The long and cold Canadian winters of our youth meant one thing….hockey. Constants in most of our lives were 6 am practices, playing on the pond and watching our NHL heroes skate on TV. During this special time, we were introduced to our hockey card hobbies. Whether it was Howe, Orr, Gretzky or Sakic….O Pee Chee, Upper Deck, Score or Parkhurst everyone remembers the sets and players where they developed their passion for collecting hockey cards.

The rebirth of the NHL in 2005/2006 also brings about a renaissance in hockey card collecting. With the one-two punch of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin and an army of sets featuring cards we couldn't even dream of as kids, this year is the most exciting year for collectors in over a decade….if not ever. This series of articles will breakdown many of 05/06's most talked about hockey card sets.

Upper Deck MVP

Upper Deck MVP is one of the most affordable ways for hockey card collectors to find Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin rookie cards. Although the boxes of MVP are more affordable than some of the other 2005/06 releases, the rookies are sort printed, insuring that they will hold their value. The return of hockey, rookie cards and the price of the boxes have played a part in making MVP one of the hottest collected sets of this year.

MVP is definitely the most reasonable priced set for those collectors who want to add Crosby and Ovechkin rookie cards as well has 40 plus other rookies to their collections. Along with the 45 rookie cards, there are 400 veterans in the base set. All 445 cards have both a Gold (100 copies per card) and Platinum (25 copies per card) parallel.

As with all Upper Deck sets, the quality of MVP's photography and cards in general are second to none. Card fronts feature a silver facsimile signature of the player. For players that the Upper Deck Co. did not have a facsimile signature on file, UDC simply showed the player's name in silver script.

There are 42 basic insert cards which fall one every fourth pack (six per box). The four basic insert sets are Monumental Moments (seven cards), Rising to the Occasion (14), Rookie Breakthrough (14), and Tribute to Greatness (seven Wayne Gretzky). Two of the six basic inserts that you will find in your box will be Rookie Breakthrough inserts.
Memorabilia cards are something that all collectors love, and 2005/2006 Upper Deck MVP does not disappoint. Single memorabilia cards can be found on average, one per box. Also look for Dual and Triple MVP Materials
Upper Deck MVP is also great for team set building.
Basic Info: 400-card base set, including eight checklist cards, Also featuring 45 MVP Rookies (1:2)
Parallels: 400 MVP Gold (#'d to 100), 400 MVP Platinum (#'d to 25)
Inserts: Rising to the Ocassion (1:12), Rookie Breakthrough (1:12), A Tribute to Greatness (1:24), Monumental Moments (1:24)
Memorabilia: MVP Materials (1:24), Dual MVP Materials (#'d to 100), Triple MVP Materials (#'d to 25)
Autographs ProSign (1:480)