Session 1 Live and On-line June 20th, 7:30 PM EST (Lots 1-43)

Lot #32:

Phil Esposito 460th Career Goal Puck

In 1972, the founders of a company named Hockey Diversified Inc. envisioned that each puck shot into the net to produce an official goal scored in an NHL hockey game would develop a degree of intrinsic collector value for hockey fans everywhere. The founders took this idea to the NHL and procured the rights to all such NHL pucks during regular season and playoff games for a period of five years. Pucks shot into the net for a goal were collected by the referees, given to the time keepers to label and then shipped to Hockey Diversified to further label with scoring details. The pucks were then marketed to the public by Hockey Diversified Inc. Unfortunately, this idea was ahead of its time and pucks sold poorly. The program lasted only two seasons, 1972-73 and 1973-74. Hockey Diversified Inc. dissolved shortly thereafter.  Each puck originally distributed by Hockey Diversified could be obtained by mail with the buyer’s choice of team and possibly player. A label was affixed to each puck listing the scorer, team and date, along with a code that divulged which team-goal said puck accounted for. This particular puck was used by HOF star Phil Esposito to score the Boston Bruins 303rd goal of the season vs the Toronto Maple Leafs, at Maple Leaf Gardens, on March 16, 1974. Assisted by Wayne Cashman and Ken Hodge, it was Esposito's 62nd goal of the season and 460th of his career, with a total of 717 career goals. Scored midway through the second period, the goal was Esposito's first of two in the game, with the superstar also adding an assist for a three-point night. The Bruins would beat the Leafs that night on the road, 5-2. The rubberized Leafs logo is perfect, with some marks to the Goal Puck Program label. The puck shows perfect NHL use and is in beautiful condition.