Legends of Team Canada: Paul Henderson

Paul Henderson needs no introduction. He may never be a Hall of Famer, but he has achieved a state of hockey status reserved for the rare likes of Gretzky and Richard.

While representing the Toronto Maple Leafs as a member of Team Canada 1972, the left winger had the tournament of his life. He scored the most famous goal in hockey history when he put the puck behind Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak with just 34 seconds left in the final game to give Canada a victory in the unforgettable 1972 Summit Series. Henderson was a dominant force in the series, scoring the game winning goals in each of the final 3 games as Canada came from behind to claim victory 4-3-1. He will be forever immortalized in hockey history as he scored on what is arguably the greatest hockey moment ever.

Henderson was actually one of the last players to make the team. He had a terrific training camp along with Bobby Clarke and Ron Ellis. All three were on the bubble as to whether or not they'd make the team or not, but they played extremely well together. They were Canada's best threesome, and the only line that was kept together throughout the series.

All three were incredible. Clarke was instrumental with his defensive play and his crisp playmaking, which in particular helped Henderson. Ellis did a masterful job of shutting down the flashy Valeri Kharlamov and was also used against the big Alexander Yakushev.

And then there was Henderson. Henderson was on fire throughout the entire series. He tied with Phil Esposito and Alexander Yakushev for the goal scoring lead with 7. He was especially hot in Moscow - he scored twice in game 5 and scored the game winners in game 6 and game 7.

The game 7 goal was spectacular. With less than three minutes left to play, Henderson was sprung lose thanks to a nice pass from Serge Savard. Henderson was in alone on two Soviet defenseman - normally an impossible scoring chance. Going in alone on two Russian defenders, he crossed so that the two defensemen were forced to cross positions. Henderson slid the puck through the defenseman's legs and went around. Instead of playing the man, defenseman Evgeny Tsygankov tried to play the puck. He failed to stop the puck and Henderson was in alone. He scored just under the cross bar while falling down, as the defenders tackled him.

And of course there is the most famous goal in hockey history: Henderson's game winner in game eight.

"In the final seconds of that game, I stood up at the bench and called Pete Mahovlich off the ice. I'd never done such a thing before," wrote Henderson in Brian McFarlane's book Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now?, and undoubtedly told over a million times elsewhere.

"I jumped on the and rushed straight for their net. I had this strange feeling that I could score the winning goal. I had a great chance just before I scored, but Cournoyer's pass went behind me. Then I was tripped up and crashed into the boards behind the net. I leaped up and moved in front, just in time to see Esposito take a shot at Tretiak from inside the face-off circle. The rebound came right to my stick and I tried to slide the puck past Tretiak. Damn! He got a piece of it. But a second rebound came right to me. This time I flipped the puck over him and into the net."

Although he couldn't have comprehended it at that moment in time, he had just become an immortal in the hockey world.

Born in Kincardine, Ontario in 1943, Henderson developed in the Detroit Red Wings junior system with the Hamilton Red Wings. He emerged as a top prospect when in 1962-63 he led the entire Ontario Hockey Association with 49 goals in just 48 games.

Henderson would turn professional in 1963-64, but would initially struggle. He was sent down for half a season of minor league training in his rookie year, and had a quiet sophomore campaign. He would carve out a role as an unspectacular role player who would push the 20 goal level with the Wings until his trade to Toronto in March 1968.

Henderson was included in one of the biggest trades of all time in that transaction. Henderson, who Detroit was disappointed in when he didn’t achieve scoring greatness like was hoped when he came out of junior, was packaged with Norm Ullman, Floyd Smith and Doug Barrie in exchange for a package of Leafs including Frank Mahovlich, Garry Unger, Pete Stemkowski and Carl Brewer.

Henderson continued to be a solid player in Toronto, but it wasn’t until 1970-71 that he emerged as scoring threat. That year he achieved 30 goals for the first time, and then had a strong playoff with 5 goals in 6 contests. Finally the steady Henderson was fulfilling his hoped-for destiny as a scoring star.

Henderson was able to take that to the next level in 1971-72. He scored a career high 38 goals, including 12 on the powerplay. When it came time to pick members of Team Canada 1972, it was hard for the coaching staff to not invite Henderson after such a strong season, even though the coaches never figured Henderson would be a significant member of the team.

Henderson showed up in camp knowing that unlike other players invited to camp he would have to earn a spot on this team. He showed up in great shape and had the training camp of his life. He was a key member of Team Canada’s top line with fellow Leaf Ron Ellis and Philadelphia Flyer youngster Bobby Clarke. Aside from Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins, Henderson was Canada’s best player. His heroics are a thing of Canadian legend.

Coming off of the great emotion of the 1972 Summit Series was not an easy task for several of Canada's top stars. The rigors of training camp and early season NHL hockey could never measure up to what they had just gone through. Phil Esposito, Tony Esposito and Bobby Clarke were noticeably struggling upon their return to life in the National Hockey League, but not nearly as much as Paul Henderson.

Prior to the tournament he was known simply as a good two-way hockey player - he patrolled his wing with diligence and little fanfare. Suddenly he was a hero of a superstar's stature. It wasn't easy for him to live up to the new expectations and the demands for his time and attention.

Combining his breakout NHL season of 1971-72 with the heroics against the Russians and you certainly couldn't blame Leaf fans for expecting Henderson to take his game to a new level at the NHL level.

However Henderson would struggle through one of his worst seasons in hockey. 

Henderson ended up playing in only 40 games in that 1972-73 season, scoring 18 goals and 34 points. His numbers could have been fairly solid had he played the whole season, but he would have had to close in on the 50 goal plateau to satisfy the lofty expectations that were placed upon him.

Henderson struggled through injuries - a pulled leg muscle and a chipped bone in his leg - and when he did play he often had to play without his regular center in Norm Ullman, who also struggled with injuries. The Leafs as a team struggled immensely as well. The Leafs fans, tired of a less-than-ordinary team in the years following the 1967 Stanley Cup championships, booed the Leafs. The loudest of the boos went to Henderson.

"Wearing a helmet in games, I seldom was recognized until after the Russian series. Suddenly, I was singled out wherever I went. My life became very hectic. I struggled, started to straighten out, then got sidelined, came back and had to start all over again," said Henderson.

"I've been at my highest and at my lowest this season. It's been like a roller coaster ride. I'll never forget the Russian series, but I wish now it could be put aside until my career is over. I can't top it. I can't even come close. I can only do my best and hope to help my team become one of the best again."

"Life is a lot more fun with a winner than a with a loser," he observed.

Unhappy with his season and with owner Harold Ballard, Henderson jumped to the World Hockey Association in 1974-75. He remained in Toronto as a member of the WHA Toros, but the move to the rebel league was unpopular with die hard Leafs and NHL fans. He would remain in the WHA throughout its existence, moving to Birmingham by 1976. Upon the WHA’s folding in 1979, Henderson returned to the NHL for one more season – spending 30 games with the Atlanta Flames.

If you eliminate the month of September 1972 from his career biography, Henderson’s status as one of the top Leafs of all time is questionable. But when you include it, and you must, Henderson is immortalized in hockey history forever – something all but a few of the games’ all time greats – Gretzky, Lemieux, Howe, Orr, Richard, maybe a precious few others – can never achieve.

Paul Henderson Is Doing Just Fine, Thank You

With all the recent deaths in the hockey world recently, some good news about Paul Henderson this week.

Henderson, who of course scored the famous game winning goal at the 1972 Summit Series, was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia back in 2009. He wasn't given a great prognosis, and things looked especially dire two years back. Turning down chemotherapy in exchange for a clinical trial with intense exercise and diet changes, Henderson still has the cancer these days, but he's greatly improved, and doing remarkably well.

"As Henderson pointed out, "nobody gets a wrinkle-free life."

Henderson's came in the form of CLL, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. He said no to chemotherapy after his diagnosis, instead trying to battle it through diet and exercise.

"I knew my body. My body has never done well with drugs. The only option I had was chemotherapy, and I thought that would probably kill me anyway. And your quality of life goes, it attacks everything else," he said. "So I spent all kinds of money on supplements, and vitamins and doing this, doing that, working out with trainers. We were hoping to beat it from the inside out. We spent two years desperately trying to find an alternative. But it just kept going."

The clinical drug trial hasn't been easy. The beginning had him travel to the U.S. every two weeks. Then it was once a month, and now he goes every three months. Doctors draw 17 vials of blood each time, for 63 different tests.

"When I first went down there, there were only 10 (tests) that were normal. Now, there's only eight that are not normal," he said. "My red and white cells are normal, my platelets are back. We were hoping it would get rid of it entirely, but it hasn't done that. I still have cancer. There is still cancer in my system. But it's holding it at bay.

"So hopefully we can hold it at bay until we can find a cure. But my quality of life is. . . , well, just look at me. . . 27 months ago, I was going one way or another. And we all knew it."

As for advice Henderson would offer others who are ill, or otherwise challenged:

"I tell them, 'Don't give up. Take the initiative and be pro-active. Get yourself in shape.' And everybody's body is different and so what works for one person may not work for another, so you've got to be responsible and pro-active," he said.

"And don't waste a day worrying. We only have today anyways, and you might as well live it to the best of your ability. I've always been an encourager. I enjoy encouraging people to just go for the roses. Learned a lot of life lessons, especially in '72. Life is tough, and never give up. And I find even in the worst times, if you look around you can always find people 10 times worse off than you are. And so it puts it in perspective."

Henderson also tells of his interactions with Jean Beliveau and Pat Quinn, and tells us he hasn't been to a NHL game in years but he is at his grandson's games every week. It's a great article to read.

Paul Henderson And The Surgical Mask

Longtime NHLer Paul Henderson will forever go down as a Canadian hockey hero. But did you know he once played a NHL game while wearing a surgeon's mask?

It happened back in 1966 when Henderson was still playing for the Detroit Red Wings. Here's the photographic proof:

Henderson only played the one game with the mask. He missed 6 others. He was suffering from "trachiatis," an infection of his trachea, or his windpipe.

After another stint in the hospital the Red Wings sent him to Arizona where the hot, dry air helped kill the infection.

Great Moments In Hockey History: Henderson Scores For Canada!

Almost any Canadian who is old enough can tell you exactly what he or she was doing on September 28, 1972, when Paul Henderson scored the 6-5 goal at 19:26 of the final period. For a moment, our world stood still, and then as the red light flickered behind Vladislav Tretiak, our hearts filled with joy, and relief.

"Here's a shot. Henderson makes a wild stab for it and falls," Foster Hewitt breathlessly described. "Here's another shot. Right in front. They Score!! Henderson has scored for Canada!" 

As Foster Hewitt's ghostly words described "the goal heard around the world" millions of Canadians danced and hugged in a scene that was reminiscent of the celebrations at the end of World War II. Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians a sense of unparalleled nationalism.

Paul Henderson's goal sealed a remarkable comeback victory over a Soviet squad that had pushed Canada to the brink of defeat. Of course, none of this was supposed to happen. Team Canada was composed of the NHL's greatest stars, and were expected to easily defeat their communist counterparts. The success of the Soviets stunned Canadians, who had always unquestioningly believed in their country's hockey supremacy.

Team Canada restored the faith of fans by fighting back to win the final 3 games of the series, all on game winning goals by Paul Henderson. Henderson was a talented but unspectacular left winger who was the unlikeliest of heroes. Unlikely heroes have come to define Canadian hockey.

"I found myself with the puck in front of the net," remembers Henderson. "Tretiak made one stop and the puck came right back to me. There was room under him, so I poked the puck through."

"When I saw it go in, I just went bonkers." Millions of thrilled and extremely relieved Canadians went bonkers as well.

Forty years later, Canadians are still going bonkers about the series. Russians too have equally fond although often different memories about the clash at the top of the hockey world four decades ago.

Full Game 8 Story and Box Score

A Helmet Trick: Paul Henderson and Bobby Hull in 1970s CCM Helmet Commercial

Where Was Paul Henderson When Sidney Crosby Scored In 2010?

Since everyone of a certain vintage knows exactly where they were the moment Paul Henderson scored his famous goal, we wondered where Henderson was when Sidney Crosby scored his Golden Goal. It turns out Henderson was also in British Columbia that day, but he missed the goal!

“You’re going to love this one,” said Henderson. “My wife and I were out in Victoria doing a marriage conference. Obviously, we booked this long before we thought about the Olympics being on. We were speaking, and I missed the first period. As soon as we were done speaking I ran into the (hotel) lounge and watched the second and third period. I was looking at my watch thinking this is terrific, the game is going to be over. Then the U.S. scored to tie it up and I had to leave right then ... my wife had another session.

“We had about 120 couples, so I said to them if anyone has this on iPod or a radio or something like that, if Canada scores please jump up and tell us. So, about 15 minutes into the talk, this girl jumps up and yells: ‘Crosby just scored!’ Well, of course, we just went nuts in the room. And I’d never done it before, but I said: ‘Folks, we’ve got to sing O Canada.’ And I led, for the first time in my life, the singing of O Canada. And 120 couples sang O Canada with just reckless abandon. It was fabulous. Several came up to me after and said: ‘We will never forget this moment.’”

- The Montreal Gazette

Summit Series Heroes: Paul Henderson

Paul Henderson needs no introduction. He may never be a Hall of Famer, but he has achieved a state of hockey status reserved for the rare likes of Gretzky and Richard.

While representing the Toronto Maple Leafs as a member of Team Canada 1972, the left winger had the tournament of his life. He scored the most famous goal in hockey history when he put the puck behind Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak with just 34 seconds left in the final game to give Canada a victory in the unforgettable 1972 Summit Series. Henderson was a dominant force in the series, scoring the game winning goals in each of the final 3 games as Canada came from behind to claim victory 4-3-1. He will be forever immortalized in hockey history as he scored on what is arguably the greatest hockey moment ever.

Henderson was actually one of the last players to make the team. He had a terrific training camp along with Bobby Clarke and Ron Ellis. All three were on the bubble as to whether or not they'd make the team or not, but they played extremely well together. They were Canada's best threesome, and the only line that was kept together throughout the series.

All three were incredible. Clarke was instrumental with his defensive play and his crisp playmaking, which in particular helped Henderson. Ellis did a masterful job of shutting down the flashy Valeri Kharlamov and was also used against the big Alexander Yakushev.

And then there was Henderson. Henderson was on fire throughout the entire series. He tied with Phil Esposito and Alexander Yakushev for the goal scoring lead with 7. He was especially hot in Moscow - he scored twice in game 5 and scored the game winners in game 6 and game 7.

The game 7 goal was spectacular. With less than three minutes left to play, Henderson was sprung lose thanks to a nice pass from Serge Savard. Henderson was in alone on two Soviet defenseman - normally an impossible scoring chance. Going in alone on two Russian defenders, he crossed so that the two defensemen were forced to cross positions. Henderson slid the puck through the defenseman's legs and went around. Instead of playing the man, defenseman Evgeny Tsygankov tried to play the puck. He failed to stop the puck and Henderson was in alone. He scored just under the cross bar while falling down, as the defenders tackled him.

And of course there is the most famous goal in hockey history: Henderson's game winner in game eight.

"In the final seconds of that game, I stood up at the bench and called Pete Mahovlich off the ice. I'd never done such a thing before," wrote Henderson in Brian McFarlane's book Team Canada 1972: Where Are They Now?, and undoubtedly told over a million times elsewhere.

"I jumped on the and rushed straight for their net. I had this strange feeling that I could score the winning goal. I had a great chance just before I scored, but Cournoyer's pass went behind me. Then I was tripped up and crashed into the boards behind the net. I leaped up and moved in front, just in time to see Esposito take a shot at Tretiak from inside the face-off circle. The rebound came right to my stick and I tried to slide the puck past Tretiak. Damn! He got a piece of it. But a second rebound came right to me. This time I flipped the puck over him and into the net."

Although he couldn't have comprehended it at that moment in time, he had just become an immortal in the hockey world.

Backchecking With Paul Henderson

In The Hockey News Evan Boudreau recently caught up with Paul Henderson. He applauds Henderson for his biggest contribution in life - not scoring the Summit Series winning goal, but being a great role model for others as he struggles with his battle with leukemia.

In November 2009, Paul Henderson got the shock of his life. During a routine checkup, his doctor recommended an abdominal ultrasound – a seemingly harmless precaution. “I’ve always kept myself in good shape,” Henderson said. “They did an ultrasound on my abdomen to make sure everything was OK and I was full of gross tumors.”

At 66, Henderson was diagnosed with chronic lymphoid leukemia. It’s the most common form of leukemia, primarily found during similar routine checkups. The man whose three consecutive game-winners in the 1972 Summit Series fortified Canada’s comeback over the Soviet Union had entered the third period of life. “I was really shocked,” Henderson said. “They told me I might have a year, a year and a half when I was first diagnosed and I’m up to two years now.”

Two years, 20 books and one bible later, Henderson became more than just a volunteering professional. He became an Anglican. Now 68, his back pressed against a massage chair, feet resting on an exercise ball and a deadly disease accelerating his internal clock, Henderson can say he has “no annex or fear in my body whatsoever even though I’m full of cancer.”

While many view cancer as a progressive closing of all doors, Henderson sees only opportunity in life. On the 38th anniversary of his biggest goal, Henderson kicked off the 2010 Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer. “Anything cancer research is obviously near and dear to my heart,” he said. “I’m a hockey player and I have cancer. The two kind of go together. I’m not looking to be the poster boy for cancer, but anything that I can do.”

Here's the full story.

Hockey History Photo of the Day: Henderson The Hero

Paul Henderson: Hockey's Eternal Hero

Paul Henderson Not Chosen For Inaugural Order of Hockey In Canada

Hockey Canada announced the inaugural five honourees to the Order of Hockey In Canada.

Hockey legends Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Jean Beliveau were joined by women's legend Cassie Campbell and builder Gordon Renwick.

All are deserving of the award, but noticeably absent is Paul Henderson. Henderson is the iconic Canadian hero for his game winning goals at the 1972 Summit Series. Given that this is the 40th anniversary of the Summit Series, it seemed like Henderson would be an obvious inaugural inclusion. Especially since Hockey Canada previously announced no posthumous inductions will take place. Since Henderson is battling cancer, they are taking a chance on not being able to honour Henderson in future years.

That being said, the posthumous rule really is silly. Are they really not going to honour the memory of Rocket Richard?

Still, they should have found a way to include Henderson right now. He may not be a Hockey Hall of Famer, but he is arguably more important. He is the standard all Canadian hockey heroes are measured to. The Gretzkys and Lemieuxs and Crosbys all strive to achieve the same success and narratives. Canadian hockey is so much better for it. It pushes every Canadian player to strive to be the very best.

Only three honourees will be chosen in subsequent years.

Paul Henderson Hoping For A Miracle

From Dan Robson of Sportsnet Magazine:

Paul Henderson sits at a bare table in an empty room with an intravenous line in his arm and a grapefruit-sized tumour in his abdomen. For the past two hours, a translucent yellow liquid has drained slowly into his bloodstream from a bag that hangs next to him on a stand.

It's a vitamin-based treatment he has received at this health clinic in Toronto's west end since he was diagnosed with lymphocytic lymphoma chronic leukemia in November 2009. The weekly dose is intended to bolster his immune system and slow the cancer creeping through his body.

"It's in my abdomen, my chest, my lymph nodes and my blood," he says.

Still, you have to look closely to see the effects of the disease. He's lost some weight over the past few years, his face is thinner, his clothes a little looser. But his dark grey hair remains thick and curly. His skin is tanned from a recent vacation. A strict diet and constant exercise have kept up the appearance that he is just another aged legend, not a man who has been told that, at best, he has less than a decade to live.

"I just refuse to worry, or get upset, or be fearful," he says. His soft voice doesn't waver. "It doesn't do one particle of good."

Here's the full story.

20 Questions With Paul Henderson

Paul Henderson sat down with Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post for a sit down session of 20 Questions. Henderson has some great stories, such as this one:

Q: When was the last time you scored a goal?

A: The last NHL goal I scored, I was playing for Atlanta, and we came in and played the Leafs. We beat the Leafs 5-3. I got two goals and an assist and I was first star of the game. And after the game, I skated out, and Ballard and [King] Clancy were down in their box, and I went and waved to Ballard. That was not the classiest thing I’ve ever done.

Here's the full story, well worth the read.

Henderson and author Jim Prime have also teamed up to present the new book How Hockey Explains Canada. I have my full review at HockeyBookReviews.com.

Historic Jersey Brings Back Memories

It is great to see that the Henderson Jersey Tour is bridging generation gaps and bringing together communities.

From the Chatham Daily News:

"SmartCentres owner Mitch Goldhar bought the jersey in an auction in the U.S. and quickly organized a coast-to-coast tour. Other private collectors, including Henderson, jumped on board and loaned the tour Henderson's original gloves and stick and a replica Soviet jersey.

"From the youth we hear a lot of, 'Who is Paul Henderson?' or 'What is this all about?'" said Rob Wighton, the tour's field manager. "That's kind of the fun part of this tour. It's an educational tour and a reminiscing tour."

Full Story. And here's more on the Henderson Jersey Tour.

The Henderson Jersey Tour

Here's some photos of the Henderson Jersey Tour, courtesy of their Facebook page.

I am proud to say much of the writing on the wall displays was written by myself. Thanks again to Fuze Marketing and the Henderson Jersey Tour for the opportunity!

Canadian Hero: Paul Henderson

On the anniversary of game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series, there can be no other choice for the GreatestHockeyLegends.com player of the day: Paul Henderson

This great picture is of Henderson on October 1st, 1972, getting his first look at the Toronto Star coverage of the Summit Series upon his return to Canada.

By the way, the excellent website Black Dog Hates Skunks has some great posts about the 1972 Summit Series this month. Be sure to take a look.

Sold: Henderson Jersey $1,275,707

Bidding for Paul Henderson's game worn 1972 Summit Series jersey exceeded $1 million. There have been 42 official bids. Even though the 9pm deadline passed, there is something called the 10 minute rule which allows established bidders to continue bidding amongst themselves until past 1am. At that point, the auction will end after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Mitchell Goldhar, owner of SmartCentres, one of Canada's largest developers of open-air shopping centres, is the new owner of the jersey. Jimmy Pattison stepped out of the bidding after it eclipsed the $1M mark. This was bad news for Henderson, as Pattison was bidding on Henderson's behalf so that the jersey could be donated to the new Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary.

So far there is no word on Goldhar's plans for the jersey. Classic Auctions president Marc Juteau did state that Goldhar wanted to "let Canadians benefit" and that he will likely "keep the jersey in Canada and on display somewhere."

Goldhar won the auction with a bid of $1,067,358. When you add on the 19.5% auction house commission the total purchase price rose to $1,275,707. That makes it the most valuable piece of sports memoribilia ever sold in public, surpassing Babe Ruth game worn New York Yankees jersey from 1933 that sold in 2006.

Henderson wore this same jersey for all four 1972 Summit Series games played in Moscow. He scored the game winning goals in the final three games, including dramatically in the decisive game eight with just 34 seconds left in the series.

This obviously far eclipses the highest priced hockey jersey at auction. A game worn Bobby Orr rookie jersey sold for $191,200 last year, while it has been reported that a Wayne Gretzky jersey was sold for $250,000 in a private transaction.

While this is both insane and wonderful, maybe someone should tell these guys you can buy a Paul Henderson Team Canada 1972 Authentic Hockey Jersey from many retail stores for a couple of hundred bucks.

Henderson To Be Reunited With Jersey

From Randy Boswell of Canwest News Services:

Paul Henderson and his suddenly-very-valuable Team Canada jersey from 1972 are about to be reunited, Canwest News Service has learned.

Nearly 40 years after Henderson last saw the sweater he wore when he scored the most famous goal in hockey history, the retired NHLer is scheduled to hold it in his hands again Monday ahead of a high-profile auction later this month.

This reunification is the apparently the seller's idea. 

“It was really important for the consignor of the jersey that Paul gets to see it,” Classic Auctions president Marc Juteau told Canwest News Service.

I'm hoping that this is good news, and that the seller has stipulations as to what happens to the jersey after it is sold - namely not allowing it to be destroyed by a hockey card company. There is an approval process for prospective bidders, although I had assumed that was just to weed out bidders who weren't serious. Perhaps the approval process also has some stipulation about the jersey's future?

Canadian Tire Wants Henderson Jersey

Michael Badad of the Globe and Mail says department store giant Canadian Tire is about to make a big opening bid for Paul Henderson's 1972 Summit Series jersey:

"Canadian Tire Corp. says it plans to bid $200,000 tomorrow for Paul Henderson's jersey from the famous 1972 Canada-USSR series. The retailer said late today it will put its opening bid in with the auction house tomorrow."

If their bid is successful, the jersey will go on tour in every corner of the country, visiting each of the 480 Canadian Tire stores in the country, giving the Canadian public a chance to see the jersey. Then Canadian Tire would lend the jersey to "sports and hockey museums including the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame for the benefit of all Canadians."

I love this idea, but I'm not sure if the current owner will accept Canadian Tire money.

Update: I'm not sure if this includes Canadian Tire's opening bid or not, but as of late Wednesday night "THE jersey" is already listed at over $211,000!

Henderson Speaks Out On Jersey

With his jersey the most sought after piece in hockey collectibles history, Paul Henderson has finally spoken out regarding the future of his jersey.

Not surprisingly, he does want to see the jersey returned to Canada, and not in a private collection. He wants it accessible for all hockey fans to enjoy.

"I'm excited. I really really hope that it finds its home in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary, that's my deep desire and wish," said Henderson, who scored the most iconic goal in Canadian hockey history to defeat the Russians in the 1972 Summit Series.

After scoring the famous goal Henderson gave the jersey to Team Canada equipment trainer Joe Sgro.

"I never thought that it would ever be sold. When I gave it to our trainer, if I thought he was going to get rid of it, I thought he would give it back to me."

Sgro sold the jersey to a collector, who in turn sold it to it's current owner. The jersey is now up for auction at Classic Auctions.net. The bidding is currently at over $144,000, and expected to more than double before the auction deadline of June 22nd.


Henderson is hoping Canada's new Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary gets the jersey because the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto has his other 1972 Summit Series jersey - the home red jersey worn in the games played in Canada.

"I think it belongs to Canada. It's a symbolic moment," Henderson said.

A Canadian museum like the new Sports Hall can purchase items with the federal government funding 50% of the cost through a special fund reserved for repatriating historic items, usually war related items.


Watch Roger Smith's CTV News report called Jersey Assist.

Hockey Card Company Owner Interested In Henderson's 1972 Jersey

When I first wondered if a hockey card company might be one of the well-financed bidders behind Paul Henderson's 1972 Summit Series jersey, I had no idea whether or not any of them actually were interested. It was pure speculation.

Late Tuesday night a very reliable source confirmed for me that In The Game owner Brian Price is indeed interested in acquiring Henderson's 1972 jersey. The company suggested he would want to add it to his personal collection, which is supposedly why any forthcoming bid for the item would by himself, not his company. In The Game is publicly saying that they are not interested in acquiring the famous jersey.

In 2000 Price and In The Game chopped up the only known set of Georges Vezina goalie pads and included the pieces in hockey cards. At this stage it would be pure speculation to suggest that any hockey card company would want to desecrate Henderson's jersey in such fashion, but it remains a possibility.

Henderson's game worn jersey from games 5 through 8 of the 1972 Summit Series is being auctioned off at Classic Auctions.net. The bidding is currently at over $144,000 with the auction closing on June 22nd.