The 2009 Montreal Centennial Auction
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This remarkable red wool 1968 Canadiens jersey was originally obtained directly from Henri Richard in the wake of the Habs’ Stanley Cup win over the expansion St. Louis Blues. Toe Blake announced his retirement shortly after claiming his eighth and final Cup in 13 seasons behind Montreal’s bench. With their championship, Richard and teammates Jean Beliveau and Claude Provost all matched Maurice Richard’s record of eight Stanley Cups, which had also been tied the previous season by Red Kelly. Henri Richard added three more Cups, establishing a new benchmark with his 11th in 1973 as the team’s captain. The Pocket Rocket wore an alternate captain’s “A” on the left breast of his Habs jersey when the Canadiens swept the upstart Blues in four straight games, each decided by one goal, including two in overtime. Montreal went 12-1 during the 1968 playoffs, which saw three first-round games postponed following the assassination of Martin Luther King during one of the most tumultuous and eventful calendar years of the 20th Century. The Habs clinched their 15th Cup on May 11 in the final game at the Montreal Forum before the famous arena underwent extensive renovations during the summer of 1968. This No. 16 Canadiens sweater worn by Henri Richard was originally given to an individual who was dating an executive secretary in the Habs’ front office. A guest of the team for both home games during the final, he asked for a jersey as a souvenir and received this beauty of a gamer. The “CH” logo is triple tackle twill, with red on white on blue twill, sewn onto the front of the sweater. The alternate captain’s “A” sewn onto the left breast and No. 16 sewn on the back as well as both sleeves are double tackle twill, white on blue. A fly tag that reads “DRY CLEAN WITH CARE” remains sewn into the inner right seam. The white grommets on the front of the laceup collar are in pristine condition, though the original lace to tie down the collar has long since parted ways with the jersey. This historical Habs jersey exhibits fantastic wear with a team repair on the left elbow and a number of tiny holes about the hem and on the sleeves. A larger hole is to note within the circle of the “6” on the back, which has also seen some stitching let go. This outstanding hockey treasure comes along with a letter of authenticity. The jersey was originally obtained directly from the Montreal Canadiens team, the very next day after the 1968 Stanley Cup championship game and will come with supporting documents from the original owner.
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