NHL Hall of Fame Legend Bobby Orr Set to Release First Collection to the Public

To celebrate National Hockey League (NHL) Hall of Famer Bobby Orr’s esteemed career on and off the ice, Orr is collaborating with renowned mixed media artist Paul Gerben and Web3 leader Pastel Network to unveil the Bobby Orr Collection.

Designed as a tribute to Orr’s loyal fans, the collection showcases unique digital trading cards, limited edition artwork and sculptures, and more. Exclusive drops from this collection offer holders access to unparalleled experiences from 1:1 video calls or attending an NHL game with Bobby, to signed memorabilia and merchandise, and special edition physical copies.

“While hockey players come and go and championships are won and lost, there is one aspect to the game that never changes: the fans,” said NHL and Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr. “The fans are the mainstay to any professional sporting organization, and I was lucky enough to have some of the greatest fans on planet Earth. This collection is for them, and I am beyond thrilled to be a part of something that will allow me to connect with my fans and celebrate them in a new and exciting fashion.”

Each item in the collection is designed by Paul Gerben, known for his celebrity portraits and large scale sculpture work. With pieces being internationally auctioned at Christie’s, Gerben’s collectors include Jimmy Fallon, Pink, Barack Obama and Tommy Hilfiger. He has become acclaimed for his work at the intersection of fine art and Web3.

“After diving into the world of physical art and Web3 over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with Pastel and Bobby Orr to create something very special for both Bobby and his loyal fanbase – the truest expression of reverence,” said collection artist Paul Gerben. “I took classic trading cards as we once knew them and gave them new life. The ability to evolve with art has always been a passion of mine, and I am thrilled to continue to do so in the digital collectible space with such a generational icon as Bobby Orr.

The collection’s debut drop, the Orr 1,444 Deck, features 1,444 unique digital NHL trading cards. It will be followed by a series of limited edition digital and physical releases including large scale artworks, desktop sculptures, and life-size statues – each with famous action shots like Orr’s famous Stanley Cup winning dive.

With the inaugural 1,444 Deck, fans can delve into cards of varied rarity spanning four tiers: Ultra Rare, Very Rare, Rare, and Common. Additionally, collectors receive exclusive privileges, ranging from access to the Bobby Orr Fan Club, Bobby Orr Discord, to an array of other valuable perks.

Widely regarded as one of hockey’s all-time greats, Bobby Orr, the former Boston Bruins defenseman, has left an indelible mark on the sport. Beyond being the first defenseman to top the National Hockey League in scoring, Orr clinched two Stanley Cups and garnered a plethora of awards, including eight Norris Trophies as the league’s premier defenseman and three Hart Trophies recognizing him as the Most Valuable Player during his illustrious career.

The collection is made possible by Pastel Network’s SmartMint — a revolutionary no-code tool streamlining the creation, management, and minting of digital collectibles. Smartmint ensures secure storage of NFT metadata and boasts compatibility with various blockchains, such as Ethereum, Solana, and Binance Smart Chain. With SmartMint, creators have the capability to debut NFT drops or feature them on sites like OpenSea.

Fans can seamlessly mint authentic Bobby Orr digital trading cards using SmartMint anchored securely on the Ethereum blockchain. The tool harnesses Pastel’s groundbreaking infrastructure Cascade for data storage and Sense to gauge a collectible’s rarity. It’s not just about owning a collectible but cherishing a one-of-kind piece of memorabilia from a hockey legend. For Bobby and his team, SmartMint offers a user-friendly gateway, bridging both seasoned Web3 enthusiasts and new fans alike.

“Our team was eager to showcase Smartmint’s simplicity and power through this drop,” said Anthony Georgiades, co-founder of Pastel Network. “It’s an honor to team up with Bobby Orr as he embraces this new method to engage with his long-standing fans. We are excited to bring hockey lovers these once-in-a-lifetime pieces of memorabilia to uniquely thank them for all their support over the years and connect with them in this new, exciting way.”

For the latest on the Bobby Orr Collection, including whitelist and minting announcements, please follow @Orrcollection on Twitter / X. Those keen on acquiring a Bobby Orr NFT should head to https://bobbyorr.pastel.network.

To learn more about Pastel Network and SmartMint, please visit our official Pastel Network and SmartMint sites. Stay connected by following @PastelNetwork and @SmartMint on Twitter / X.

About Pastel Network
Pastel Network is a fully decentralized, interoperable layer-1 blockchain serving as the preeminent protocol standard for non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) and Web3 technology. Pastel powers layer-1 & layer-2 blockchains, decentralized applications (”dApps”), or third-party enterprises with next-generation infrastructure including NFT copymint protection, permanent data storage, and more. Lightweight protocols delivered via Web3 open APIs like Sense and Cascade can be easily integrated across existing ecosystems. A wide range of applications can be built directly on Pastel, enabling developers to enjoy the NFT primitives, composability, plug-and-play modules, and security of the broader network.
Visit pastel.network to learn more and read our post on Medium to learn more about this collaboration.

Filed Under: Press Releases