OF THRONES and all related characters and elements © & TM Home Box Office, INC. (s25).
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