Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction February 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2018
Coming off an exciting Allan Cup win as the senior amateur hockey champions of Canada in 1957, the Whitby Dunlops were then chosen to represent Canada at the 1958 World Championships in Oslo Norway. After the disappointment at the 1956 Olympics and a boycott of the '57 World Championships, the Dunlops brought the world title back to Canada in what is remembered as one of the top achievements in Canadian hockey history. This absolutely gorgeous yellow and black Whitby Dunlops wool sweater was worn at the tournament by George Gosselin. With no labeling present, the sweater features a large felt over felt team crest with heat-pressed name and accents, with four highly detailed felt maple leaves running across the upper chest. The maple leaves are again repeated over the reverse with five spread across the neckline below “Canada”, while the thick felt numbers are affixed with zig-zag pattern attachment. The Canadian squad were wearing these yellow sweaters when they beat the Soviet Union 4-2 on March 9th and clinched the World Championship. We should also note that this sweater was worn during a 14-game exhibition tour of Europe that preceded the tournament as well.
With the dominant yellow still bold and bright, the vintage wool exhibits a few marks on the reverse along with small holes over the upper left sleeve and right elbow, with 3 team repairs over the left sleeve. There is also some minor cracking to the heat-pressed “Dunlop Whitby” letters over the team crest, with the desirable and important sweater in otherwise gorgeous condition. Measuring roughly 22” across the reverse from armpit to armpit, the sweater is roughly a size 44.
George Gosselin is a North Bay native who was an excellent two sport athlete, devoting his energies to hockey and softball. He was twice called upon to play in the World Hockey Championships. Gosselin was a strong skater and a hard worker and was a standout performer in the OHA/NOHA Senior ranks where he drew the attention of Wren Blair in the 1957 Allan Cup playoffs where his Whitby Dunlops eliminated the North Bay Trappers. Winning the right to represent Canada in the 1958 World Hockey Championships, he picked up Gosselin and the Dunlops went on to win gold against the Soviet Union in Oslo, Norway. The Allan Cup champion Belleville McFarlands did the same thing the following year, winning gold again in Czechoslovakia. Gosselin was also a standout softball player, starring in the GMFA and playing on four All Ontario Intermediate “A” Champions and one Co-champ. In 1951 and 1953 he was with Garland Pepsi's as they shared a title and then won one; in 1954 it was Parkview, 1955 Belmont and 1957 Brown Supply.
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