On the eve of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC Canada, the Upper Deck Company is poised to release its 2009-10 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey cards next week with a new twist: Olympic figure skaters will be part of the insert card mix. A total of 18 different U.S. figure skaters from the past and present will comprise part of the set’s sought-after insert collection entitled “The Champions.”

“We’re extremely happy to be including U.S. figure skaters as part of this year’s inserts,” said Josh Zusman, Upper Deck’s hockey brand manager. “They are exciting to watch and consistently wow the crowds with their incredible routines and performances. We think card collectors will appreciate their inclusion.”

Beyond Flatt, Abbott and Kerrigan, other past and present U.S. skaters included as insert cards include Johnny Weir, Jojo Starbuck, Todd Gilles, Alexe Gilles, Piper Gilles, Madison Chock, Melissa Gregory, Brandon Mroz, Denis Petukhov, Jane Summersett, Timothy Goebel and Zach Donohue. Autographed versions of the figure skaters’ “Champions” insert cards will be included in subsequent Upper Deck hockey card releases including 2009-10 Ice Hockey, SP Authentic and O-Pee-Chee Metal.

In addition to U.S. figure skaters, other Winter Olympic heroes included as part of “The “Champions” insert lineup are medal-winning skiers Bode Miller and Julia Mancuso from the U.S., as well as Jean Luc-Brassard from Canada; Canadian figure skaters Beckie Scott and Kerrin Lee Gartner; and Canadian women’s hockey players Kim St.-Pierre, Hayley Wickenheiser, Cassie Campbell and Jennifer Botterill.




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