Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction February 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2018
This historic "Canada" wool hockey sweater was worn by George Gosselin of the 1959 world champion Belleville McFarlands – the country's second straight IIHF world championship title. Gosselin was also a member of the Whitby Dunlops, winning gold for Canada at the World Championships the previous season. A clean Albion Knit label sits affixed to the collar, with no other tagging present. Featuring a detailed blue felt maple leaf team crest with “Canada” arching above in matching material, “15” encompassed by “Belleville” and “McFarlands” in layered dual-colour felt resides over the reverse. Alternating black and red striping bands over the sleeves and waist have also been utilized, with four eyelet configuration on tie-neck construction. Surviving in breathtaking condition with strikingly bold and vibrant colours, just a few minor marks/stains are present over the front and sleeves, with a tiny hole over the lower reverse band mentioned strictly for accuracy. It should also be noted that the McFarlands played some 23 European exhibition games before and after the eight-game tournament.
The 1959 Ice Hockey World Championships were held between March 5 and March 15, 1959, in Prague, and six other cities in Czechoslovakia. Led by captain Ike Hildebrand and former and future NHLers Pete Conacher and Red Berenson, the Belleville McFarlands won their first seven games in Prague, securing gold with wins over Finland, the U.S.S.R., Sweden and the U.S.A. in the final round. A meaningless loss in their final game meant a bronze medal for Czechoslovakia.
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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