The 2009 Montreal Centennial Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2009
An absolute shocker and jaw-dropper is this sensational relic, used by Hall of Fame goaltender Harry "Hap" Holmes in helping the Victoria Cougars to the Stanley Cup title in the spring of 1925. Holmes had been a star in every league he played, backstopping the Toronto Blueshirts to the Cup in 1913-14, the Seattle Metropolitans in 1916-17 and the Toronto Arenas in 1917-18, before signing on with Lester Patrick's Victoria squad prior to the '24-25 season. It culminated with the Cougars defeating Howie Morenz, Aurele Joliat and Georges Vezina and the defending Cup champion Montreal Canadiens in a best-of-five final. The scores of the Cougars' three-games-to-one victory were added to the paddle of this stick and follow the scores of their Western Canada Hockey League triumphs over Saskatoon. Preceding the results are the still very legible black ink signatures of the Victoria team, which are beneath a "World's Champs Cougars 1925" notation. Harry "Happy" Holmes starts off the autographs and is followed in order by Clem Loughlin, Frank Fredrickson, one we're not sure of (initials are L.B.), Harry Meeking, Harold Hart, Frank Foyston, Jack Walker, Gord Fraser, Jocko Anderson, "Slim" Halderson and Wally Elmer. There is then another Holmes signature ("Happy Holmes") near where the paddle meets the shaft. The well-used stick exhibits extensive game use, with finishing nails used for reinforcement in both the paddle and blade. The taping of the blade is similar toa photo picturing Holmes. Original black tape has partially worn through the heel area, while severalwraps/layers are around the tip area. Rather spine-tingling is the thought of Holmes stopping the likes of Morenz and Joliat with this very stick, although the two, along with linemate Billy Boucher accounted for all eight of Montreal's goals in the series. The Cougars took the first two games (5-2, 3-1), with the Canadiens winning 4-2 before Victoria clinched Lord Stanley's silverware with a 6-1 victory and by doing so becoming only the third west coast club to capture the Stanley Cup. Fascinating is the (small) size of the stick; what a youth would use today. Astonishing to hold and truly a one-of-a-kind museum-worthy piece, it will render its new owner proud and tingly!
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