In a dazzling turn of events that has trading card collectors and hockey aficionados buzzing, Upper Deck has clinched an exclusive multi-year contract with Matthew Schaefer, the 17-year-old hockey whiz kid poised to snag the No. 1 spot in the 2025 NHL Draft. This strategic maneuver places Schaefer within Upper Deck’s pantheon of future champions and time-honored legends, creating a touchstone moment from a pastime often relegated to the nostalgia aisles.
Imagine it’s 2030, and you’re sitting there with a coveted Matthew Schaefer rookie card, remembering this historic day when Schaefer went from being a young star on the rise to an indisputable part of hockey’s future folklore. If you’ve been eyeing a chance to get his rookie card or autographed memorabilia, voilà, Upper Deck has made sure you’ll look nowhere else. It’s a one-stop shop on the Matthew Schaefer train to stardom.
For a young athlete like Schaefer, who is neither able to legally purchase a celebratory drink nor rent a car without a surcharge, this achievement is monumental. “It’s pretty special,” the teenage athlete reminisced, recounting memories of sifting through trading card packs with his family. Now, the tables have turned, and he’s the face collectors will scramble to acquire—a form of cardboard celebrity most youngsters only dream about.
Upper Deck couldn’t be more enthusiastic about landing Schaefer. Jason Masherah, the company’s president, extolled the young defenseman, painting him as “undeniably one of the most promising young talents in hockey today.” The roster of Upper Deck’s “Young Guns” line of cards is likely already being prepped with Schaefer’s visage front and center, destined to become a fan favorite in binders and digital collections alike.
Schaefer’s journey to prominence has not been without achievement. As a standout with the Erie Otters, he tallied an impressive 22 points over just 17 games—a formidable feat, especially considering he had to overcome injuries along the way. The Otters, wise in their selection, picked him first in the 2023 OHL Draft, securing themselves a rising star who has yet to let them down. Beyond the confines of Erie, his international accolades include sheer dominance: two gold medals with Team Canada at the U17 World Challenge and the U18 Worlds. Quite the decorated resume for this defensive dynamo.
Eager collectors won’t have to languish too long for Schaefer-themed merchandise. Upper Deck promises a slew of captivating collectibles, with signed pucks, jerseys, and prints anticipated to grace its online store by month’s end. However, the pièce de résistance—his first official NHL trading card—will make its debut only after Schaefer suits up with an NHL team. Hockey card collectors may want to make ample room within their treasure troves for such a prized piece of memorabilia.
All eyes will undoubtedly be glued to the scene come June 27–28 when the 2025 NHL Draft takes place at the illustrious Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Schaefer has been honed and prepped for greatness, both on the ice and in the fast-paced world of trading card fervor. Thanks to Upper Deck, his budding spotlight has found a sturdy platform upon which to shine even brighter.
While Upper Deck’s savvy move positions Schaefer to become part of the assembly line of cherished sports collectibles, it simultaneously sets his storied journey in motion, potential and promise riding the waves of speculation and anticipation. Both collectors and hockey enthusiasts can let their imaginations run wild with the impending adventures this young talent will unfurl. As Schaefer prepares for what looks to be a luminous career, his name is already inscribed into the fabric of trading card lore, waiting to become as storied as the legends who preceded him.
