Upper Deck creates new Mandi Schwartz Heroic Inspirations tribute for Schwartz family to commemorate brother Jaden’s NHL® jersey change

St. Louis Blues forward switches to No. 17 jersey to honor late sister; Upper Deck creates new Mandi Schwartz memorabilia, using ‘Yale’ and ‘17’ patches from a game-worn Yale jersey, to present to the Schwartz family

CARLSBAD, Ca. (July 31, 2014) – St. Louis Blues forward Jaden Schwartz has always carried the heart, soul and spirit of his late sister, Mandi, with him on the ice. Further inspired by his older sister’s legacy, the 22-year-old Blues forward will now wear the number 17 that Mandi donned for the Yale University women’s hockey team.

Coinciding with the jersey switch, which takes place in the upcoming 2014-15 NHL® season, Upper Deck has created two updated memorabilia pieces for the Schwartz family. The company used existing patches from the 2013-14 NHL® Upper Deck Series One Heroic Inspirations cards to create two blow-up versions that featured that actual memorabilia from Mandi’s game-worn Yale jersey. Embedded in the blow-up card are her Yale-logoed patch on the sweater for the Schwartz family, and another card featuring the No. 17 patch from her jersey for Jaden Schwartz.

“I watched Mandi play hockey her entire life and I always noticed how hard she worked and how dedicated she was. She always wanted to get better and improve, I really looked up to her. I’m extremely excited to wear number 17 next year for her, it will be emotional but a special moment for me and my family,” Jaden Schwartz said.

Upper Deck’s Heroic Inspiration cards featuring Mandi Schwartz were inserted into packs of 2013-14 NHL® Upper Deck Series One and can also be obtained through the Mandi Schwartz Foundation at www.mandi17.org/?page_id=197. All proceeds of the sales of the Heroic Inspirations Mandi Schwartz hockey cards benefit the Mandi Schwartz Foundation.

“Mandi was always a humble, hard working person who earned all of her achievements and accomplishments. She wasn't always the most talented, and maybe didn’t have the most skill but she was always the most dedicated and always went the extra mile. Mandi would be all smiles and it would make her day if she was able to see one of her hockey cards,” Jaden Schwartz said.

“Of the many card lines we produce at Upper Deck, the Heroic Inspiration line is among my favorites because of the personal stories behind the card,” said Jason Masherah, president of Upper Deck. “Mandi Schwartz’s story is touching and hits home for many all over the world. I think Jaden’s decision to wear Mandi’s number on his St. Louis Blues sweater is a beautiful tribute that underlines the close-knit nature of this sibling connection

Once a youth prospect for Canada’s national women’s hockey program, Mandi Schwartz was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as a junior at Yale in 2008 and she underwent chemotherapy and went into remission. She returned to school in January 2010 and was planning to play hockey again before relapsing. More treatments, including a stem cell transplant from umbilical-cord donors in Seattle helped, but the cancer remained. She passed away at home in Regina, Saskatchewan in April 2011 at the age of 23.

Yale University has annually held a “White Out for Mandi” game and the entire St. Louis team was in attendance last year. She is still a prominent figure within the Yale women’s hockey program and her No. 17 still hangs in the women's team's dressing room.

Not long after she passed away, the Mandi Schwartz Foundation was formed to help raise money and create awareness in order to help others in her name.

“We are a family forever grateful to ALL the warriors in Mandi’s battle. And it’s Mandi’s battle and all her warriors that are represented in her inspirational hockey card – a beautiful masterpiece representing her legacy as a female Yale hockey player and her love of life and family and friends,” said Carol Schwartz, Mandi’s mother. ”Thank you, Upper Deck for the contribution to her legacy – our family cherishes this card.

“We are so very honored that her story can continue to be shared with others and that in her name we can inspire others in this world to support the battle against blood cancers so that we can increase the number of registrants on the bone marrow/cord blood registries so that ultimately we can give the gift of life and hope to others.”

About Upper Deck

Upper Deck, headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., is a worldwide sports and entertainment company built on the pillars of quality craftsmanship, authenticity and innovation with a dedication to creating products that turn memorable moments into collectibles. Upper Deck revolutionized the sports trading card experience with anti-counterfeit holograms, high quality card stock and stunning photography in its inaugural 1989 baseball set, and since then its mission has been to capture the excitement of the game and deliver it to fans of all ages. The cornerstone of Upper Deck’s business, which opened in 1989, is based on sports trading cards. As its brand has evolved to include other products over the years, the company now creates exclusive memorabilia, gaming products, collectible cards and a wide array of sports trading cards.

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About The Mandi Schwartz Foundation

The Mandi Schwartz Foundation is a registered 501 (c) (3) organization that was founded by Mandi Schwartz’s family and friends as a way of continuing her legacy by helping others in her name. For more information on the Mandi Schwartz Foundation, please visit www.mandi17.org.

About Yale University

Yale University comprises three major academic components: Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the professional schools. In addition, Yale encompasses a wide array of centers and programs, libraries, museums, and administrative support offices. Approximately 11,250 students attend Yale. For more information on Yale University, please visit www.yale.edu.