Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction February 2024
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/20/2024
Their eighth season of play in the top fledged National Hockey League, the 1977-78 edition of the Vancouver Canucks saw the team post a record of 20-43-17 to finish 3rd in the Smythe Division and missing out on the playoffs by just two points. Lead by Mike Walton, who registered 66 points in 65 games played, offered here is this Vancouver Canucks team-issued game jersey that hails from the 1977-78 season. Made by Stall and Dean, company and washing instruction labels are affixed to the inner collar along with "48" and "7" fly tags denoting the size and year of issue. A fully mesh construction offering in Vancoauver's familiar white, green and blue colourway, the front of the jersey is decorated with a Cancuks "Stick in Rink" team crest in layered tackle twill while the sleeves and verso have been styled with the number "11" in single layer blue twill numerals. With no nameplate ever having been affixed over the upper reverse and nobody listed on the roster that year as having worn the number "11", the jersey, utilizing a dual garter belt style fight strap on the interior, remains in excellent condition with only light signs of aging but no wear whatsoever.
Having always been a topic of discussion in the hobby, the Stall and Dean made 1977-78 jerseys were ordered in May of 1977 and were shipped out to the store that did the lettering for the Canucks, who got them in mid-August. From there, the jerseys were sent to the Canucks and the garter belt style fight straps, a team customization, were added. With stories pertaining that the jerseys were meant to be used during playoffs and then sent back to the store that did the lettering who then used them for their own company team and later sold in the store itself, it is also known that there were two sets of the Stall and Dean made garments and that only one made it to the Canucks, with it entirely possible could have been sent to the store that did the lettering and numbers and never sent to the Canucks from there. Either way, a seldom seen offering that is sure to spark a discussion.
Addendum; Wayne Maki was acquired by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1970 NHL expansion draft. Maki played two-and-a-half seasons with Vancouver until being diagnosed with brain cancer in December 1972. He died on May 12, 1974, aged 29. The Canucks unofficially retired his number 11 jersey until Mark Messier, who had worn number 11 with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers, joined the team in 1997. The Canucks allowed Messier to wear the number over the protest of Maki's family. The number 11 hasn't been worn since then.
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