Historical Hockey Memorabilia Spring 2012
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/12/2012
Sent overseas in 1959 to defend Canada's world championship title, the Belleville McFarlands were up to the task in Czechoslovakia. This historic "Canada" wool hockey sweater was worn by a member of the 1959 world champions who claimed the country's second straight IIHF world title. Led by captain Ike Hildebrand and former and future NHLers Pete Conacher and Red Berenson, the 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. Our consignor, Frantisek Tikal, obtained the jersey from his grandfather, who played for the host team and kept it in the family as a cherished souvenir. Beautiful maple leaf crest and "Canada" in arched letters above are sewn-on in blue felt. This fantastic tie-neck wool creation has an Albion Knit manufacturer's label in the back of the neck. It measures out to roughly a size 44. Number "22" and "Belleville McFarlands" are sewn on the back in individual red-and-black double felt. We count 14 team repairs on the front, a dozen on the right sleeve, eight on the left sleeve, and 13 on the back. Very nicely preserved, the still-vibrant colors have to be seen to be fully appreciated. The McFarlands played some 15 exhibition games before the eight-game tournament. It is unclear which member of the team wore this jersey as there were a number of lineup changes over the course of the team's play in Europe. It is clearly a 1959 Team Canada jersey worn by the gold medal champion Belleville McFarlands. This historic Team Canada international hockey jersey comes with Frantisek Tikal's signed LOA.
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