The Game Lives On! Announcing 2004-05 Heroes and Prospects from In The Game
In The Game, Inc., manufacturers of In The Game and the Parkhurst brands of hockey cards, is extremely
pleased to announce details for the company's hockey card project entitled 2004-05 Heroes and Prospects.
This is a product that pays tribute to the past while celebrating the game's future.
For the first time ever, hobbyists and fans alike can collect cards featuring retired hockey legends,
top minor-league prospects, and blue-chip stars from the junior ranks. The set is a culmination of
licensing deals with the Canadian Hockey Association (CHL), the American Hockey League (AHL), and the
PHPA (Professional Hockey Players' Association).
In addition, In The Game has also reached an agreement with Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin to
produce base set cards as well as Autograph cards for this product. Combined with junior phenom
Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Oceanic, both of hockey¹s most highly anticipated future stars have
cards in this set.
"This is the perfect opportunity to become the first mainstream company to issue cards of
Ovechkin and Crosby," said In The Game's President Dr. Brian H. Price. "Most hockey fans
have been hearing about these two youngsters for at least a couple of years. The anticipation over
their debut has been steadily building and we¹re happy to say we are the first to deliver."
The 180-card base set breaks down between the finest CHL prospects, the most promising young stars
from the AHL, as well as a wide variety of the game's all-time greats. It features legends like
Jacques Plante, Patrick Roy, Maurice Richard, Marcel Dionne and Georges Vezina. The future is also
well represented with cards of Patrick O'Sullivan, Dion Phaneuf, Kari Lehtonen and Marc-André Fleury
in addition to Ovechkin and Crosby.
Fans of Autograph cards will be excited about the wide variety of signatures available from both
Heroes and Prospects in this new brand. Autograph cards are among the hottest collectibles in the
hobby right now and Heroes and Prospects will be loaded with them including everyone from Patrick
Roy to Alexander Ovechkin. Collectors can expect an average of two Autograph cards per Hobby box.
In The Game has earned its reputation for producing the most impressive game-used memorabilia cards
in the hobby. They are among the most attractive and highest-quality cards ever produced and
production quantities are consistently low to ensure collectibility.
An excellent selection of game-used memorabilia cards will be available in Heroes and Prospects
including Heroes Game-Used Memorabilia, Prospects Game-Used Jersey, Prospects In The Numbers,
Prospects Emblem, Prospects Complete Emblem, Prospect Combos, Aspiring, Net Prospects,
Top Prospects Game-Used Jersey and National Pride. Each box is guaranteed to contain one game-used
memorabilia card.
Collectors will also find scarce Gold versions available for many of these inserts.
In The Game's ever-popular He Shoots, He Scores Decoy/Redemption Card Program will also be part of
the Hobby version of the Heroes and Prospects brand. One of these cards will be included in each
pack that does not contain a game-used memorabilia card. These extra-thick cards help deter pack
searching and each comes with a point value. Collectors who accumulate enough points can redeem
them for unique and scarce game-used memorabilia cards not available in packs.
"Collectors who are familiar with our products know we have high standards," said Price.
"Our Heroes and Prospects brand is no exception. This brand is a true original and I'm
convinced it will make a big impression among hobbyists and fans."
2004-05 Heroes and Prospects will be available in both a Hobby version as well as special Arena
version. Each Hobby box will include 24 packs with each pack containing five cards plus one decoy
card or game-used memorabilia card. Hobby boxes will yield an average of two Autograph cards and
each is guaranteed to contain one game-used memorabilia card.
The Arena version of Heroes and Prospects will be geared more towards hockey fans as opposed to
dedicated collectors. Packs will be available at a low price point, will contain lower quantities
of Autograph cards and no game-used memorabilia cards or He Shoots, He Scores Decoy/Redemption cards.
Each pack will contain five cards, with 24 packs found in every box. The Arena version will be
available through AHL and CHL team websites as well as the sites for each league. It will also be
available through the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA) website as well as some
convenience stores.
This product is scheduled for release in November, 2004.
The 2004-05 Heroes and Prospects brand is neither licensed, endorsed, or sponsored by the
National Hockey League or the National Hockey League Players' Association.
In The Game, Inc. has produced Be A Player, In The Game and Parkhurst brands of hockey trading
cards since 1998-99. The company issued six different hockey card products in 2003-04 including
In The Game-Action, Memorabilia Series, Original Six, In The Game-Used Signature Series, Parkhurst
Rookie, and Be A Player Ultimate Memorabilia 4th Edition.
In The Game also launched its VIP Program in 2003-04, an initiative comprised of two additional
product lines VIP Series One and VIP Rookie Debut.
Source: In The Game, Inc.
Date: September 28, 2004
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