Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/8/2017
In 1972 founders of a company named Hockey Diversified Inc. envisioned that each puck shot into the net to produce an official goal scored in an NHL hockey game would develop a degree of intrinsic collector value for hockey fans everywhere. The founders took this idea to the NHL and procured the rights to all such NHL pucks during regular season and playoff games for a period of five years. Pucks shot into the net for a goal were collected by the referees, given to the time keepers to label and then shipped to Hockey Diversified to further label with scoring details. The pucks were then marketed to the public by Hockey Diversified Inc. Unfortunately this idea was ahead of its time and pucks sold poorly. The program lasted only two seasons, 1972-1973 and 1973-74. Hockey Diversified Inc. dissolved shortly thereafter. Classic Auctions is honored to have been chosen by an original founder of Hockey Diversified to sell, at upcoming auctions, residual, unsold pucks from that “NHL Registered Goal Puck” collection.
Each puck originally distributed by Hockey Diversified could be obtained by mail with the buyer’s choice of team and possibly player. A label was affixed to each puck listing the scorer, team and date, along with a code that divulged which team-goal said puck accounted for. This particular puck was used by HOFer Phil Esposito to score the Boston Bruins 344th goal of the season vs the Maple Leafs at Boston Garden, on April 7th 1974. Assisted by both Bobby Orr and Wayne Cashman, it was the superstar’s 68th and last goal of the season, and 466th of his amazing 717 goal career. The Bruins would edge the Maple Leafs 6-4 in the high scoring affair, with Esposito finishing the night with 4 points.
From an Art Ross, Hart Memorial and Lester B. Pearson Trophy winning season, Esposito’s 68 goals would be the second-most goals ever scored in an NHL season up until that point, with Esposito previously scoring the most, with 76 netted in the 1970-71 season. Scored with just 16 seconds played in the first, the night would also be noteworthy for another Bruins star, with Orr garnering 6 points including a pair of goals. Regarding condition, the rubberized Bruins logo is centered and near flawless, while the Goal Puck Program label exhibits just a few light marks. With no major chips, dings or grooves, the puck survives in beautiful condition.
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