Historical Hockey Memorabilia Spring 2012
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/12/2012
Finland got off to a rousing start at the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, winning its first two games of the inaugural edition of the top-level international competition. Led by Hall of Fame captain Jari Kurri, the Finnish team hosted its first two games of the tournament at the Helsinki Ice Hall. Finland’s 1996 World Cup of Hockey lineup featured a lineup of bright young NHL stars, including Teemu Selanne, Jere Lehtinen, Teppo Numminen and Saku Koivu. These four core players would ultimately lead their country to the final of the next World Cup of Hockey in 2004, as well as a pair of Olympic medal wins, including a silver in Turin in 2006.
Finland opened the inaugural World Cup of Hockey tournament with a pair of dominating wins on home ice, outscoring its opponents by a combined score of 15-6. The Czech Republic fell in the round robin opener, victims of a 7-3 drubbing. The Finns topped that result in the next game with an 8-3 win over Germany, setting up a showdown against Sweden for top spot in the European pool. With a crucial bye through the first round of the playoffs at stake, a 5-2 loss in Stockholm forced a quarter-final matchup against Russia. Selanne, Kurri and the rest of their teammates were shut down in a 5-0 loss in Ottawa which eliminated Finland from the tournament.
Offered here are the light blue Team Finland jerseys by Nike, made game ready and issued to the team. These gamers never saw active duty as the Finns wore their white jerseys during each of the four games they played during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Each stylish jersey is tagged in the collar by Nike with their inventory bar code heat-pressed into the inner lower hem. All numbers, lettering and cresting is sewn on and the World Cup of Hockey patch sits up on the left shoulder. Each jersey will come complete with a letter of authenticity from the NHLPA.
Former NHL defenseman Janne Laukkanen played each of Finland’s four games during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Laukkanen had 22 goals and 121 points in 407 regular season games over 9 seasons with Quebec/Colorado, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. This light blue airknit jersey was issued to Laukkanen, though it never saw active duty during the tournament. Tagged in the neck in size 56, the jersey displays number "12" on the back and both sleeves.
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