Are you on the hunt for a rare piece of hockey history? Maybe you're on the lookout for a signed-stick to add to your memorabilia collection and have a couple thousand to throw around?
We've stumbled across something very cool and historic that might be of interest.
Courtesy of ClassicAuctions.net, a game-used Wayne Gretzky Titan stick that's signed by the Great One is currently up for auction with a bid of $1,949.00 at the time this article was published.
The stick is said to be from the 1984 Canada Cup final, equipped with a letter of authenticity, although it's unknown if the stick was used in a tune-up game, practice or the actual tournament. Equipped with the production date, the No. 99, Gretzky's straight blade and the original tape, the Titan is pure eye candy for hockey historians and fans around the world.
Leading all scorers with 12 points, Wayne Gretzky helped Team Canada defeat an impressive Swedish team at the 1984 Canada Cup final, with this Gretzky’s second Canada Cup tournament. This signed stick was originally obtained directly from Wayne in the Team Canada dressing room after a match at the Montreal Forum by Jules and Pauline Cohen. The couple were then owners of the Klaxon Company, makers of wristbands and neck guards during the 1980s, with Wayne a user of Klaxon wristbands. Red-over-black tape resides on the blade (with three larger red strands over the heel), with white-over black on the handle/knob, typical for Wayne, with a layer of red then added, covered by white, with a second layer of red added, for a total of five tape layers. We should note that there are no photos showing Gretzky using red tape during games at the 1984 Canada Cup. According to Gretzky stick expert Joe Esposito, who also originally purchased the stick from the Cohen family, "all tape underneath the knob and blade tape is 100% bang on with other 84 Canada Cup sticks. Furthermore, the red tape is applied exactly in Wayne's style on both knob and blade ends." An LOA from Cohen’s son will accompany this fascinating Wayne Gretzky stick.
It should be noted that it’s unknown if the stick was used in a pre-tournament game, practice or actual tournament game. A Titan “Canada Cup” model in solid white with blue and red graphics, “W. Gretzky” is stamped midway up the shaft, with his patented “99” handwritten in red directly beneath the handle. There is a date code of “Aout 3 1984” stamped midway down the underside of the shaft, with “WG” handwritten in pencil on the bottom edge of the heel section. Wayne has signed midway down the front side of the shaft in blue marker, adding a personalization to the Cohen’s son Sheldon along with “Your Pal”. The signature displays nicely with no issues. The stick shows wear and marks from game use, with a few small areas of red paint transfer over the lower shaft. The tape is also completely worn along the underside of the blade, as it was probably used later off-ice by someone other than Wayne. As an added bonus, one of the red Klaxon wristbands, similar in style to the examples Wayne used in the tournament is also included.
Additional photos can be found on the listing here. Those interested in the stick must register with the website in order to place a bid.
