Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2022
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/1/2022
Originating from an employee of the St Louis Blues according to a past auction sale, and first worn as a member of Team Canada in 1969-70, we have a rare photo-matched pretzel mask worn by Wayne Stephenson. Donned with St Louis in the early-1970s, in 1971-72, Stephenson played for the AHL Kansas City Blues (21 games) and the St. Louis Blues (2 games). He also played for the St Louis in 1972-73 (45 games) and 1973-74 (40 games). Sporting a beige finish with surface wear present throughout, the mask is all original including the paint, with just the straps changed, with the mask currently housing period-correct strapping made by famed mask and strap maker Ed Cubberly. The bridge of the nose has been repaired/reconstructed, with “Plante” handwritten at the top left of the mask, but it is mostly worn away. Photo-matched to an image of Stephenson with Team Canada in 1969-70 with the shape and details identical, including being able to identify where bars were removed on the mask with a saw, as the nubs and their placements match, chips to the paint are also visible in the image and matching. Two images of Stephenson with the Blues as well as his 1973-74 Topps and O-Pee-Chee hockey cards are showing him wearing this mask with the repaired/reconstructed nose with brown fiberglass which most likely occurred between his time with Team Canada and his time with St. Louis. Additionally, there is photo evidence that Stephenson stopped using the pretzel mask before he left St. Louis and then wore noted painted full fiberglass specimens in Philly. He possibly left the mask in St Louis, or gave it to someone in the organization. Lastly, we should note that the mask was possibly made by Seth Martin for Stephenson when the IIHF began requiring goaltenders to wear masks. While Stephenson is known for the full face fiberglass masks he wore in Philadelphia and Washington, this is where it all started.
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