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Connor Bedard to boost sports memorabilia industry

'It will change our industry again'
2023-05-10-bedard-hockey-cards
Rob Collins, Ultimate Sportscards owner, holds up two pre-rookie Connor Bedard hockey cards. Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.

Rob Collins is a big fan of Connor Bedard. 

No, he's not a Chicago Blackhawks fan, which is the NHL team that recently won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery which allows them to pick first this summer. 

Rob Collins, owner of Ultimate Sportscards, has been operating the longest-running Hockey Card-Sports Memorabilia business in the city of North Bay. 

Bedard is being called a generational hockey player and his sports memorabilia - namely his hockey cards - are expected to boost the hockey card industry. 

"It will change our industry again," said Collins in an interview from his store on Cassells Street in North Bay. 

"COVID-19 was great for business as everybody needed something to do. Now everybody is doing whatever they are doing. With Connor Bedard coming into the league, especially with a team like Chicago, an original six team, this will definitely put a boom in our industry." 

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Bedard, who won gold with Corbeil's Ben Gaudreau at the World Junior Hockey Championship this past Christmas, is considered the best hockey prospect since Connor McDavid.

However, with the power of social media now, Collins estimates the first NHL rookie cards of Bedard could go for three or four times what Connor McDavid's rookie cards went for back in 2015-16. 

Bedard has memorabilia out and non-NHL cards called pre rookie cards, but his first rookie NHL card which will be released by Upper Deck, are the Bedard cards that will be in high demand.  

"Right now they are pre-rookie cards which will be the World Juniors and with his junior team the Regina Pats," explained Collins.  

"They are not true rookies. People still buy them, they still pay astronomical amounts for them but compared to a Young Gun that comes out in Upper Deck series 1 and 2. You hit a Connor Bedard Young Gun and we are all speculating it will be anywhere from $500 to $1,000.

"Who knows where it will be but that's what we are speculating. A true rookie card is the Upper Deck series 1 or 2 rookie card. Then there are multiple products that come out later like SP Authentic, Future Watch Autos. The first product will be Artifacts that will come out in October of 2023."

Collins says hockey cards have become much more than just a kid's hobby. It has become big business.   

"It is not just a hobby now, it has become an investment. It has become like a lottery," said Collins.  

"To be lucky enough and buy a pack and hit a Connor Bedard Young Gun and to get $500 to $700 for it, that is a great day's work. For investors, this is a great year. Now every box you buy, every pack you open will have that possibility of hitting a Connor Bedard rookie where it is instant gratification that people seek now.  

The only bad news is the highly coveted Bedard Young Gun isn't expected to be released until early 2024. 

"He won't be in series 1, he will be in series 2 which will be late February or March," said Collins.  

"If he turns out to be the superstar many are envisioning then it will be even more money, if he does not turn out to be such a big superstar then the price will be lower on the Young Gun. It is just the way it works."

Despite the delay, Collins is looking forward to what Bedard will do for his business.  

"I cannot wait, that is about it," said Collins. 


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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