Team Issued Card Holds Unique Origins From Södertälje, Sweden

2007-2008 ICA/AXA Södertälje SK Oversized Swedish Team Issued Card

It's not every day that you find a new card that you didn't know existed, but that is exactly what happened a few weeks ago when a notification about a new card listing popped up on my phone. 

​After peering into my notifications, I immediately knew I was looking at something different when I checked out the card in more detail:  A Södertälje SK Team Issued card.

Since starting this collection in 2010, I didn't know that the Södertälje SK SHL club (Enroth's first pro team) had released any sort of team issued card, so this was a pretty significant find to say the least. 
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The card features Enroth set up in a 'photoshoot style' shot of him featuring his awesome red/white/black RBK Premier ll gear he wore at the time. The gear in the photo looks fairly new, so my best guess is that this card was released at the start of the season in late 2007, or early 2008 at the latest.

At the start of the 2007-2008 season, Enroth was heading into his last season with Södertälje SK before heading to North America to further advance his career the following season in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Enroth playing for Sodertalje SK during the 2007-2008 season.

After receiving the card this past week, I messaged the former owner to see if he could provide me with any details about the origins of these slightly oversized (4" Tall x 3" Wide) cards, which he also had Enroth autograph many years ago.

​He told me that these cards were created by the team and distributed through a collaborative effort with ICA (Maxi), which I've come to learn is a popular supermarket in Sweden. I suspect that this one was given out at the main ICA in the city of Södertälje, Sweden, at the start of the 2007 season or early in 2008.

ICA Maxi supermarket in Sodertalje, Sweden.

I'm not sure if ICA had hosted any card promotion at the time with AXA (a popular food brand), who were also one of the teams main sponsors at the time, who's logo also appears on the front of the card, but it's possible. I guess some things about this card will have to remain a mystery.

​Regardless, I am just happy this card has made it's way into my collection. Team Issues, while not terribly rare, have always fascinated me as they can differ far from your typical boxed product, making the "story behind the card" that much more unique.

After seeing this card post on my Instagram account (@creasecollector), Jhonas Enroth himself had commented on this blast from the past.

​Do you have a favourite 'Team Issued' card in your collection? 

Happy Collecting, 

- Aaron / Creasecollector