The jersey that Paul Henderson wore when scoring that historic goal is currently being auctioned and is set to become the most expensive piece of hockey memorabilia ever sold. It is currently up for sale at Classic Auctions.

Is the Paul Henderson jersey worth $250,000 or more? The short answer is “yes.” The oldest rule in the collecting world is an item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. So if someone is putting down hundreds of thousands on the Henderson ‘72 Series jersey – than that’s what it’s worth.

In the sports memorabilia world – while the physical item the collector is buying may be a jersey, stick, or puck. What the collector is really buying is a piece of history.

And People collect history. It can be argued that Henderson’s ‘72 Summit Series winning goal is one of the most celebrated and historic hockey moments in Canadian history.

If the Henderson ‘72 Canada jersey does indeed top $250,000 (and as of June 15th – it’s sitting at $232,000) it would make it the most expensive piece of hockey memorabilia ever sold.

A jersey from Wayne Gretzky’s career is believed to have traded hands privately for $250,000. Just a month ago, a sweater from the rookie year of Bobby Orr fetched almost $200,000 at an auction.

There has been much debate on what should happen with the Henderson jersey. A majority feeling it should end up in a Hall of Fame somewhere. The hardware retailing giant, Canadian Tire, recently bid $200,000 for the jersey feeling it would be a nice item to display on a tour around it’s stores (and no doubt, a massive publicity coup in the process.) But when some media complained that might not be such a good idea. Canadian Tire dropped out of the bidding.

UPDATE (June 23): There was some furious bidding at the end between two bidders but the Henderson ‘72 Jersey was sold for $1,067,538 last night – more than double any of the most optimistic estimates before the auction began. The winning bid (comes to over $1.2M after all auction fees factored in) was submitted by Mitchell Goldhar, owner of SmartCentres.

The Henderson ‘72 jersey sale becomes the highest price ever paid at auction for a piece of hockey memorabilia.

Don’t want to spend a million dollars on a ‘72 Summit Series collectible? Consider this item from HoundsTV

Auction listing for Henderson ‘72 Jersey at Classic Auctions.

Don’t want to spend a million dollars on a ‘72 Summit Series collectible? Consider this item from HoundsTV

Back in 1997 Canada Post issued a set of stamps to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series which pitted Canada vs. Russia and involved the very best players in world of hockey. The “Series of the Century” was famously won when Canada’s Paul Henderson scored the winning goal in the final game.

The mint condition First Day cover features the stamps and artist rendering of Henderson’s series winning goal. The first day cover has been cancelled by Canada Post and marked September 20, 1997 – exactly 25 yrs. to the day when the Canada-Russia series began.

ITEM: Team Canada ‘72 GOAL – 25th Anniversary CANADA POST issued First Day Cover. (Mint condition. 7.5″ x 4.5″ – Cancelled by Canada Post on September 20, 1997)
PRICE: $20.00 CAN + $3.00 (S&H in North America)
RELEASED: September 20th, 1997

Contact us for any questions about this item and/or shipping charges outside North America. Additional Terms & Policies. Satisfaction GUARANTEED.

The three original members – lead vocalist Mark Holmes, guitarist Sergio Galli, and drummer Chris Steffler where in attendance at the Royal York hotel to receive their award and take a trip down memory lane.

Holmes couldn’t help but break down during their acceptance speech and shed tears for Kenny MacLean – the fourth Platinum Blonde member that joined the group a few years later in 1985, and died suddenly in late 2008.

During interviews with media in the green room after the event, all members talked openly about pressing ahead with plans for a new record and reunion tour.

“I miss him so much. We decided, because of Kenny, that we would get back together. It was great to play together the other night (Wednesday at the Mod Club in Toronto). We wish Kenny was there.” – Mark Holmes, March 12, 2010

photos courtesy shot7.com

The stick Sidney Crosby used to score the Gold medal winning overtime goal over Team U.S.A. has gone missing.

After Crosby scored, he ripped off his gloves and threw his stick in the air. As reported by the Toronto Star. “When they cleared the ice, I never got my stick or gloves,” Crosby said after the game.

Now, Hockey Canada is investigating and really wants to see the stick returned. It’s a piece of Hall Of Fame worthy memorabilia now. Investigators are looking through all television and venue video footage in hopes of spotting who could have grabbed the stick from the ice. “We have some leads,” is all Hockey Canada’s Scott Salmond would say.

As for the Sid The Kid’s gloves – one of the gloves was returned to Hockey Canada from a fan who caught it when Crosby threw it OVER the glass.

HoundsTV has discussed this with a few people today and is wondering…

Was the fan not within their rights to keep Crosby’s glove?

Unless their are specific rules stating otherwise, we think the glove is fair game once Crosby threw it over the glass into the crowd. Like a historical home run in baseball.

If Crosby’s stick was snatched from the ice surface or in the locker room – that is clearly theft and his stick should be returned. But a glove thrown over the glass?

The person who got Sid’s glove might be feeling pretty good today about returning it to Hockey Canada. We thinks they needlessly gave up a $25,000 piece of historical memorabilia.

“Of all the things, I got my mouthguard back. I don’t know where (the other equipment) is.” – SIDNEY CROSBY

Thanks to CanadaGraphs for the great photos he snapped all during the Olympics. Be sure to check out the CanadaGraphs blog for his behind-the-scenes stories of hounding the 2010 Winter Games.

photos courtesy CanadaGraphs

Yonge & Dundas in Toronto – Feb 28, 2010 courtesy R. Budman / shot7.com

(HoundsTV – Vancouver) It seems a little flag bearer controversy has emerged from an otherwise celebratory Canadian Olympic Committee (COC)

It has now been revealed that Joannie Rochette will carry the Canadian flag for tonight’s Closing Gala ceremonies at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Rochette has been considered a story of these games by winning bronze in figure skating after her mother tragically passed away.

But earlier today word leaked that short-track speedskater Charles Hamelin – who won double Gold in Vancouver was going to carry the closing night flag for Canada?

So why the switcheroo?

According to the COC, Hamelin was never going to be the flag bearer and it was always going to be Rochette.

But the Toronto Star reported that Hamelin did indeed receive word early today he was going to carry the flag. He was even celebrating. That was even confirmed by other Canadian medalists and government sources.

I was just talking to a high ranking Canadian television broadcast executive and actually put the question to him. We both had expressed surprise at hearing that Hamelin was going to carry the flag as it seemed the momentum for the final flag bearer was with Rochette.

In the words of my well-informed friend;

“I would bet CTV-Rogers had something to do with the COC changing to Joannie. They know the perfect television story is with Joannie. It’s what Canada wants. They want Rochette carrying that flag for the ratings.”

(HoundsTV – Vancouver) Another miracle on ice for the Americans?

Certainly not yet (hello, this was only a qualifying Olympics round) but don’t let that stop the U.S. media machine from cranking out headlines and ratcheting up the drama.

It didn’t go unnoticed to Toronto Star Washington Bureau chief Mitch Potter. And this is one of the few Star guys NOT assigned to report on Olympic stuff. But even Potter was blown away by all the chatter and headlines the U.S.A. hockey victory got in Washington today.

We wonder, did President Obama also get into the conversation?

(HoundsTV – December 31, 2009) Since our list last year was so popular – we had to rate the BEST and WORST autograph signers in Canada for 2009.

Who was good about signing? Who was bad? What were the memorable experiences?

Some quick notes about our surveying method – which we admit is based more on qualitative opinion – than quantitative fact. As well, we don’t include the hundreds of small indie bands and C-list actors that travel through the country. They are personalities not usually hounded by the pros in large numbers. So we kept the list to the biggies – the A-list stars, big bands, and pop culture icons that managed to have their passports stamped “Canada” at sometime during this year.

It is the A-listers which get the paparazzi, autograph hounds, and fans out in big numbers. And from where we culled our reports and opinions. So after thinking back to the year that was in Canada and hearing the opinions of autograph collectors coast-to-coast HoundsTV presents its annual BEST & WORST LIST…

RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list

BEST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009

1. GEORGE CLOONEY

George Clooney earns HoundsTV’s title of BEST Signer to come through Canada this year. Besides starring in perhaps the best movie of the year, Clooney came to Toronto during September for the International Film Festival and was a signing champion to fans and autograph collectors – never refusing a signature request. Now, normally that wouldn’t have been too surprising as George is one of the nicer guys in the business. But his signing prowess was even more impressive – considering he was in Toronto with a banged up and bandaged signing hand. Clooney could have easily gotten off the hook from signing and everybody would have understood – but there he was – wading into crowds and signing away, often ignoring the pleas not to by his own people, security and publicists for fear of further injuring the hand.

2. JONAS BROTHERS

For another year running, the Jonas Brother were no strangers to Canada. They toured across the country – and even spent six straight weeks at a hotel in Toronto while filming a movie. And for hardcore JB fans and autograph seekers – it became no big secret where they were staying and crowds of people would congregate outside their hotel every day waiting for them. But the Jonas Brother proved to be fan favorites as they would routinely step outside their hotel to greet fans and sign autographs – not even caring if that particular signature might eventually make its way for sale.

3. MICHAEL JORDAN

Known for usually turning up on WORST signers lists – Michael Jordan earned a change in status this year after a visit to Oakville, Ontario during July for a charity golf tournament. A very large crowd of autograph collectors and fans turned out for the day following Jordan’s every move. Word on the course being that he would sign after his round. While the crowd swelled to hundreds chasing Jordan for that elusive signature, Jordan shocked many when he spent a good TEN minutes signing anything the hounds managed to get in front of him just before he departed the course. To the many collectors who chased Jordan for years to get that elusive signature – a sunny day in July on an Oakville golf course will be a day not soon forgotten.

4. TWILIGHT CAST (NEW MOON)

There was perhaps nobody more hounded (or famous?) to spend time in Canada during 2009 then the cast of Twilight – especially Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Since the pop culture phenom series is 90% shot in Canada the stars spent a lot of time in Vancouver and stories of autograph experiences with the cast are numerous. One collector extensively blogged from the scene of many encounters with the Twilight cast. While the main stars were often difficult to find – there is consensus that the signing habits of the cast was generally good during the filming of New Moon – the 2nd movie of the series (unlike the 3rd film – see below) Even Kristen Stewart when cornered by collectors outside a restaurant replied she understands the autograph hounds “had a job to do” and didn’t care about signing. As for heart-throb Robert Pattinson - he got good at speed-walking to sometimes avoid the crowds, but If you managed to get close – he was good about signing. Pattinson was even known to sometimes sign for the fans gathering at the filming locations (and that was after he had shot all day and night.)

5. SIDNEY CROSBY

It couldn’t have been a bigger year for Sid The Kid winning NHL’s top awards and the coveted Stanley Cup. No team had a bigger crowds of autograph collectors outside their hotel in whatever Canadian city they were in. Fortunately for the autograph hounds – Crosby was “doing it” more than not.

6. YUSUF ISLAM (CAT STEVENS)

Perhaps because he came to Toronto over the Christmas holidays – but Yusuf Islam’s (formally known as singer Cat Stevens) long-awaited return to Canada may have gone under-reported in the mainstream media – but his appearance in Toronto didn’t go unnoticed by the autograph hounds. It even brought a few top U.S autograph collectors to Toronto for the occasion. And Yusuf did not disappoint the astute collectors that managed to track him down. While he politely declined photo requests, Yusuf was kind and gracious in signing any and all memorabilia – even as most were Cat Stevens albums. He even would often add the inscription, “peace & happiness”

WORST AUTOGRAPH SIGNERS OF 2009

1. BRITNEY SPEARS

Ms. Spears graced Canada for a bunch of concerts across the country on her 2009 “comeback” Circus tour. We couldn’t find a single collector or fan that reported getting Brit’s autograph this year. Most hounds don’t even bother trying anymore as Britney continues to live up to her reputation of being terrible in public for signing autographs and greeting fans. For her multi-night stay in Toronto Spears was rarely even seen – using private entrances and decoys to secretly get her in and out of the hotel. As for getting Brit’s autographs? Not a chance – You would have been doing good to just spot her outside of the shows.

2. ELTON JOHN

Another tour with Billy Joel brought Elton John to Toronto and Montreal a few times this year. But numerous autograph collectors did report – it was the same old Elton. No signing for the “eBay guys” (as Elton likes to say.) The thought of his autograph being sold still seems to send chills up Elton’s spine – so he rarely signs them anymore. Too bad, if this list was for 1999 he would have been high up on the BEST side.

3. U2

Also former “BEST” signers that have slowly moved over to the dark side as each new tour brings the group to Canada. The tour years of 2001 and 2005 when Bono and Edge would stand outside their hotel for an hour greeting fans and signing autographs appears to be over. During their week in Toronto for the most recent tour saw the band staying at a private residence. Bono and Edge were routinely seen all over town – Bono signing very little. Edge nothing. Since Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton were practically ghosts and rarely seen, and refused autograph requests when they did appear – the consensus is that U2 have become BAD about signing autographs during their stop in Canada this year.

4. STEPHEN KING

A trip to Toronto during October for the reclusive horror icon Stephen King brought out the autograph collectors in droves. While King was in Toronto to talk about his new novel – he just wouldn’t sign any in public. King was approached many times by people with his book and pen in hand. He either refused to sign or simply ignored the request. Even at the event where King was reading from his novel the people in attendance were instructed that he would NOT be signing and instead, a lottery system was set up to distribute the few books King was willing to sign – away from the public and behind closed doors.

5. METALLICA

A wire story broke early in the year indicating a high percentage of Metallica autographs for sale on sites like eBay were fake. Reached for comment, the band said they were aware of the counterfeits and for that reason they don’t sign much anymore for people hanging around hotels and airports. Metallica later spent a few days in Toronto on their recent world tour. And while they were no strangers to walking the streets of Toronto. Autograph collectors reported that the main members of the group where very tough about signing (except Robert Trujillo – but you can’t really count him?) As for memorabilia like photos or albums – Lars and James just wouldn’t touch them on the outside. While 2009 may NOT have been a good year for collecting Metallica autographs – it was a good year financially for the band touring.

RELATED: Virgin Radio 99.9 interview about 2009 BEST & WORST signers list

6. TWILIGHT CAST (ECLIPSE)

After filming New Moon earlier in the year, the Twilight cast returned to Vancouver during summer to shoot the third film in the series – Eclipse. Autograph hounds reported the signing habits of most of the cast had changed – and for the worst. Collectors reported hearing things like this said by minor co-star Cameron Bright, “I am only allowed to sign one and I have to put your name on it” (words I’m sure Summit Entertainment executives put into the casts head.) As for Rob and Kristen, the media attention on them became so overwhelming they practically disappeared and were almost like ghosts when not filming. While reports of new cast members like Bryce Dallas Howard were cool about signing – there is no question, the supply of autographs coming from the Twilight cast shrinked considerably when shooting the third movie.

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