A Century of Memories Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2009
Nineteen-year-old left wing Normand Leveille wore this Boston Bruins home jersey during the 1982-83 NHL season before a near-fatal brain injury just nine games into his sophomore season ended his promising career. Chosen 14th overall by Boston - just ahead of Hall of Fame defenceman Al MacInnis - in the 1981 NHL entry draft, Leveille was a top prospect as the Bruins looked forward to a promising decade built around young talent such as Ray Bourque and Barry Pederson. Everything changed on October 23, 1982. After scoring two goals in the first period of the Bruins' ninth game of the season in Vancouver, Leveille complained of dizziness between periods and was rushed to hospital by ambulance as he began to lose consciousness. The victim of a brain aneurysm caused by a congenital disorder, Leveille underwent a lifesaving seven-hour brain operation that left him in a coma for three weeks. His promising hockey career over, Leveille battled determinedly through rehab, yet was ultimately left partially paralyzed on the right side of his body and never fully regained his ability to speak. Despite his injuries, Leveille's will and spirit carried him forward to face a new life. A courageous and clearly delighted Leveille is pictured in a photo from his 21st birthday on January 10, 1984 that shows 18-year-old wunderkind Mario Lemieux sitting beside him, holding up this Leveille Bruins home jersey. On February 11, 1984, Leveille put on this remarkable Bruins gamer one more time as he made a triumphant and emotional return to Boston Garden. A rousing and lengthy standing ovation welcomed Leveille home as he stepped onto the ice wearing this #19 jersey. This lightly used Bruins jersey displays clear signs of game wear, including nice paint transfer on both elbows and a good board burn in the black mesh near the left cuff. The Sandow fly tag in the neck is completely washed out and the laundry instruction tag beneath it remains intact. This white mesh Boston jersey features colorful Bruins head patches sewn onto both shoulders, Leveille's surname spelled out in individual black and yellow twill letters sewn onto a white nameplate, and #19 in black and yellow twill sewn onto the back and both sleeves. The Sandow SK logo is screened in black onto the right rear hem and the jersey's original fight strap is intact. This remarkable Boston Bruins home jersey from Normand Leveille's personal collection comes along with a letter of authenticity.
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