CARLSBAD, Calif., June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is proud to announce the expansion of its elite athlete roster with the NHL Central Scouting top ranked North American player, Matthew Schaefer, ahead of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Under the agreement, Upper Deck will be the sole producer of Schaefer’s trading cards, collectibles, and memorabilia featuring Schaefer’s image and autograph.

“Matthew Schaefer is undeniably one of the most promising young talents in hockey today. I’m eager to watch his professional journey unfold, and as a company, we’re honored to be a part of it,” said Upper Deck President Jason Masherah. “We’re excited to capture Schaefer’s most memorable on-ice moments through a thoughtfully curated collection of trading cards, memorabilia, and collectibles for his fans as he begins his NHL career.”

At just 17 years old, Matthew Schaefer is the top-ranked North American prospect in the NHL’s 2025 Draft Prospect Rankings and is expected to be selected first overall in the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft™. During his junior career, Schaefer was the number one draft pick in 2023 for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the third player in franchise history to be chosen first overall. Now an elite defenseman and top rookie to watch, Schaefer leads his NHL draft class after scoring 22 points, 7 goals, and 15 assists in 17 games during his injury-shortened 2024-25 season with the Otters. Notably, his elite skating, strong offensive instincts, and defensive abilities helped power Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2023 U17 World Challenge (as Team Captain) and the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championship, where the team finished undefeated. That same year, he served as captain for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he once again helped lead Canada to a Gold Medal.

“I’m proud to embark on my professional career on the ice as Upper Deck’s newest exclusive athlete,” said Schaefer. “I am truly flattered to be joining some of hockey’s greats at this stage, as I fondly remember collecting hockey cards and memorabilia with my mom, dad, and brother at a young age. I’m really looking forward to connecting with my fans and the sport through this special collaboration.”

Fans can pre-order Matthew Schaefer’s exclusive memorabilia at the end of this month from the Upper Deck Store, including autographed prints, pucks, and jerseys. Following Schaefer’s official NHL debut, collectors will find new trading cards and additional memorabilia releases featuring the rising star.

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.

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Media Contact:
Matt Burkey, matt@carvecomms.com