Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction February 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2018
The Parkhurst company's landmark inaugural hockey card issue leads our consignor's interesting ensemble of complete sets and will of course interest numerous hobbyists, with very few unsightly cards and VG-and-better specimens accounting for more than half. The key Gordie Howe card features a slight diamond cut and a light side-to-side back crease through the middle, rendering it VG. Also VG is the Maurice Richard RC, with a small diagonal upper left corner crease, while the Sawchuck rookie is F with multiple light creases. Among the rest, eight commons make it to EX, with 21 cards at VG-EX or VG-EX+, including RCs of 7-Johnson, 37-Gadsby and 68-Pronovost. Among ten VG+ cards are RCs of 10-Harvey, 14-Geoffrion, 63-Delvecchio and 94-Stanley. VG cards total 18, with 11 G+ and nine Gs also present, along with four Fs with minor back damage (1-Lach). Attractive and crease-free but abnormally short or narrow, in our eyes, with a suspect edge or two are (16), including 15-McNeil, 52-The Winning Goal, 55-Kelly and 86-Kennedy. Five multi-creased cards are P-F; #s 27, 56-Lindsay, 72-Meeker, 76-Rollins, 80-Flaman. Desirable little relics!
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The Michael Ontkean “1977 Slap Shot” Movie and Hockey Card Collection
“It’s their rink, it’s their ice, it’s their fu**king town. But tonight we got our fans with us!”
- Reggie Dunlop (Paul Newman), Slap Shot 1977
More prophetic words regarding the legacy of the cult classic hockey film have never been spoken. And despite the passing of four decades and a plethora of sub-par hockey and sports films... the fans of Slap Shot have never left.
Yes Reggie, your fans are still with you, and the beloved Charlestown Chiefs.
While both versed-in and blessed-with an endless array of historic and paramount hockey material here at Classic Auctions, some items and collections are special, as are some consignors. We are absolutely thrilled to bring to auction items from the personal collection of legendary actor and Slap Shot star Michael Ontkean! Included we have Michael's screen-worn Slap Shot jersey, gloves worn throughout both filming and his hockey career and numerous vintage hockey card sets collected by the star. We even have hockey gloves that were taken home by John Wayne after filming Idol of the Crowds in 1937 and gifted to Michael in 1975!
Born in Vancouver and coming from an acting family, it’s no surprise that Michael entered the profession as a youth, first appearing on the Canadian show Hudson’s Bay in 1959. Later coming to prominence in the early-1970s TV series The Rookies, Michael was ideal for the role of Ned Braden in Slap Shot, as the especially gifted actor was no slouch on the ice. At the University of New Hampshire, Ontkean played on the Wildcats first line with the same linemates for their entire college year. In their junior year, 1967-68, this trio was the highest scoring line in the nation with 163 points. Ontkean averaged a little better than a-goal-a-game that season (30 goals in 29 games). This goal-a-game pace has only been done a handful of times in the last forty (40) years. Additional acting roles followed in Willie and Phil (1980), The Blood of Others (1984) and Maid to Order (1987), with his role as Sheriff Harry S. Truman in the critically acclaimed 1990 series Twin Peaks especially notable, with fans disappointed that Michael chose not to reprise his role with the 2017 revival of the series.
While the landmark film has never left the public’s consciousness, it’s difficult to contemplate the sheer importance Slap Shot has had on the hockey world at large. Now belonging to the ages, new and enthusiastic generations of young skaters to come will embrace the film, sharing in the rich history of both the game as well as the film’s accurate and comedic depiction of “old-time hockey”.
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