A Century of Memories Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2009
This is the actual Boston Bruins road jersey Normand Leveille was wearing when a near-fatal brain aneurysm ended the 19-year-old left wing's career early in the 1982-83 season. After recording 33 points in 66 games as an 18-year-old rookie, Leveille scored twice in the first period of the Bruins' ninth game of the following season in Vancouver. The date was October 23, 1982, and the two goals gave him nine points - including three goals and six assists - in what was shaping up to be a very productive sophomore campaign. Drilled into the boards by Canucks forward Marc Crawford at one point in the opening period, Leveille told assistant coach Jean Ratelle that he felt dizzy as the Bruins made their way to the dressing room between periods. Concerned that Leveille might have suffered a concussion, Ratelle took him to Boston trainer Jimmy Kausek. When Leveille began to lose consciousness, he was rushed off in an ambulance with Ratelle at his side. The victim of an arteriovenous malformation, Leveille was not injured by any on-ice incident but rather suffered from a congenital condition that caused massive bleeding inside his head. Neurosurgeons at Vancouver General Hospital saved Leveille's life with a seven-hour operation that left him in a coma for three weeks. His promising career over, Leveille spent several more weeks in hospital, was left partially paralyzed on the right side of his body and never fully recovered his ability to speak. Offered here from Normand Leveille's personal collection, this black mesh Boston jersey with colorful Bruins head patches sewn onto both shoulders has its original washed-out and frayed Sandow and laundry instruction fly tags sewn into the neck. The #19 in yellow and white double twill is sewn onto the back and both sleeves. Leveille's surname is spelled out in yellow and white double twill letters sewn onto a black mesh nameplate. The jersey's original fight strap is intact and Sandow SK is screened onto the right rear hem in black lettering. This Leveille gamer exhibits clear game use with a welt of a black stick mark in the lower right part of the Bruins "Hub" crest on the front of the jersey that has been positively matched to an on-ice photo of the 19-year-old Boston left wing in action. Another slashing stick mark in the black mesh beneath the logo. Board burns and a couple of unrepaired holes dot both elbows. This historically significant Normand Leveille Boston Bruins road jersey comes along with a letter of authenticity.
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