Aaron Ekblad was born in Windsor, Ontario and was an honor roll student at St. Anne's Catholic High School in Clinton, Ontario. Ekblad was granted 'exceptional player' status by Hockey Canada which allowed him to compete in the Canadian Hockey League a year prior to his peers. Connor McDavid and John Tavares were other Canadian athletes that qualified for the same exception. In 2014, Ekblad finished in first place in the OHL Coaches Poll for best shot, hardest shot, best offensive defenseman and best defensive defenseman. After his performance in his first year in the NHL, Ekblad won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year. Ekblad has inked his signature on this UDA designed 16"x24" image in black paint pen. His signature is deemed authentic by virtue of Upper Deck Authenticated's Five-Step Process.