A Century of Memories Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2009
Breathtaking 107-year old treasure has remarkable provenance and brings forth the story of the exploits of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association's hockey club shortly after the turn of the 20th century. The Montreal AAA squad captured the Stanley Cup in March of 1902 with a close, hard-fought best-of-three series with the defending Cup-champion Winnipeg Victorias. Montreal challenged Winnipeg after having won the CAHL championship and headed west, with over 4000 fans packing Winnipeg Arena for game one, won 1-0 by the Victorias. The AAA took the second game 5-0 and in the third Art (Archie) Hooper and Jack Marshall scored early and Montreal hung on for a 2-1 victory, earning the nickname "Little Men of Iron" because of their stubborn defence. The engraving on the interior of the 14-karat gold pocket watch by Waltham reads "Presented to A.W. Hooper by the Montreal Hockey Club - 1902", while the exterior features the club's winged wheel logo, the year and "Hockey Champions of the World." Archie Hooper helped Montreal to successfully defend its Cup title in February of 1903, but a few years later died from an injury sustained in a game. Before his death, he gave the pocket watch to his brother Reginald Hooper and asked him to pass it along to any children Reginald might have. He had one daughter, the mother of our consignor, who received it and was asked to give it to one of her children on a special occasion. She passed it along to her husband before her death and he gave it to our consignor in the 1980s upon his graduation with a Master's Degree from the University of Alberta. It is now being offered to the hobby, with the proceeds going to a post-secondary education fund to ensure his grandchildren's ability to study at any university of their choice. Preserved in outstanding condition for the past 100-plus years, this stirring piece of Stanley Cup and hockey history is truly museum-worthy and will render its new owner incredibly proud. Watch will come with a letter of provenance from the consignor.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).