Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2025
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/18/2025
From the impressive personal collection of noted Finnish hockey executive and writer Kimmo Leinonen, we have a collection of IIHF medals totaling five, including 2005 European Champions gold and bronze medals, 2000 European Super Cup gold medal and 1997 & 2010 Continental Cup gold medals. The 2005 European Champions gold and bronze medals are matching in design at 2 1/2" in diameter with the original blue and yellow ribbons attached, with a ship design along with "European Champions Cup" in raised letters and "St Petersburg 2005" above, while each reverse has a large IIHF logo. The pair show light surface wear and oxidation. Next, the 2000 European Super Cup gold medal is 2 3/4" in diameter with the original blue and yellow ribbon attached, with a tournament logo on the obverse along with "European Super Cup" in raised letters and "2000" above, with an IIHF logo to the reverse. For the 1997 & 2010 Continental Cup gold medals, the 1997 medal is matching in size to the 2000 European Super Cup gold medal, with the original blue and yellow ribbon attached, with a Continental Cup design on the front along with "1997" above, and globe with crossed hockey stick motif on the reverse along with "IIHF". The 2010 medal is 2 1/2" in diameter with the original IIHF ribbon attached, with a cubism hockey player design and "IIHF Continental Cup" and "2010" above, with a raised IIHF logo on the reverse. All three gold medals remain in gorgeous condition with no issues. An LOA from Classic Auctions will accompany.
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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