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 Calder Trophy winner Steve Vickers to score the New York Rangers 294th goal of the season vs Montreal at the Forum, on March 31st 1973. Assisted by both Gene Carr and Bill Fairburn, it was the rookie’s 30th and final goal of the season, with 246 career goals amassed. The Rangers wouldn’t fair so well this evening, with Vickers’ goal scored at 11:21 of the third the lone bright spot in a 5-1 loss. Regarding condition, the rubberized Canadiens logo is centered with a miss-shaped right side and some toning, while the Goal Puck Program label exhibits some light discolouration. With absolutely no chips, dings or grooves, the puck survives in gorgeous condition.
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