Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Winter 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2023
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.
During the two years of the NHL Goal Puck Program, Hockey Diversified Inc. received the 9 goal pucks from the 1973 NHL All-Star Game and the 10 goal pucks from the 1974 NHL All-Star Game. Because of market conditions, these goal pucks were never processed to completion for sale. Only 19 such pucks exist. This goal puck was not processed to completion by Hockey Diversified Inc. and is offered as initially labelled once received from the NHL. Each goal puck was individually numbered 1 through 9 in chronological order relative to scoring events and statistics provided by the NHL.
This particular puck was used by Montreal Canadiens HOF centerman Jacques Lemaire of the East Division All-Stars to score the 6th goal of the game against goalie Rogie Vachon at 3:19 of the 3rd period, assisted by fellow HOFers Frank Mahovlich and Guy Lapointe. This was the 2nd and last All-Star Game for Lemaire. Career All-Star Game Totals - GP-2, G-1, A-1. The Rubberized Rangers logo remains clean, with some light staining to the NHL label. There is also a small slice along an edge facing the NHL label.
On January 30th 1973, the 26th NHL All-Star Game was played in Madison Square Garden. The rivalry between East and West was palpable. After a tight and scoreless first period, the game opened up early in the 2nd and produced a fast-paced, high-scoring gentleman’s game with only four penalties called. In the end, the East Division All-Stars prevailed defeating the West Division All-Stars 5-4. Bobby Schmautz scored the game-winning goal for the East at 13:59 of the 3rd period. Greg Polis scored 2 goals for the West and was named the game’s MVP.
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