Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction - March 2007
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/27/2007
One of the highlights from Alan Eagleson's many years of organizing and promoting international hockey, this red mesh Team Canada jersey donned by a young Wayne Gretzky during the 1981 Canada Cup is a wonderful way to lead off Mr. Eagleson's auction. The Eagle had been a proponent of Canada sending an all-star team to the World Junior Hockey Championships in the 1970s, instead of the winner of the Memorial Cup, and it was Gretzky who led Team Canada when that all- star team concept was first tried when Canada hosted the competition in late December and early January of Wayne's 1977-78 junior season. Despite being only 16, Wayne showed numerous flashes of brilliance at the Montreal Forum that the hockey world would grow accustomed to in the years to come. By the time the 1981 Canada Cup rolled around, Wayne had two 50+ goal NHL seasons to his credit, to go along with his first of ten scoring championships. In his first Canada Cup tournament, Gretz's 12 points (five goals, seven assists) led all scorers, although the Russians spoiled the party by skating off with the championship trophy for the only time in Canada Cup history. Wayne's Team Canada jersey is by Sandow with an almost washed-out size "48" added in ballpoint to the company tag in the neck. A laundered washing instructions tag beneath it is now blank. The Team Canada logos, Wayne's number "99" on the back and sleeves and "Gretzky" across the back (no nameplate), are all screened-on. A loop- style fight strap is in the tail and "Sandow SK" is screened on the rear hem. As expected, it exhibits light game use, but with a good two-inch burn at the left elbow. There is some noticeable cracking in the numbers on the back to mention, along with lighter cracking in the screening elsewhere, and what appears to be some type of ink staining on the front, to the left and above the "AN" of Canada. A sensational opportunity for Gretzky and jersey collectors alike, it is from Canada Cup chairman Alan Eagleson's personal collection and will come with his signed letter of authenticity.
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