This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2014
After a one-year flirtation with the World Hockey Association (WHA), Wayne Gretzky landed with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979 where he quickly began establishing scoring records at a dizzying pace and led his team to four Stanley Cup championships. Starting with his second year with Edmonton, he would put up scoring totals of 164, 212, 196, 205, 208, 215 and 183, a seven year span unmatched and largely unimagined. Presented here is one of a group of nine Gretzky game pucks, dating from the transcendent early years of Gretzky’s career, acquired by John Hamilton directly from Glen Sather, President and GM of the Edmonton Oilers. Each puck was utilized to achieve a different milestone or record in Gretzky’s then young career.
Wayne Gretzky's mind-boggling pace of record-setting moments and milestones continued into the second week of January as he pushed his own consecutive game point streak to a startling 44, a number thoroughly unimaginable only a few years earlier before the arrival of The Great One. It probably would be silly to suggest there might have been any Gretzky skeptics left in the arena by the time 1983 rolled around, but had there been this amazing run of five milestone events in barely more than three weeks would certainly have put that question to rest. It was truly a hallmark of the kind of season the young phenom was putting up on the books, ultimately a total of 205 points that would put Gretzky in what was rapidly becoming a familiar place: a league of his own.
This puck then commemorates that historic moment of pushing the consecutive streak to 44. The puck shows game use and has been wrapped with trainer's tape that was affixed following the contest to include notations Jan. 11, 1984, 44th Consecutive Game Point Streak, Edmonton vs.l Chicago, 3rd Period at Chicago Stadium. The artifact is in fine condition and without issue, with the hand writing by the trainer still legible. Includes a 3-by- 1/2-inch plastic nameplate with gold finish engraved with the date, score and description; there is a whisper of scratching to the nameplate without jarring legibility.
Includes a copy of a Letter of Authenticity signed by Glen Sather, President and GM of the Edmonton Oilers, along with a Letter of Provenance from The Newport Sports Museum.