Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2025
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/18/2025
Playing his junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with teams from Verdun, Laval and Drummondville, Pierre Hamel would sign as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fall of 1974 and would go on to play a total of sixty-nine (69) games in the National Hockey League with the likes of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Winnipeg Jets. Offered here, we present this vintage Toronto Maple Leafs jersey which is attributed to have been issued to and worn by Hamel. A heavyweight durene knit offering made by Rawlings that dates to either the 1976-77 or 1977-78 seasons based on the style of Leafs crest over the front, a Rawlings label displaying a size "56" designation is affixed to the inner collar while the interior remains void of a fight strap. Decorated over the front with a Maple Leafs team crest that has had "Toronto Maple Leafs" embroidered into it, matching alternate logo patches have been placed atop of both shoulders while the sleeves and verso have had the number "31" added to them in single layer blue or white twill numerals. Appearing to never have had a nameplate added over the upper reverse at any time, the jersey shows light game-wear via some pilling/fraying over both sleeves from rubbing against gloves, a small red post paint transfer near the left elbow and finally, a small burn over the lower front, the interior of the jersey shows some minor pilling throughout as well as some spot stains that are also visible on the exterior. Gifted to Leinonen by former Maple Leafs equipment manager/trainer Guy Kinnear in 1981 and hailing directly from Kimmo's personal collection, a Classic Auctions LOA will accompany the piece.
Born in Tampere, Finland, in 1949, and beginning his rise in the hockey ranks as a junior hockey coach while also involved in the hockey stick industry in Canada and Germany, Finnish hockey executive and writer Kimmo Leinonen had a connection to the NHL as he was employed as a scout for the New York Rangers from 1978-79 to 1982-83. As a founding member of the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979 - where he served as chairman from 2011 to 2018, Leinonen also helped to establish the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1996 and was the director of public relations and marketing for the organization from 1995 to 2007. His later career included an appointment as general secretary of the 2012 and 2013 Ice Hockey World Championships co-hosted in both Finland and Sweden. The hockey guru has written multiple books on the history of hockey in Finland, and for his great contributions to the sport, was inducted into the builder category of the Finnish Hall of Fame in 2011. He was further acknowledged as the only person from Finland to win the Paul Loicq Award in recognition for his efforts in international ice hockey in 2023. We are pleased to offer items from his personal collection that he acquired during his years as the IIHF director of public relations and marketing from 1995 to 1997, with others originating from later in his career as well as international hockey memorabilia he collected and items he was gifted.
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