Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction - March 2007
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/27/2007
Brilliant gold and diamond creation commemorates the Toronto Maple Leafs’ memorable and unexpected Stanley Cup title in 1966-67, as well as their three consecutive Cup triumphs earlier in the decade. The Leafs of ’66-67 sported the oldest lineup ever to win hockey’s most coveted prize, their average age being 31 and bolstered by the likes of Bower (42), Stanley (41), Kelly (39), Sawchuk, Armstrong, Pronovost and Horton. After a third place finish in the regular season, Toronto hit its stride in the playoffs, beating the regular season champs and favored Black Hawks in six semi-final games and then knocking off the defending champion Canadiens in the finals. With the series tied 2-2, the Maple Leafs shocked the Habs in game five in Montreal, snapping home three second period goals to win 4-1 and set up game six back at Maple Leaf Gardens. After a scoreless first period, Ron Ellis scored six-and-a-half minutes into the second, while Jim Pappin, who led all playoff scorers with seven goals and 15 points, scored what proved to be the Cup-winner with 32 seconds left in the frame. Dick Duff brought Montreal close at 5:11 of the third but Leaf captain George Armstrong clinched it, scoring into an empty net to send Leaf supporters into hysterics for the fourth time in six years. Terry Sawchuk made 46 saves in the Cup-clincher while Dave Keon was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. As his players drank champagne from Lord Stanley’s bowl in the dressing room, coach Punch Imlach stated that the Cup victory was his most satisfying of all and was quoted as saying “Everybody said I’d never win another Cup with these old guys. Well, maybe that makes this the biggest kick of all for me because we sure shoved it down everybody’s throats.” One of the ten men around for all four of Toronto’s Stanley Cup triumphs in the 1960s, Eddie Shack first received this gold ring after the Leafs’ ’61-62 win. With each successive Cup win, the size of the diamond in the silver maple leaf on the front was increased. Eighty points of diamonds are thus encircled by the words Torontonians loved to hear; “Stanley Cup Champions.” A raised image of the Stanley Cup is on one side while “Toronto” and the team’s “62, 63, 64” and “67” title years are on a rectangular piece that was changed as time went along. Size 10 ring is stamped “Birks 10K” on the interior of the band, where a scripted “Ed Shack” also appears. Purchased by our consignor directly from Eddie Shack some 20 years ago, the ring has been professionally cleaned and shows moderate wear on the inner and outer bands. Awesome offering coincides with the 40th anniversary reunion of the ’66-67 Toronto team this month and recalls a glorious time in franchise history. Please note that the tempting treasure is subject to a silent reserve. Good luck with this tantalizing memento.
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