2025 Upper Deck Team Canada Juniors Hockey Set Review and Checklist
The 2025 Upper Deck Team Canada Juniors Hockey card set, released on August 6, 2025, celebrates Hockey Canada's junior programs, focusing on players from the Men's U20, Men's U18, and Women's U18 national teams. This set highlights emerging talents like Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone, and Chloe Primerano, alongside established prospects, tying into Canada's strong performance in international junior hockey, including recent World Junior Championships gold medals. With a total of 150 base cards, the set emphasizes collectibility through extensive parallels, inserts, autographs, and memorabilia hits. It is available in Hobby boxes (15 packs of 6 cards each), Blaster boxes (6 packs of 5 cards each), and ePack digital formats.
Hobby boxes average 4 hits (autographs or relics), making them appealing for chase collectors, while Blasters offer more accessible entry points with exclusive parallels like Rose Gold Foil. The set's odds favor frequent base parallels but make high-end inserts and serial-numbered cards rare, contributing to secondary market volatility. Early market data shows Hobby boxes retailing around $80 and Blasters at $18, with key rookies driving value. This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of the set's components, including card counts, variations, parallels, and per-pack/box statistics, followed by an analysis of its collectibility and market implications.
Base Set Breakdown
The base set consists of 150 cards, divided into thematic subsets to showcase different aspects of Team Canada's junior programs. Cards feature high-quality photography of players in action, with biographical details and stats on the back.
| Subset | Card Numbers | Card Count | Description | Insertion Odds (Hobby/ePack) | Insertion Odds (Blaster) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Base | #1-70 (or #1-72 in some checklists) | 70-72 | Current players from Men's U20, U18, and Women's U18 teams. | ~4 per pack (common) | ~4 per pack (common) |
| Pride of the Program | #71-100 (or #73-100) | 28-30 | Elite high-series cards highlighting standout performers across teams. | ~4 per pack (common, integrated with base) | ~4 per pack (common) |
| Program of Excellence | #101-150 | 50 | Short-printed cards honoring Hockey Canada's development pipeline athletes (e.g., past and future stars). | 1:8 packs | 1:3 packs |
- Key Players: Includes top prospects like Gavin McKenna (#1), Porter Martone (#2), Chloe Primerano (#46), and Oliver Bonk (#47). The Program of Excellence subset adds rarity, as these cards are harder to pull, appealing to completionists.
Parallels
Parallels are a cornerstone of the set's appeal, offering visual upgrades like foil, patterned foilboard, and acetate stock. The base set (#1-100) has the most extensive parallel lineup, while Program of Excellence (#101-150) has a streamlined selection. Print runs for serial-numbered parallels are limited, increasing scarcity. No print runs are disclosed for non-serial parallels, but odds suggest moderate production.
Base Set Parallels (#1-100)
| Parallel Name | Print Run/Odds (Hobby/ePack) | Odds (Blaster) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Foil | 1:1 packs | N/A | Common foil upgrade; available in Hobby/ePack only. |
| Rose Gold Foil | N/A | 1:2 packs | Blaster-exclusive; ~3 per Blaster box. |
| Patterned Foilboard | 1:10 packs | N/A | Foilboard texture; ~1-2 per Hobby box. |
| Outburst (Silver) | 1:15 packs | N/A | Shiny outburst effect; ~1 per Hobby box. |
| Purple Patterned Foilboard | 1:30 packs | N/A | Purple tint; ~0.5 per Hobby box. |
| Clear Cut (Acetate) | 1:36 packs | N/A | Transparent stock; ~0.4 per Hobby box. |
| Blue Patterned Foilboard | N/A | 1:120 packs | Blaster-exclusive; rare in retail. |
| Deluxe | /250 | N/A | Serial-numbered; random insertion. |
| Exclusives | /100 | N/A | Mid-tier scarcity. |
| Gold Patterned Foilboard | /35 | N/A | Low print run for premium collectors. |
| Outburst Red | /25 | N/A | Red variant of Outburst. |
| High Gloss | /10 | N/A | High-end shine. |
| Outburst Gold | 1/1 | N/A | Ultimate one-of-one. |
Program of Excellence Parallels (#101-150)
| Parallel Name | Print Run/Odds (Hobby/ePack) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Cut (Acetate) | 1:60 packs | Rarer than base Clear Cut. |
| Exclusives | /100 | Consistent with base. |
| High Gloss | /10 | Low-numbered. |
| Black | 1/1 | One-of-one black variant. |
- Statistics per Box: Hobby boxes yield ~15 Red Foil, ~4 Patterned/Purple Foilboard combined, and ~1 Outburst. Blaster boxes average ~3 Rose Gold and ~1 Blue Patterned. These ratios make parallels accessible yet chase-worthy, with serial-numbered ones (< /100) commanding premiums on the secondary market.
Inserts
Inserts add thematic depth, featuring special designs like Light FX, lenticular, and acetate stock. Most are Hobby/ePack-focused, with some Blaster availability. Card counts range from 15-30, and many have parallels or autos.
| Insert Name | Card Count | Description | Odds (Hobby/ePack) | Odds (Blaster) | Parallels/Autos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending Talent | 20 | Rising stars/debutants. | 1:38 packs | 1:15 packs | Red (/125), Purple (/49), Auto (/10), Black Auto (1/1). |
| Built for Success | 30 | Elite team leaders. | 1:25 packs | 1:10 packs | Red (/125), Purple (/49), Auto (/10), Black Auto (1/1). |
| Drive for Gold | 25 | Standouts with Light FX finish. | 1:40 packs | N/A | None. |
| License to Ice | 25 | Thick acetate (plexi) stock for top talents. | 1:105 packs | N/A | Red (rare, no specific odds). |
| National Phenoms | 15 | Lenticular U20 stars; case hit. | 1:180 packs | N/A | None. |
| Shine Bright | 30 | Women's U18 and Men's U20 highlights. | 1:90 packs | N/A | Red (1:180 packs). |
| Team Canada FX | 25 | Silver Light FX foil backgrounds. | 1:120 packs | N/A | None. |
- Statistics per Box: Hobby boxes guarantee ~3 from Ascending/Built/Program of Excellence combined, and ~1 from the premium inserts (Drive for Gold, etc.). Blasters yield ~1-2 Ascending or Built for Success. High-odds inserts like National Phenoms (~1 per case) are true chases, often valued at $50+ raw.
Autographs and Memorabilia
Hits are a major draw, with 4 per Hobby box on average (mix of autos, relics, or auto-relics). Variations tie into base subsets, and print runs emphasize rarity.
| Hit Type | Subset/Application | Print Run/Odds (Hobby/ePack) | Odds (Blaster) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey (Relic) | Standard Base (#1-70) | 1:6 packs | N/A | Basic game-used jersey swatch. |
| Jersey (Relic) | Pride of the Program (#71-100) | 1:60 packs | N/A | Rarer relic variant. |
| Signatures (Auto) | Standard Base | 1:60 packs | 1:360 packs | On-card autos. |
| Signatures (Auto) | Pride of the Program | 1:480 packs | 1:960 packs | High rarity. |
| Signatures (Auto) | Program of Excellence | 1:120 packs | N/A | Development-focused. |
| Auto Patch | Standard Base | /99 or /150 | N/A | Auto + patch relic. |
| Auto Patch | Pride of the Program | /25 | N/A | Premium low-numbered. |
| Black Signatures | Various (base/inserts) | /1 to /5 | N/A | One-of-one or ultra-low black parallels. |
- Statistics per Box/Case: Hobby boxes hit ~4 total; cases (12 boxes) may yield ~1-2 high-end like National Phenoms or Auto Patches. Blasters have slim auto odds, making them less hit-heavy.
Pack and Box Statistics
- Hobby Box (15 packs): ~60 base cards, ~18-20 parallels, ~4 hits, ~4 inserts. Break-even value around $80 retail, but hits can spike ROI.
- Blaster Box (6 packs): ~24 base cards, ~5-6 parallels/inserts, rare hits. More budget-friendly at ~$18.
- Overall Ratios: Base cards dominate (70-80% of pulls), parallels 15-20%, inserts 5-10%, hits <5%. Cases amplify rare pulls (e.g., 1:180 inserts become ~1 per 12 boxes).
Analysis
This set excels in balancing accessibility and exclusivity, with base parallels providing volume for set builders and low-odds inserts/autos for high-rollers. Compared to prior years, the addition of inserts like License to Ice and Team Canada FX enhances visual appeal, potentially boosting long-term value amid growing interest in women's hockey (e.g., Chloe Primerano cards). Market-wise, top prospects like McKenna could see PSA 10 base cards at $20-50, while 1/1 Outburst Gold might fetch $500+. Risks include overproduction of common parallels, diluting value, but the focus on Canadian juniors—amid Canada's dominance (e.g., 2025 World Juniors prep)—positions it well for collectors. Overall, it's a strong mid-tier release with solid ROI potential for hit-lucky boxes, rated 8/10 for collectibility.
Card Gallery:
Checklist:
2025-Upper-Deck-Team-Canada-Juniors-Checklist
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