Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2025
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/18/2025
Representing Russia continuously for two decades which included winning numerous gold medals, Ilya Kovalchuk made his NHL debut with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2001-02 and spent the majority of his career in Georgia. Also suiting up in the National Hockey League with the likes of New Jersey, Los Angeles, Montreal and Washington, Kovalchuk would help his country to gold at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, collecting MVP honours in the process by posting seven (7) points in six (6) games played. Offered here, and hailing from the 2006 Winter Olympic Games when he put up five (5) points in eight (8) games played as Russia claimed fourth (4th) place, is this photo-matched Team Russia jersey worn by Kovalchuk during the games that comes directly from the personal collection of Kimmo Leinonen. Made by Nike, "Made in USA", size "60" and Nike Swoosh logos/designations are affixed to the inner collar along with an IIHF Authentic Collection label while an additional Nike logo has been screened on over the right breast. Decorated over the front of the jersey with a Russian coat of arms crest that features beautifully embroidered details, "Russia" appears below it in embroidered Cyrillic letters over red twill, matching the crest above. Featuring matching Russia coat of arms crests that have been screened on over both shoulders and styled over the sleeves and verso with Kovalchuk's number "71" in either screened on or vinyl numerals, "Kovalchuk" has been spelt out in screened on single layer white coloured letters across the affixed matching nameplate over the upper reverse. Exhibiting overall good game-wear, the jersey sports stick marks over the front and both sleeves as well as board burns over both sleeves, a small unrepaired hole/cut near the right cuff and excellent pilling throughout the interior. Also retaining its original fight strap on the interior as well as a Nike Team Sports barcode inside the reverse hem, the jersey has been photo-matched with Getty Image #81358848 (February 16th, 2006 vs Sweden - 2006 Winter Olympic Games Preliminary Round) to the stick mark over the front hem at his left hip and to the stick marks over the left forearm that are slightly visible. 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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