Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction April 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2024
A first round draft choice of the now-defunct Hartford Whalers in 1995, Jean-Sebastien Giguere would backstop the Whalers, Flames, Ducks, Maple Leafs and Avalanche over the course of his 16-year National Hockey League career. The 2003 Conn Smythe Trophy winner despite not winning the Cup, Giguere would avenge the defeat by helping the Ducks to Lord Stanley’s mug in 2007. Rounding out his esteemed career with a trio of seasons in Colorado as a member of the Avalanche, offered here is this photo-matched mask worn by Giguere during the 2011-12 season. A Reebok branded offering made for Giguere by Michel Lefebvre, all the interior padding as well as the strapping harness remains intact and accounted for, with it also appearing that Giguere didn't use a sweatband on the interior. Displaying labels reading "Pour:/For: JS Giguere - Par:/ By: M. Lefebvre" and "Fait Au:/Made In: Canada" on either side of the interior behind the ears, the entirety of the shell has been painted by Marlene Ross with a breaking apart/mountain and avalanche design in Colorado's burgundy, blue and white colours while bands reading "Avalanche" is letters made to look like their cut into the ice and show extend from the chin up to behind both ears over the cheek areas. Having been signed by Ross with her signature underneath the left ear at the edge of the shell, the backplate features a design that mimics what is seen over the rest of the mask as well as the letters "MOG" and "LCG" in letters matching those that spell out the previously mentioned "Avalanche". Featuring the original white powder coated cage on the face of the mask as well as all the hardware and a cleat throat protector, the mask displays game-use in the form of some paint chipping to the cage and edges of the shell while a dark puck mark is present over the left cheek. Also showing a few other puck marks over the rest of the shell and bottom of the cage, numerous red coloured paint transfer marks are found over the cage and top of the head as well while good sweat staining is seen in the strapping harness.
Regarding the aforementioned photo-matches, the mask is matched with Getty Image #141764411 (March 20th, 2012 vs Calgary) the placement of elements in the design as well as to the loose thread in the strapping harness at the top of Giguere's head, areas of chipping in the cage (they do appear larger now than what is seen in the image but are in the same areas) and to the small red paint mark that is seen in the top portion of the broken off ice section above the "o" in "Reebok" on the forehead. Additionally, the mask is also matched an included physical image of Giguere from the season that shows the same red coloured mark and the chipping at the bottom of the chin. Housed in an included Reebok mask bag that has had "J.S. Giguere" embroidered into the front of it, it is worth noting that the throat protector is likely to have been changed at some point as white strings are used versus the black ones that are seen in the images used to photo-match the piece.
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