Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction February 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/27/2018
In 1972 founders of a company named Hockey Diversified Inc. envisioned that each puck shot into the net to produce an official goal scored in an NHL hockey game would develop a degree of intrinsic collector value for hockey fans everywhere. The founders took this idea to the NHL and procured the rights to all such NHL pucks during regular season and playoff games for a period of five years. Pucks shot into the net for a goal were collected by the referees, given to the time keepers to label and then shipped to Hockey Diversified to further label with scoring details. The pucks were then marketed to the public by Hockey Diversified Inc. Unfortunately this idea was ahead of its time and pucks sold poorly. The program lasted only two seasons, 1972-1973 and 1973-74. Hockey Diversified Inc. dissolved shortly thereafter. Classic Auctions is honored to have been chosen by an original founder of Hockey Diversified to sell, at upcoming auctions, residual, unsold pucks from that “NHL Registered Goal Puck” collection.
Each puck originally distributed by Hockey Diversified could be obtained by mail with the buyer’s choice of team and possibly player. A label was affixed to each puck listing the scorer, team and date, along with a code that divulged which team-goal said puck accounted for. This particular puck was used by superstar Dave Keon to score the Toronto Maple Leafs 67th goal of the season vs the New York Islanders, on Nov 20th 1973. Assisted by Errol Thompson, it was Keon’s 6th goal of the season, and 330th of his 396 HOF career goals. An insurance marker that came very late in the third (most likely plotted into an empty net), Toronto outshot the Islanders on the evening, with a 4-2 victory garnered on the road.
Regarding condition, the puck survives in gorgeous condition, with just a few minor marks to the Goal Puck Program label. The 1973-74 season would be the second last in Toronto for Keon, with an additional four seasons spent in the WHA before making a 3-season return to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers in the early 1980s.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).