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Be A Player
1997-98 Be A Player One Timers #12
Let's start my favorite year from my Bure collection with this Be A Player One Timer, a 1 per 7 packs insert.
Beehive
1997-98 Beehive #15
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1997-98 Beehive Golden Portraits #15
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Beehive revives the 1934-67 sets by St. Lawrence Starch Co. The Golden Portraits are a 1 per 3 packs find.
Black Diamond
1997-98 Black Diamond #115
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1997-98 Black Diamond Double Diamond #115
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1997-98 Black Diamond Triple Diamond #115
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1997-98 Black Diamond Quad Diamonds #115
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1997-98 Black Diamond Premium Cut #PC9
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1997-98 Black Diamond Premium Cut Double Diamond #PC9
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1997-98 Black Diamond Premium Cut Triple Diamond #PC9
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1997-98 Black Diamond Premium Cut Quadruple Diamond #PC9
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1997-98 Black Diamond Premium Cut Quadruple Diamond Horizontal #PC9
This Black Diamond set, consisting of 150 cards, is a bit less tough than last year, even though the quad diamond has only 50 copies. Unlike 1996-97, the numbers of diamonds are actually parallels: single is the base, double is 1 per pack and triple is 1 per 3 packs.
Premium Cut is a cool insert set to collect. As the base, single diamond is 1 per 7 packs, double is 1 per 15 and triple is 1 per 30. Quadruple diamonds have two versions: a vertical shot, inserted at a rate of 1 per 180 packs, and a horizontal shot, depending on the number of the card, can pop at a rate of 1 per 30 to 1 per 30 000! For Bure, who is PC9, his ratio was 1 per 2000.
Premium Cut is a cool insert set to collect. As the base, single diamond is 1 per 7 packs, double is 1 per 15 and triple is 1 per 30. Quadruple diamonds have two versions: a vertical shot, inserted at a rate of 1 per 180 packs, and a horizontal shot, depending on the number of the card, can pop at a rate of 1 per 30 to 1 per 30 000! For Bure, who is PC9, his ratio was 1 per 2000.
Collector's Choice
1997-98 Collector's Choice #255
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1997-98 Collector's Choice Crash The Game #C24A
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1997-98 Collector's Choice Crash The Game #C24B
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1997-98 Collector's Choice Crash The Game #C24C
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1997-98 Collector's Choice Crash The Game Redeemed #C24
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1997-98 Collector's Choice Starquest #SQ59
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1997-98 Collector's Choice Stick Um's #S25
Collector's Choice reduces (finally!) the quest for the You Crash The Game set. At 1 per 5 packs, you only have to redeem one if the player scored to get a redemption. Beckett says that very few were redeemed, so they are quite scarce. They are four tiers of Starquest. Bure is in Tier 2 (1 per 21 packs). Stick'Ums is a fun insert, but very common at 1 per 3 packs.
Crown Royale
1997-98 Crown Royale #133
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1997-98 Crown Royale Emerald #133
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1997-98 Crown Royale Silver #133
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1997-98 Crown Royale Ice Blue #133
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1997-98 Crown Royale Cramer's Choice Jumbo #10
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1997-98 Crown Royale Cramer's Choice Jumbo Gold #10
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1997-98 Crown Royale Cramer's Choice Jumbo Signed #10
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1997-98 Crown Royale Blade Of Steel Die-Cuts #19
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1997-98 Crown Royale Hat Tricks Die-Cuts #18
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1997-98 Crown Royale Lamplighters Cel-Fusion Die-Cuts #19
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Even though 1997-98 has the hardest inserts in the business, it's for me my favorite year to collect. The cards are gorgeous, and with the arrival of the Pacific brand, it changes the game completely. Crown Royale is tough to put together because it was an expensive set back in the days. Emerald Green and Silver were inserted at a rate of 4 per 25 packs, while the Ice Blue is four times scarcer (1 per 25).
In terms of inserts, Cramer's Choice is a jumbo card. You can find one per box. A Gold version (4 per 25 boxes) and a signed version of the CEO Michael Cramer is also available. Hat-Tricks Die-Cuts and Blades of Steel Die-Cuts have the same ratio (1 per 25). Lamplighter Cel-Fusion Die-Cuts is a much tougher pull (1 per 73 packs). It's also one of my favorite inserts.
In terms of inserts, Cramer's Choice is a jumbo card. You can find one per box. A Gold version (4 per 25 boxes) and a signed version of the CEO Michael Cramer is also available. Hat-Tricks Die-Cuts and Blades of Steel Die-Cuts have the same ratio (1 per 25). Lamplighter Cel-Fusion Die-Cuts is a much tougher pull (1 per 73 packs). It's also one of my favorite inserts.
Donruss
1997-98 Donruss #187
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1997-98 Donruss Silver Press Proof #187
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1997-98 Donruss Gold Press Proof #187
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1997-98 Donruss Line 2 Line #11
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1997-98 Donruss Line 2 Line Die-Cut #11
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1997-98 Donruss Line 2 Line Promo #11
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1997-98 Donruss Line 2 Line Die-Cut Promo #11
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1997-98 Donruss Red Alert #6
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Donruss is a straight 230 card set, with a Press Proof Silver (2000 copies) and a die-cut Press Proof Gold (500 sets). The Line 2 Line insert is listed at 4000 copies. The first 250 are die-cuts. There is also a promo version of both of these cards. Finally, only 5000 copies of the Red Alert were at random in packs.
Donruss Canadian Ice
1997-98 Donruss Canadian Ice #18
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1997-98 Donruss Canadian Ice Provincial Series #18
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1997-98 Donruss Canadian Ice Provincials Series Player's Club #18
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1997-98 Donruss Canadian Ice Dominion Series #18
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Donruss made a set for collectors in Canada with Canadian Ice, which was bilingual. The base has two version : a Provincial Ice (numbered to 750 copies), and a Dominion Ice (numbered to 150). I just realize while scanning that mine is non-numbered though. EDIT: There's a Player's Club version of the Provincial Series that I didn't know the existence... Crazy how I can find new entries even though this card is 23 years old!
Donruss Elite
1997-98 Donruss Elite #4
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1997-98 Donruss Elite #118
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Aspiration #4
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Aspiration #118
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Status #4
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Status #118
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Craftsmen #20
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Craftsmen Promo #20
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Master Craftsmen #20
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Master Craftmen Promo #20
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers #12A
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers #12B
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers #12C
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers Die-Cut #12A
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers Die-Cut #12B
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers Die-Cut #12C
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers Promo #12A
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers Promo #12B
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Prime Numbers Promo #12C
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Gold Status Promo #4
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1997-98 Donruss Elite Gold Status Promo #118
Donruss Elite is a 150 base card set that has two parallels: an Aspiration (numbered to 750 sets), and a Status version (numbered to 100 sets). The Craftsmen insert (numbered to 2500 sets) has a Master parallel (numbered to 100), as well as a promo version.
Prime Numbers is a tough customer. Each card represents a certain amount of the total number put in front of the card. In Bure's case, 388 is the number, matching his total career points in 1997-98. This set has a die-cut version, which is a bit tougher to pull together.
Prime Numbers is a tough customer. Each card represents a certain amount of the total number put in front of the card. In Bure's case, 388 is the number, matching his total career points in 1997-98. This set has a die-cut version, which is a bit tougher to pull together.
Donruss Limited
1997-98 Donruss #7
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1997-98 Donruss #104
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1997-98 Donruss #153
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1997-98 Donruss Exposure #7
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1997-98 Donruss Exposure #104
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1997-98 Donruss Exposure #153
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1997-98 Donruss Fabrics Of The Game #66
I love the idea of Donruss Limited, with a player on the front and back of the card. Bure appeared three times in the set; one with his brother Valeri, with Alex Mogilny, and with himself. An Exposure parallel exists of the trio, which is simply a refractor version. Beckett says that less than 25 copies of the Star Factor Exposure (the one with himself) were produced. He also appeared on the Fabrics of the Game set, where cards were limited from 100 to 1000, depending on the player. He was qualified as a superstar material, numbered to 500 copies.
Donruss Preferred
1997-98 Donruss Preferred #25
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1997-98 Donruss Preferred #194
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1997-98 Donruss Preferred Cut To The Chase #25
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1997-98 Donruss Preferred Cut To The Chase #194
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1997-98 Donruss Preferred Line Of The Times #4A
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1997-98 Donruss Preferred Line Of The Times Promo #4A
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Donruss Preferred, with its tins, is a cool concept. There is only a five cards pack per tin tough, which is a bit expensive. Cut to the Chase die-cut parallel is also found in the tins. It was only one insert of Bure in the set. The Line of the Times has a promo version. Beckett says that fewer than 100 copies exist.
Donruss Priority
1997-98 Donruss Priority #15
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1997-98 Donruss Priority #211
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Stamp Of Approval #15
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Stamp Of Approval #211
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Direct Deposit #3
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Direct Deposit Promo #3
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Postcards #5
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Postcards Opening Day Issue #13
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Stamps #5
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Stamps Bronze #5
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Stamps Silver #5
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1997-98 Donruss Priority Stamps Gold #5
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Donruss Priority turns around the post. The Stamp of Approval is numbered to 100. Direct Deposit is numbered to 3000 and also has a promo version. Postcards are 1 per pack and have an Opening Day Issue parallel, and are numbered to 1000. Stamps have three variations; bronze, silver, and gold.
Leaf
1997-98 Leaf #60
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1997-98 Leaf Fractral Matrix #60
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1997-98 Leaf Fractral Matrix #60
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1997-98 Leaf Fire On Ice #8
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Leaf has somewhat a good parallel system with the Fractral Matrix. Bure was one of the 40 players in the 200 base set to be categorized as gold. After that, he was placed in the Y category, with a print run of 250. A die-cut version of the card is also available at a print run of 200 copies. The Fire on Ice is numbered to 1000.
Leaf International
1997-98 Leaf International #60
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1997-98 Leaf International Universal Ice #60
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Leaf International has players only in Canadian packs for Canadian players, while the others are in US/Europe packs. The Universal Ice parallel is numbered to 250 sets.
Pacific
1997-98 Pacific #96
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1997-98 Pacific Copper #96
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1997-98 Pacific Silver #96
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1997-98 Pacific Emerald Green #96
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1997-98 Pacific Red #96
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1997-98 Pacific Ice Blue #96
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1997-98 Pacific Card Supials #20
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1997-98 Pacific Card Supials Minis #20
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1997-98 Pacific Gold Crown Die-Cut #20
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1997-98 Pacific Slap Shot Die-Cut #11A
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1997-98 Pacific Team Checklist #25
Now the fun begins. Pacific entered the scene by storm with seven products (Crown Royale, Pacific, Dynagon Ice, Invincible, Omega, Paramount, and Revolution). The particularity with this brand is the INSANE amount of parallels. For instance, they are six versions of this one: gold (base), copper (found in hobby), silver (found in retail), Emerald Green (Canadian packs), Red (Treat packs), and Ice Blue, numbered to 67 copies.
In terms of inserts, they are also quite a few. Supials have their minis, and both are a 1 per 37 packs ratio. Like the previous two, Gold Crown Die-Cut as the same ratio. However, the Slap-Shot Die-Cut and the Team Checklist were a bit more difficult to find with an odd of 1 per 73 packs.
In terms of inserts, they are also quite a few. Supials have their minis, and both are a 1 per 37 packs ratio. Like the previous two, Gold Crown Die-Cut as the same ratio. However, the Slap-Shot Die-Cut and the Team Checklist were a bit more difficult to find with an odd of 1 per 73 packs.
Pacific Dynagon Ice
1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice #125
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Copper #125
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Emerald Ice #125
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Dark Gray #125
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Red #125
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Silver #125
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Ice Blue #125
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Best Kept Secret #95
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Dynamic Duos #15A
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Kings Of The NHL #10
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1997-98 Pacific Dynagon Ice Tandems #14
Unlike the two previous, Dynagon Ice has SEVEN parallels for its set: gold (base), copper (2 per 37 hobby packs), dark grey (2 per 37 Canadian retail packs), emerald green (2 per 37 Canadian hobby packs), red (2 per 37 treat packs), silver (2 per 37 retail packs), and ice blue (1 per 73 packs). Ice blue is numbered to 67. Best Kept Secret is the most common insert with a rate of 1 per pack. Dynamic Duo and Tandems are 1 per 37 packs. But the highlight is certainly the Kings Of The NHL with its 1 per 361 packs!
Pacific Invincible
1997-98 Pacific Invincible #140
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible Copper #140
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible Emerald Green #140
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible Red #140
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible Silver #140
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible Ice Blue #140
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible Attack Zone #23
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible NHL Regime #201
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1997-98 Pacific Invincible Off The Glass #20
Invincible has fewer inserts than Dynagon Ice but has the same amount of parallels. Besides the gold (base), there is the copper (2 per 37 hobby packs), emerald green (2 per 37 Canadian packs), red (2 per 37 Wal-Mart packs), silver (2 per 37 retail packs), and ice blue (1 per 73 packs). Unlike the two others, ice blue is not print to only 67 copies. For inserts, NHL Regime is one per pack card. The Attack Zone is one per 37 packs and the Off The Glass one per 73 packs.
Pacific Omega
1997-98 Pacific Omega #228
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Copper #228
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Dark Grey #228
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Emerald Green #228
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Gold #228
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Ice Blue #228
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Game Face #18
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Silk #11
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Stick Handle Laser Cut #19
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1997-98 Pacific Omega Team Leaders #19
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Omega was not different than its siblings. Six variations were available for rainbow collectors: silver (base), copper (1 per hobby pack), dark grey (1 per Canadian retail pack), emerald green (1 per Canadian pack), gold (1 per retail pack), and ice blue (1 per 73 packs). Four inserts sets have Bure on it: Game Face (1 per 37 packs), Silks ( 1 per 73 packs), Stick Handle Laser Cuts (1 per 145 packs), and Team Leaders (2 per 48 packs). These are my favorites series inserts.