This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2016
Rogie Vachon spent seven of his finest 16 NHL seasons tending goal for the Los Angeles Kings. Known for his great reflexes and quick glove hand, Vachon was considered one of the premier one-on-one goaltenders of his era. He never allowed a goal on a penalty shot in his entire career. After retiring in 1982 as a player, Rochie Vachon joined the Kings as an assistant coach and would ultimately serve as the club’s interim head coach on three different occasions. From 1984-92, he served as General Manager and was responsible for bringing Wayne Gretzky aboard in 1988. Vachon received perhaps his greatest honor on February 14, 1985 when his No. 30 jersey was retired. He was the first Kings player to be so honored, with Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Gretzky and Luc Robitaille having since joined him up in the rafters at the Staples Center. Featured here is a pair of autographed and game/team-issued items from the legendary Kings goaltender, including a signed 1984-85 front office member team-issued jersey and a 1970's game-issued goalie stick from his playing days with the team. Both were donated to the Newport Sports Museum directly by Vachon.
The road purple jersey is dated "84" in the collar tagging and was issued to Vachon post-playing career during the period when he served as assistant coach and was named GM. It is an authentic game-issued jersey like the players wore during that time, with the beautiful large Kings crest on the front, "VACHON" sewn across the back and his retired No. 30 on the back and both sleeves. Vachon has autographed the upper back in 8-9/10 black Sharpie. The sweater shows considerable on-ice wear with black stick/puck marks near the front tail, perhaps from an Old Timers game or some other form of post-career scrimmage. The mid 1970's Victoriaville wood stick is stamped "R.VACHON" on the shaft and has his autograph personalized "To Johnny" (i.e. museum founder, John Hamilton) in faded black pen at the top of the handle. The stick is untaped and shows little game use, so we are calling it game-issued to Vachon during his peak years in L.A. Great pairing to honor a Kings legend.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the Newport Sports Museum. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.