ONE SHEET, ONE SET - 2007/08 Upper Deck Ice

This week's set is another that Linden was not a part of. I was given these base cards by someone generous enough to help out with my project.

It's always nice to look at a fresh looking set.

2007/08 Upper Deck Ice

Upon first look, these cards come across as sharp-looking and definitely not low-end. The set consists of 226 cards but only 100 in the 'non-shortprint' collection. I will only be looking at the base cards.

The cards are of a thicker stock and have a gloss to them. The background has an 'ice surface' texture which is really nice while the middle 'marble slab has no texture. The player cutout is slightly raised and really punches out of the card.


The design of the card looks pretty good. It's a simple layout, but I like it. It's a full cutout of the player with no hint of a background at all. I'm on the fence when it comes to this kind of presentation, but in this instance, it works.

For all cards (that I've seen anyways), they use a full body photo. This creates a consistency from one card to another that I think in this set is necessary.

The Upper Deck Logo on top and the 'Ice' logo at the bottom are ok - although I would have preferred some sort of team branding. Maybe something like a faint logo of the team (sort of where the faint 'Ice' logo is now deep in the background in the bottom third of the card. A little team color action would have been nice.

The name font styles are simple and the layout is nice. The team name at the bottom along with the position could have been better laid out. It gets lost in the texture of the card.


The back of the card is one of the more sharp designs I've seen. Crisp, with a touch of the classic card backs. The name font style is consistent with the front of the card, the background is the same as the front (although the ice texture is reversed on the back - a little weird). I really like the player photo in the marble part of the background. And hey, a different photo - bonus points.

The stats....oh the stats. As long as the player has played for less than 5 years, you'll be good - cause that's all you'll get. Bonus point revoked.

Some nice info at the bottom of the card and the obligatory row of logos - why can't they do something about that.

The one other dislike about the back of the card would be that the player is embossed - thus allowing him to 'punch out' on the front side of the card. Ultimately, I would have preferred a completely smooth card back.

Overall, a really nice looking card. Off topic for a second, the parallel version of these /100 are even nicer.

More pros than cons. I guess you can't complain about that.

4 masks out of 5