Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction March 2010
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/16/2010
"Do you believe in miracles? YES!" Al Michaels's legendary call said it all as the final seconds wound down in the U.S.A.'s incredible 4-3 upset win over the powerful Soviet Union national team in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Offered here is the actual puck from Mark Johnson's goal with 1 second left in the opening period. With the U.S.A. trailing 2-1 as time wound down in the first, Dave Christian fired a long slap shot on Vladislav Tretiak. The great Soviet goalie stopped the shot but misplayed the rebound and Johnson scooped it past Tretiak to tie it at 2. To the puzzlement of all, Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov replaced his Hall of Fame goalie with Vladimir Myshkin. The U.S. fell behind 3-2 in the second but Johnson tied it once again with his second of the game moments before American captain Mike Eruzione scored his goal for the ages midway through the third. This historic "Miracle on Ice" goal puck comes with outstanding documentation to support its provenance that traces it from the back of the net behind Tretiak to the referee's hands and on to the scorekeeper's bench. Included here is a signed letter from penalty box attendant Roger King, who received Johnson's goal puck from the referee. King states that he kept the puck in his jacket pocket through the end of the game and then gave it to Mark Gilligan, his boss and our consignor. Gilligan, a local high school coach and teacher, has signed his letter of provenance, stating that he was a volunteer committee member for the Lake Placid Games and, in his capacity as chairman of equipment and supplies for ice hockey, he hired King to work the USA-USSR game. A digital image of Gilligan's Olympic ID and additional letters backing the stories of King and Gilligan are included. Mark Johnson has added his #10 to the gold sharpie signature he has placed on the puck, a blank "Made in Czechoslovakia" slug that is identical in style to the Eruzione goal puck. "1980 'Miracle' 2-2" is written in gold sharpie over a of tape residue that stretches diagonally across the reverse. A letter of authenticity from PSA accompanies this historic signed "Miracle on Ice" goal puck. This item is subject to a silent reserve.
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