Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2025
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/18/2025
Established in 1996 by the International Ice Hockey Federation, and running until 2000, the European Hockey League featured teams from different European leagues battling, with TPS from Finland winning the first title. From the 1998 tournament won by VEU Feldkirch from Austria, we have a gold medal along with a small trophy that both hail from the personal collection of noted Finnish hockey executive and writer Kimmo Leinonen. At 2 3/4" in diameter with the original blue and yellow ribbon attached, the obverse of the gold medal features the EHL's logo with "European Hockey League IIHF" in raised letters around the perimeter with "1998" above, and a globe design with crossed hockey sticks on the reverse along with "International Ice Hockey Federation" in raised letters to the perimeter. The trophy stands approx 10" in height, with a handled trophy cup set over a small wooden base. The cup has a crest mounted with the same design as the front of the gold medal, with a plaque affixed to the base with "IIHF European Hockey League". These trophies were given to tournament winners. The gold medal remains in beautiful near mint condition, with just a few very small and minor scratches to the trophy. 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.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).