ABOUT US

Winnipeg’s premier sports card and memorabilia store!

CanCentral Sports Cards and Memorabilia is a family-owned sports collectors store in Winnipeg,
specializing in trading cards, framed pictures, autographed memorabilia, jerseys, game-used
collectables, and pop-culture collectables. They are the largest store of its kind in Manitoba and one of
the largest in Western Canada.

Owned by Roger Williams since the early 1990s, the Hryciuk (Hi-Chuck) brothers, Cliff and Trevor,
bought the name and distribution of CanCentral in 2021, and immediately implemented their vision of a
modern sports collector store.

In the fall of 2022, after over 30 years in its original location, CanCentral relocated to its new home at
995 Milt Stegall Drive – a fitting address given the business’ passion for its beloved Winnipeg Blue
Bombers.

In its 2000 square foot storefront, CanCentral displays 20 showcases and countless shelving units full of
singles, packs, and binders of trading cards for hockey, baseball, football, basketball, golf, soccer,
Pokémon, Magic the Gathering and Yugi-oh. The back area of the store features a spacious area for
customers to sit and rummage through monster cards boxes, priced 3 for only $1. Customers are also
welcome to test their skill at bubble hockey on the machine that is located between the front and back
showrooms of the store. CanCentral’s dedication to the hobby is evident, highlighted with a collection of
game-used jerseys, sticks and equipment two of NHL greats: Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky.
The business welcomed over 10 000 visitors since its coveted takeover, including Blue Bombers’ wide
receiver Nic Demski and former Winnipeg Jets’ captain Blake Wheeler.

CanCentral’s staff carries a wealth of knowledge in the hobby that includes a focus on Pokemon cards,
grading, values, products, and more, as a result of a lifetime of collecting.

In their mission to ignite the hobby in future generations, young collectors are given a free gift during
every visit. On special occasions, the store’s official greeter, mascot and security guard, Boo – a six-year-
old Yorkshire terrier with a heart of a puppy – makes an appearance. Her infectious love for people
appeals to both staff and customers alike.

During the fall, winter, and spring, CanCentral hosts trade nights – a special “after-hours” event where
all customers are invited to bring traders in their collection to trade to other collectors. Each visitor is
treated to free pizza and pop, and a ticket to win prizes drawn throughout the night.

It’s also not just about the business at CenCentral. The members of the staff also complete in Aactive’s
pool league on a team appropriately named the “CanCentral Young Guns”. The staff also occasionally
face off in a winner-take-all hockey game and shootout featuring their families and loved ones.
On August 26, 2023, CanCentral hosted its Grand Opening event, featuring sales on all products, a free
lunch for all attendees, an in-store signing with Bombers’ Nic Demski, and grand prizes for a few lucky
winners. The event was dedicated to its countless loyal customers for short time they have open at their
iconic new location and are looking to serve them again for all their collecting needs.

History of Cancentral

Cancentral Card & Supply Ltd. was formed in 1991 by Roger Williams of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The company started with a small amount of inventory and opened a retail trading card shop at 1381 Erin Street in Winnipeg.

In the years since, the company has grown to be the most recognized name in cards and collectibles in central Canada. The vast majority of insurance claims in Manitoba are settled by appraisals Cancentral. The company carries the most extensive variety of sports collectibles on the prairies, and product is shipped from the Northwest Territories to the southern United States. International sales are growing annually, and with this growing number of dealers throughout 

North America, Cancentral will be able to continue its outstanding record of growth and profitability.

In 1993 and 1994 the hockey and baseball strikes hit the trading card companies hard. Changes throughout the industry included the closing of small retail shops, elimination of the peripheral sellers, reductions in supply from the manufacturers and re-structuring of distribution networks by the major suppliers.

Part of this re-structuring brought the Upper Deck company to Winnipeg to look for a new prairie distributor. The last five finalists on the prairies were interviewed and researched extensively, with Cancentral winning out as the best shop in central Canada. Cancentral was awarded the distributorship.