The Jim Pattison Group, which has its hands in a number of business pies, is the latest entrant in the bidding for Paul Henderson’s 1972 Summit Series hockey jersey.
The Kamloops, BC company has placed a bid of $309, 224 as the auction heads toward a Tuesday close.
The jersey was worn by Henderson when he scored the goal that gave Team Canada its victory over the USSR during the Cold War era. It has been in the hands of an American collector after it was sold by the team trainer who had obtained it from Henderson after the game.
The jersey auction has been headline news across Canada, with hockey fans making emotional pleas for a corporate entity or wealthy benefactor to step forward and keep the jersey from winding up in another private collection. 29 bids have been made so far.
The Pattison Group, a Canadian company with 33,000 employees, wants to bring the No. 19 jersey back to Canada, and would do so in accordance with the wishes of Henderson. If its bid is successful, the company intends to take the jersey on a coast-to-coast tour and ultimately have it reside in the new Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
“I am very excited to team up with Jim Pattison and his group of companies who will be bidding on the Jersey and, if successful, ultimately donate it to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame,” said Paul Henderson. “I am also excited that the Group intends to tour the jersey through all of Canada’s provinces, and I would look forward to appearing with the jersey on occasion.”
It’s not likely the bidding will stop at its current leve, however, and some have speculated it may push $500,000.
