It’s Prime time for hockey at Panini

Posted Apr 17, 2012 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Apr 17, 2012 at 07:21 PM

Panini America is ready for Prime time in hockey.

The 2011-12 Prime Hockey set is scheduled to hit the shelves in early July, and Panini released some images today that are sure to get hockey card fans drooling.

Prime Hockey will be offering a couple of firsts, including the debut of hockey sweater lace cards and game-worn helmet decal cards. Throw in goodies like rookie auto quad cards, rookie NHL shield cards and cards containing an all-star’s signature on a locker name plate from the All-Star Game, and that is pretty exciting.

Every five-card pack of Prime Hockey is expected to contain the rookie autograph quad memorabilia card numbered to 199 or less, a multi-memorabilia card, one autograph card — plus an additional autograph or memorabilia card.

Prime Ties is the name for the sweater lace card, while the decals will be affixed to Collision Course cards. Both are bold-looking and certainly unique. 

Other featured cards will be Genuine Marks, which Panini touts as the first autographed, game-used letter name plate cards. I’ve never liked autographs on the letter cards because they have a tendency to bleed into the material. Hopefully that doesn’t happen with this set. 

Other interesting relics will be the captain’s “C” and the alternate captain’s “A” cards. Prime Signatures will include some of hockey’s biggest names, including Panini spokesman Gordie Howe.

Prime Hockey looks like it’s going to be a fun, high-end product to collect. When you can get a hockey shield on a card and feel the high relief of the material on it, well, that’s a thrill.  The All-Star cards appear to have a large area for a player to sign, and that means (hopefully) big, bold autographs.

With the set coming soon after the Stanley Cup Finals end, there still should be plenty of interest in hockey. And high-end collectors could be having a field day with some Prime cards.