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Lot # 1337: 1937 Howie Morenz All-Star Game Worn Jersey Worn by Johnny Gottselig

Category: Hockey

Starting Bid: $2,500.00

Bids: 11 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2023 Spring Classic",
which ran from 4/2/2023 7:00 PM to
4/22/2023 10:00 PM



Presented is the opportunity to possess a Howie Morenz Memorial (All-Star) Game jersey, game worn by Johnny Gottselig on November 2, 1937, at the Montreal Forum. This jersey is fresh to the hobby, never seen since it was last worn. Hall of Famer Howie Morenz was an amazing player who played 14 seasons in the NHL, mostly for the Montreal Canadiens. A left-wing, Morenz had incredible speed, and he was a 3-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP. He led the Canadiens to three Stanley Cups, and he was in the top ten in NHL scoring for ten straight years, leading the NHL in goals twice and in points once. After being traded from the Canadiens because of Montreal's financial problems, Morenz played for the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers before rejoining Montreal in 1936-37. On January 28, 1937, Morenz was checked into the boards at the Montreal Forum and his skate caught in the ice and he suffered a severe injury, with four broken bones in his leg. He was in the hospital for five weeks and he suffered a nervous breakdown - thought to be because the leg injury ended his career. Later, on March 8, 1937, at only 34 years of age, he died from cardiac arrest in the hospital. His Montreal teammate, Aurei Joliet said of the situation, "Howie loved to play hockey more than anybody loved anything, and when he realized he would never play again, he couldn't live with it. I think he died from a broken heart." The funeral for Morenz was attended by 10,000 persons at the Montreal Forum while 15,000 more waited outside. The Howie Morenz Memorial Game was a contest between the combined stars from the two NHL Montreal teams, the Canadiens and the Maroons, against the combined stars from the other six NHL teams. The Montreal team wore red, and the team of other NHL stars wore white. Johnny Gottselig, a left wing, wore this jersey in the game. Gottselig had played on the same Chicago Black Hawks team as Morenz. In the All-Star game, won by the NHL All-Stars by 6-5 over the Montreal All-Stars, Gottselig scored a goal and an assist. Gottselig played 589 NHL games and scored 371 points. The sweater (jersey) is 18.5" across from armpit to armpit, and 24" from collar to tail. There are moth holes in front and in other places. There is some light staining on the right back sleeve. Felt black letters on the front read, "HOWIE MORENZ MEMORIAL GAME." Felt black numerals on the back read, "12." There is a black felt star on the left sleeve. The jersey shows light use. The sweater is a wonderful remembrance of the Memorial Game played to raise funds for the family of one of hockey's first superstars.

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