Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2021
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2021
This unique grouping of three pieces of World Hockey Association memorabilia features a blue WHA Biltrite puck, a 1972-73 Alberta Oilers inaugural season team photo, and a WHA plaque presented to referee Vern Buffey.
The circa 1972 blue puck displays the skating player league logo in orange with “WHA” in white at the bottom on one side. The screened logo is mostly intact with tiny portions that have worn off mostly towards the outer edges. The raised “Made in Canada” stamp is on the other side and the puck has a cut on one edge on the logo side, and a very small chip missing from the edge on the other side. Along with various nicks, slices, and scuffs, it remains a distinctive and sought-after display piece.
“Alberta Oilers Hockey Club 1972-73” team photo bears the subtitle, “Albera’s First Major League Team” between Oilers and WHA logos on the top of the matte. Displayed in a 12 ¾” x 14 ¾” wood frame, the team photo is a vintage color photo print that measures 6” x 9 ½” and features GM and coach Bill Hunter seated beside Oilers captain Al Hamilton towards the left side of the front row. Other members of the inaugural edition of the franchise that would go on to become Edmonton’s Stanley Cup dynasty of the 1980s include Val Fonteyne, Jack Norris, Ed Joyal and Bill Hicke, with the names of all players and staff noted in three rows on the matte below the photo, which bears a “McDermid Studios Ltd.” stamp.
A gold-colored puck medallion with the WHA logo on the front is displayed in a wooden frame above a gold-colored plaque on a dark velour background that reads, “Presented to Vern Buffey, In recognition of his Outstanding Assistance in the Continuing Development of Ice Hockey and the World Hockey Association,” and bears the facsimile signatures of WHA president Dennis Murphy and executive director James W. Browitt. Buffey, who was the WHA’s head official for three seasons, also was an NHL referee for 11 seasons.
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