Historical Hockey and Sports Memorabilia Auction Winter 2023
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2023
Before he was “The Great One” setting record after record in the National Hockey League and winning Stanley Cups on his way to becoming the greatest player that both the league and the world had ever seen, Wayne Gretzky was as a member of the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League where he would play 63 games during the 1977-78 season, registering 182 points during that time and winning the Emms Family Award as Rookie of the Year. Offered here, and hailing from that lone season up north with the Greyhounds, is this stick used by Gretzky that comes to us with excellent provenance.
The original owner of the stick recalls that he received it from the “dressing room boy” of the Greyhounds, who had a large collection of sticks that had been passed his way by the players, in the winter of 1977-78 upon being asked by friends of his to go play hockey and telling them that he had no stick at that moment. After confirming with the original owner that he shot left, the stick presented here was picked out and given to the original owner by the "dressing room boy", once belonging to and having been used Gretzky.
A Sher-Wood P.M.P. Glasfibre model originally made for Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers, “16 B. Clarke” is stamped over the upper shaft while Wayne’s now iconic “99” has been penned underneath in black marker. Retaining its original tape job of white-over-black on the handle/knob in a style used by Wayne at that time, the blade has been been covered with black though it should be noted that photos show Wayne as having not used tape on the blades of his sticks during his time played with the Greyhounds. It is possible that this was added by the original owner after he came into possession of the piece as he states in the letter of provenance that he used the stick several times. Exhibiting good wear throughout, though tough to say which is from use by Gretzky and which is from the original owner, numerous marks and abrasions are present throughout the shaft, with red and blue colored marks observed as well. Most of the graphics on the topside of the shaft have been rubbed off with the wood appearing dry while the foil accent stickers only remain partially intact. Additionally, cracks are seen to the bottom of the blade and the heel with chips out of the toe and top side of the bend in the middle of the heel as well. Overall, an incredible piece used by the greatest player of all-time before the launch of his professional career, the stick is accompanied by the letter of provenance signed by the original owner and an additional LOA from Shawn Chaulk.
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