Released in March of 2023, the 2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition set focuses on players from the Canadian Hockey League — that is, major junior players from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Needless to say, one big reason a set like this is desirable is because it has cards of Connor Bedard, who is expected to be taken first overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Boxes of 2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition Hockey have just five packs, with each pack containing three cards, for a total of 15 cards. Each box guarantees at least four hits per box, which may be a game-used jersey card, an autographed card, or an autographed jersey patch card. Boxes sold out relatively fast at hobby shops and online card retailers, and are now commanding upwards of $300 per box on eBay. Let’s just say the Connor Bedard hype is real.
I opened a box of 2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition. Let’s see what’s inside.
0 Base Cards
No, that’s not a typo. I actually got ZERO base cards from my box. That’s because each and every of the 70 base cards in this set is serial-numbered to under 100 copies each. For example, Connor Bedard and Xavier Bourgault are serial-numbered to 98 copies, while Nolan Allan is serial-numbered to just two copies. Yeah, good luck building THAT set.
That being said, I did get a bunch of parallels of the base cards.
Parallels
It’s funny that parallels of the base cards are easier to find than the actual base cards. It’s usually the other way around. I got 10 parallels in my box.
3 Silver Foil Parallels /249
Silver Foil Parallels are serial-numbered out of 249 copies. As you can see, they do not scan too well. The cards are about the thickness of three standard trading cards. The three Silver Foil Parallels I got in my box are Justin Sourdif, Trevor Wong, and Brennan Othmann.
Card backs have a short biographical paragraph, vitals like height and weight, and up to four years of statistics, plus their junior league totals. One bit of information I wish these cards had is what year the player is eligible for the NHL Entry Draft.
7 Orange Foil Parallels /499
Initially, I thought that the Orange Foil Parallels were the base cards, since they composed almost half of my box. These are numbered out of 499 and, like the Silver Foil Board parallels, are also thick. In fact, every card in this box was thicker than a normal card. The seven Orange Foil Parallels in my box are Maxime Coursol, Tyler Peddle, Jan Mysak, Cole Huckins, Maxim Landry, Ridly Greig, and Ozzy Wiesblatt.
Inserts
The only insert set — that is, not an insert that somehow mirrors or parallels the base set — is a set called “New Style, which has 28 cards of players also found in the base set. I got one insert in this box.
1 New Style Teal Foilboard /10
I had to look at this card up, down, and sideways before I noticed the 07/10 serial-number in the upper-right corner. New Style insert cards have numerous parallels, including autographed or memorabilia versions. This New Style insert is of Jeremie Poirier, who was drafted in the third round of the 2020 Draft by the Calgary Flames.
The Hits
Ah yes, the reason why collectors buy a product like SP Game Used — to get some game-used memorabilia cards and hopefully some autographs.
2 Red Memorabilia Cards
Matthew Savoie was drafted in the first round, 9th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft. Owen Outwater is eligible for the 2023 NHL Draft. These cards mirror the base set, though not all 70 of them have memorabilia versions. These cards are not serial-numbered.
1 Blue Autographed Card
This Manix Landry autographed card was signed on a sticker that was applied to the card. Gotta say that he has a decent autograph for a prospect. His signature clearly reads “M Landry 13” — which is a nice change of pace from the usual squiggle we get from today’s players. Like the two memorabilia cards above, this card is also not serial-numbered. Landry was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 5th round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
1 Gold Autographed Patch Card
Nice card! But not a nice signature. I’m not sure if Tristian Lennox signed his initials or was trying to write the word “five” in Chinese. I’m not kidding. This is what “five” in Chinese writing looks like:
OK, these really don’t look the same, but you get what I’m saying.
Anyway, this autographed memorabilia card is serial-numbered out of 49. I’m guessing the patch piece is a part of his jersey’s nameplate — maybe a piece of “N” — but it could also be a part of the Saginaw Spirt crest. I’m not sure, but it looks nice regardless.
Lennox was drafted in the 3rd round (93rd overall) by the New York Islanders in the 2021 NHL Draft. He played as an overage junior player this year, so I’m curious to see if he makes the jump to the AHL next year and works his way up the Islanders’ system.
The box of 2021-22 SP Game Used CHL Edition promises four hits, and I got four hits, so that’s good. Counting all parallels, autographs, and memorabilia cards — but not 1/1 printing plates — Connor Bedard has 11 different cards in this set, which is why this set sold out from online retailers and is now going for up to $300 per box on the secondary market. SP Game Used CHL Edition is a big risk. Assuming you buy a box, don’t get a Bedard card, but are still happy with getting autographs and memorabilia cards of players who might one day play in the NHL — never mind be a future superstar — or if you like junior cards, then this might be worth a look. But if you prefer hockey cards of NHL players, and not “pre-rookie” cards, then you can safely skip this set.
Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him on Twitter @puckjunk
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