2026–27 Tim Hortons hockey cards: checklist, odds and trade nights

How do the base cards and inserts add up to 234?

This plan excludes the separately listed Major Milestones chase card MM-SC, as well as prize and redemption rows. It is a defined 234-slot binder target matching the advertised capacity, not every card listed anywhere for the product. A collector can choose a smaller goal, such as the base set or a favourite team, without treating the remaining categories as mandatory purchases.

Keep a separate missing list for each prefix. If your list says only “need 3,” another collector cannot know whether you mean a base card or the third card in an insert family. Record the category, full code and player, followed by owned quantity and trade quantity.

The official checklist gives different stated odds for base numbers 100–120 than for 1–99. Do not assume that every missing base number has the same distribution, and do not rename those entries as a parallel without checking the physical card and manufacturer wording.

Set a useful definition of complete

How rare are Next Gen Phenoms and Powerhouse Pillars?

Upper Deck lists Next Gen Phenoms at 1:75 and Powerhouse Pillars at 1:100. Dividing 100 by 75 gives about 1.33: the first category has roughly one-third greater listed insertion frequency. That comparison does not make one specific player’s card one-third more common or assign either card a dollar value.

For example, a collector missing one card from each category has two specific needs, not two generic insert slots. More packs might produce duplicates or different subjects. Compare identified singles or a clearly agreed trade with the amount you would spend on another uncertain result.

Do not multiply an insert denominator by a pack price and call the result the cost of completing that set. That shortcut omits duplicates, the distribution among subjects and the other cards received. It produces an attractive number without answering the actual completion question.

Understand odds and average guarantees

What do packs cost in Canada?

Tim Hortons announced Canadian pack prices of CA$1.50 with an eligible beverage purchase or CA$1.99 without one, before tax. Prices can vary by restaurant or region; espresso shots and Coca-Cola products are excluded from the beverage offer. The launch was September 28 at participating Canadian restaurants, and an announcement does not confirm stock at a particular location today.

Worked example: ten packs at the announced standalone price cost CA$19.90 before tax. Ten qualifying packs at the promotional price total CA$15.00 for the cards, a CA$4.90 difference. This is arithmetic for ten eligible purchases, not a promise that one drink qualifies ten packs. Confirm the restaurant’s offer limits.

If you were buying the qualifying drinks anyway, the card-price difference can be useful. If you add drinks solely to obtain the discount, include their full incremental cost. A lower printed pack price does not necessarily lower the total cost of the outing. Set the card budget before choosing how to qualify.

When are trade nights, and what should you bring?

The official announcement schedules October 29 and November 5, 2026, from 6–8 p.m. at select Canadian restaurants. It also announces an exclusive card for the first ten guests at each participating location on either night. Check the linked event information and your location; this is not an all-store event or a guaranteed giveaway.

Bring a one-page missing list and keep available duplicates separate from your completed collection. Before agreeing to a trade, check both cards under good light and read their full codes. An insert’s odds can help identify it, but the parties still need to agree on the actual exchange rather than treating the odds as a fixed exchange rate.

The official binder has 13 pages with 18 card positions per page: 13 × 18 = 234. That matches the defined run above, leaving no spare slot if all are filled. Keep duplicate trade cards and extra prize or event cards in suitable separate storage rather than forcing several cards into one pocket.

Mark received cards off immediately after the exchange. If you leave a completed trade in memory until you return home, it is easy to acquire the same missing card twice. Retain a short note of what changed, particularly when a family shares one binder.

Load and store binder pages safely

Do prize and redemption cards belong in the ordinary set count?

Track them separately. A redemption has an additional claim step, so its condition and code status matter alongside the pictured reward. Save photographs and the original instructions, keep the code private, and verify the stated deadline and eligibility before buying an unredeemed card from someone else.

There is a source conflict in the current prize descriptions: Upper Deck’s purple prize row names a 2025 Hyundai KONA, while Tim Hortons’ launch announcement names a 2027 model. This guide does not resolve that discrepancy. The actual card and current official claim terms should determine what to ask the organizer to confirm.

A checklist entry is evidence that a category is listed; it is not proof that a secondhand code remains usable or that its holder meets the promotion’s conditions. Do not publish a full code in a sale photograph. Describe an already redeemed card accurately so another collector can distinguish the collectible card from an outstanding claim.

Keep a clear collection inventory

Frequently asked questions