Images(3)

Stick, Hockey

Object number2009.33.1

Date1969-1970

Mediumwood; ink; plastic

Credit LineThe Honorable William L. Standish & family

DescriptionWooden Pittsburgh Penguins hockey stick signed by players.DimensionsLength x Width x Depth: 54 × 8.5 × 0.875 in. (137.2 × 21.6 × 2.2 cm)
InscriptionsText printed in black along shaft on proper right side: "PITTSBURGH PENGUINS" at center with handwritten signatures in black ink to the left "Jim Morrison / Duane Rupp / Val Fonteyne / Nick Harbaruk / Bob Woytowich / Tracy Pratt / Wally Boyer" and to the right "Keith McCreary / Ron Schock / Ken Schinkel / Michel Briere / Joe Daley / Bryan Hextall / Jean Pronovost / Bryan Watson".
MarksText printed in black along shaft:
on front side and proper left side: "CCM Bobby Hull JET".
Historical NotesHockey stick signed by the 1969-1970 Pittsburgh Penguins, including the celebrated Michel Brière. Donor was one of the original owners of the Penguins. Two years after the creation of the NHL Pittsburgh expansion team, the Pittsburgh Penguins had begun their 1969-1970 season with rookies and a few veteran players. But by the end, these Penguins were the first in team history to reach the playoffs: they advanced to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the St. Louis Blues. Notable rookie center Michel Brière (October 21, 1949-April 13, 1971) played with the team during this season. Tragically, on May 15, 1970, he suffered major head trauma from an automobile accident. While Brière lay in a coma in Canada, his jersey and equipment bag traveled with the Penguins throughout the 1970-71 season. On April 13, 1971, Brière succumbed to his injuries. His number, 21, was never worn again; it was officially retired in 2001-the first number in Penguins history to be retired (to date, Mario Lemieux's "66" is the only number to be retired). In his memory, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League renamed its MVP award the "Michel Brière Memorial Trophy" in 1972, while the Pittsburgh Penguins present the "Michel Brière Rookie of the Year Award" annually to the seasons' best rookie player.

Related institution Pittsburgh Penguins

Related person James Stewart Hunter Morrison

Related person Duane Edward Franklin Rupp

Related person Valere Ronald Fonteyne

Related person Mikołaj Nicholas Harbaruk

Related person Robert Ivan Woytowich

Related person Tracy Arnold Pratt

Related person Walter Boyer

Related person Vernon McCreary

Related person Ronald Lawrence Schock

Previous owner Kenneth Calvin Schinkel

Related person Michel Brière